NIH recently hosted a return visit by New York City youngsters dubbed “Jeter’s Leaders,” an outreach program supported by the Derek Jeter Foundation; Jeter is the star shortstop for the New York Yankees.

The mission? Help high school students become peer educators on alcohol abuse and underage drinking. The methods? Meetings with NIAAA clinical director Dr. Markus Heilig, Clinical Center director Dr. John Gallin and NIDDK director Dr. Griffin Rodgers; sessions in NIAAA’s Dr. Dennis Twombley’s “Drunken Brain” exhibit and “fatal vision” obstacle course, as well as a monkey facility with Drs. Christina Barr and Steve Lindell; a peek at NLM’s forensic exhibit with Erika Mills; and a trip to NIDDK’s Metabolic Research Core with its director, Dr. Kong Chen.

The topics? Why people crave alcohol, the minimum legal drinking age, recovery, exercise and the truth about sodas. The break? Boxed lunches (donated by the Bean Bag) dovetailed with a panel discussion led by Jorge Zapata of NIAMS and Frank Holloman of NIDDK. The verdict? Science is awesome. For more information on Jeter’s Leaders, visit www.turn2foundation.org.