“Sharkbait, the Scientist”

Thomas O. McDonald Scientific SymposiumUW Center for Urban Horticulture, 7/8/2012

Presenter Disclosure:Relationships to Tom McDonald

Friend: YesColleague: YesEmployer: Yeah, right!

What type of work did Tom do?

• Histochemistry: Use of chemical stains to identify cells and proteins in tissues (e.g., Movat’s stain).

• Immunohistochemistry: Use of antibodies to identify specific cells and proteins in tissues.

Cells=Red, Elastin=Black, Proteoglycans=Blue, Collagen=Yellow

Journal of Clinical Investigation—1993VCAM-1 in Atherosclerotic Plaques

VCAM-1 (black) Smooth muscle cells (red)VCAM-1 (black)

Smooth muscle cells (red)VCAM-1 (black)

Macrophages (red)VCAM-1 (black)

Citations: 497

Nature Immunology—2012:Netrin-1 in Atherosclerosis

Citations: 1/Month

What Do Others Think of TOM’s Work?# of Publications vs. Frequency of Citation

Publications by Year Citations by Year

HS PhysicsTeacher

F***ingCancer

Source: Web of Science®, accessed 7/6/2012

Tom the Scientist:“By the Numbers”

Articles Published by Tom: 27Times Cited: 1,942Avg. Citations/Article: 72H-index: 20Avg. Citations/Yr: 97.10Avg. “Trips to get coffee”/Yr. 971.0Avg. Trips to Costa Rica/Yr. 9.71

Source: Web of Science®, accessed 7/6/2012

Tom “Working” in Costa Rica

Colleagues were always happy to see Tom!^almost

Tom the Scientist:SUMMARY

• Truly gifted Histochemist/Immunohistochemist• Scientifically Rigorous• Innovative• National Reputation• Master Teacher

“Strange how one person can saturate a room with vitality, with excitement.”

John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley

Sunset on Point Lobos from Carmel, CA

Tom’s Overall Impact:h-index

• Tom’s h-index [?]: 20• h-index: “An h-index of 20 means there are 20

items that have 20 citations or more. This metric is useful because it discounts the disproportionate weight of highly cited papers or papers that have not yet been cited.”