Best-Selling Author John Grisham to Deliver Keynote at 3rd International Focused Ultrasound Symposium

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John Grisham, a novelist known worldwide for more than 20 best-selling legal thrillers, will be the keynote speaker at the 3rd International Symposium on the Current and Future Applications of Focused Ultrasound on October 14-17, 2012 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Grisham serves on the Board of Directors of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, which is hosting the symposium to highlight advances for the global research and clinical community.

Grisham will discuss his personal interest in and commitment to focused ultrasound approaches. “John insights come from his own fascinating history of overcoming challenges to achieve remarkable success,” says Foundation Chairman Neal Kassell, MD. “John didn’t start out as one of the world’s most famous authors. For years, he worked in the legal profession and wrote his novels in the wee hours, and his early work was initially rejected by many publishers. But John persisted and his books are now a fixture on best-seller lists and translated into 40 languages. That kind of persistence is a model for the challenges faced by the Foundation and by the focused ultrasound community – countless hours of dedicated work to translate an innovative technology into clinical uses that help patients.” 

Grisham agrees: “Serving on the Foundation’s board has given me a unique perspective on what it takes to move a promising medical technology forward. The obstacles and challenges are many, but the end result of saving and improving lives makes the effort highly worthwhile.”

Grisham has served on the Foundation board since 2008 and participated in the Board’s leadership activities. “We are honored that John has devoted time and energy to our work. His presence on our board is inspirational to our staff, our donors and researchers and to patients everywhere who are awaiting the opportunity for improved treatments.”