News Release

The moment came early on, in the first year of what is now an annual lecture series called "Voyage and Discovery." Benjamin Carson, the world renowned neurosurgeon, had just finished telling a packed auditorium the story behind his medical achievements.

As David Fitter, then a sophomore, left the auditorium, he overheard someone say, "Wow. Now I remember why I wanted to be a doctor."

Inspiration. That has been the main goal and result of the first two years of the "Voyage and Discovery," lecture series, which kicks off its third season this month with five more world-renowned Johns Hopkins researchers, doctors and scientists agreeing to share the story behind the story.

D.A. Henderson, who helped eradicate the disease smallpox and who now heads the Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, is the first speaker. He will describe "The Death of a Virus," on March 6, 2001, at 7 p.m. in the Mudd Auditorium on the Homewood campus of The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St. in Baltimore. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Fitter, a senior public health major who plans to join the Peace Corp after he graduates, co-chairs this year's lecture series with Michelle Zavage, a senior biophysics major headed for medical school next year. Both Fitter and Zavage are originally from Howard County, Md.

Other speakers include: Edward Cornwell, the head of trauma surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, who was featured prominently in the ABC News documentary, "Hopkins 24/7" and George Ricaurte, an associate professor of neurology and expert on the drug, Ecstasy.

All of the lectures are free and open to the public and take place at 7 p.m. in the Mudd Hall Auditorium on the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, 3400 N. Charles Street. For additional information, please contact Glenn Small at the number above or Michelle Zavage at 410-516-3893.