Dr. Kevin Leslie from Hampton Roads Biomedical Consortium

Dr. Kevin Leslie, Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Commercialization for the Hampton Roads Biomedical Research Consortium (HRBRC), was the featured speaker at the September 5, 2023 club meeting. He highlighted the Consortium, which formed in 2020 as a state-sponsored partnership linking Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University and Sentara Healthcare.

The consortium addresses health disparities, jumpstarts scientific research and advances biohealth development and innovation in the Hampton Roads region. It also aims to improve the collaboration between consortium partners and community partners such as the Jefferson Lab and local governments. One consortium goal is to turn research into practical uses that can help with economic development. HRBRC helps fund research and assists biomedical start-ups. 

HRBRC has two locations -- one in downtown Norfolk and another near the border of Suffolk and Portsmouth. The second location, which recently opened, has equipment that permits state-of-the-art 3-D printing that can create replacement body parts for patients. The multi-purpose facility has high- level security that enables it to work with federal agencies and other organizations that require it. 

Leslie is proud that his organization has received recognition for its work, including an award from the National Institute of Health. Leslie also is that the Consortium’s work has yielded financial returns that equal the initial investment for the Consortium. 

The Meeting

• Jim Tucker’s invocation focused on 10 life rules from Canada’s indigenous people. 
• Our one visitor today, John Ehehalt, was inducted as a member of the Rotary Club of Norfolk, with Jeff Wells as his sponsor.
• Mary Insley, new membership chair, reminded members that they are all on the membership committee and are encouraged to invite potential Rotarians to a future meeting.
• Mark Shaw reported that Marty Raiss’ husband George is expected to be out of the hospital soon. 
• President Jeff announced that the deadline to sign up to play golf and/or attend the social at the Rotary Golf Tournament is this Thursday, September 7. 
• The club raffle will return to club meetings later this month. 
• An upcoming volunteer event coming will be to be part of an All-District Read project, with the plan being to distribute books to schools and to construct and place 5+ Little Libraries. A location is needed to store books to give to Norfolk Public Schools elementary school children. 
• Members were reminded to pay their dues; if a copy a of the invoice is needed, ask Karen.
• Sigur Whitaker presented a first-time Paul Harris pin to Kay Stine and a Paul Harris +7 pin to Al Carmichael. 

Happy bucks

• September birthdays and Rotary anniversaries were celebrated. 
• John Searing is happy his daughter at the University of Virginia recently joined a Rotaract chapter in part because of her involvement with our club. 
• Bob Heely honored the memory of the recently deceased Jimmy Buffet
• Jeff Wells gave thanks for a great trip he recently made to see a long-time friend. 
• Jim Tucker is happy about his recent trip to the Canadian Rockies with his wife and grandsons.
• Joe New is also happy about his trip to Quebec.
• Chris Bugg is happy about the defeat by the Duke football team of Clemson.
• Sally Hartman is happy to have improved her freestyle swim stroke this summer.
• Eleanor Schoonover is happy that the club’s international grant proposal has now made it to the Foundation level.
• Pam Tubbs is happy that her son is now the pastor at the oldest Presbyterian church in South Carolina.
• Chick Robison is happy about his new knee.
• Dr. Abby  Van Voorhees was highlighted by President Jeff for being featured in a medical magazine.
• Linwood Beckner was happy to see the late. Dr. Robert Archer, a club member, featured in the same medical magazine.