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NIH Record  
Vol. LX, No. 7
April 4, 2008
 Features
Alexander Offers Hospitality, NIH Style
Take Your Child to Work, Earth Day
Symposium To Show What We’ve Learned About Mood Disorders
All-Ireland Nurses Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at NIH
 Departments
Briefs
Milestones
Digest
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Virus Smart, Science Smarter
New Viral Vaccines in ‘Great Teachers’ Spotlight
  Dr. Anne Gershon discusses shingles, HPV vaccines.
  Dr. Anne Gershon discusses shingles, HPV vaccines.

In 1796, when Edward Jenner scratched cowpox vaccine into the arm of a human subject, he changed the history of public health. Cowpox boosted immunity to smallpox, one of the world’s most deadly and horrific contagions. Thanks to Jenner’s work, continued by Pasteur, vaccines would become an essential part of modern medicine. By 1980, smallpox was eradicated worldwide.

NIH furthers that heritage by supporting vaccine research and medical education, as in the recent Great Teachers lecture “New Viral Vaccines: The Shingles and the Human Papillomavirus Vaccines.”
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Telling NIH’s Stories
Professional Yarn Spinner To Offer ‘How To’ at Plain Language Awards

On first meeting, Jon Spelman might be a monster, just awkwardly and somewhat sadly coming to terms with his ogreness. Or, he might be a dad, matter-of-factly relaying humorous details about his daughter’s self-imposed potty-training policy. Or maybe he’s Yancy Register, the old Florida crab and clam fisherman offering his insights on southern waterways. In fact, in the space of 20 minutes or so, Spelman—a professional storyteller—can get all three different characters to deliver valuable lessons via the same unique messenger.

On Tuesday, Apr. 15, he will bring his talent to NIH as guest speaker for the 2008 Plain Language Awards Ceremony. The Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL), the new home for the Plain Language Initiative, will host the event.
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