Fall 21 Bunsen Burner

FALL 2021 HOT NEWS FROM INSIDE OMRF

T H R OUG H T

Scientists at OMRF have been making discoveries long enough to
see bell-bottoms rise, fall and rise again. In celebration of our 75th
anniversary, we talked to current and former OMRFers about their time
at 825 NE 13th Street.

Richard Bottomley Chip Morgan

Research Hospital Administrative Operations
Joined OMRF in 1957
Joined OMRF in 1969
Richard Bottomley’s focus
at OMRF was the 16-bed When Chip Morgan arrived at OMRF, the
hospital in the south wing foundation was just transforming into a
of the Chapman Building. nationally competitive institution. In his
He remembers the field first year working as an accounting clerk,
of medical oncology the foundation hadn’t yet hired its first
developing all around him as full-time president.
he treated patients with a little-known new
technology: chemotherapy. What was OMRF like
when you started?
What was the biggest change
over your time at OMRF? From the very beginning, we
were a truly international
Doctors today can get all their information place. That fosters diversity
online. They don’t have to buy a thick of thought. If you’re from
medical book to do research. My house is full Japan or Saudi Arabia,
of medical books, packed to the ceiling! your view of things brings
something different. But no matter
What drew you to OMRF? where everyone was from, everyone
was trying to do good science. Helping
I wanted to do this research because there humanity was what they all had
wasn’t anyone else doing it. I was able to be a in common.
doctor in a brand new field because of OMRF.
What comes to mind when
What memory stands out? you look back at your time
at OMRF?
In the early days of my research, a politician
promised me that if I could cure cancer in I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I’ve had
five years, he would pass a law to increase great mentors, and I am grateful for the
funding to medical research. That was the opportunities I have had. It’s never been
craziest thing anyone ever said to me. just a job.

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H E D E CA D E S

Diana Szeto Tim Gross

Accounting Arthritis & Clinical Immunology
Joined OMRF in 1978
Joined OMRF in 1971
In 1978, Tim Gross decided it was time for a
When Diana Szeto moved to change of careers. Even though it meant a
Oklahoma from New York pay cut, Tim took the advice of his supervisor
City, she didn’t know how at the grocery store warehouse where he
to drive. “I took the job worked and applied for a job as a research
because I could walk to assistant working with antibodies in the lab of
OMRF from my apartment. Petar Alaupovic.
I was lucky because I loved
it so much, I never wanted What memory stands out?
to leave.”
I’ll never forget taking care of
What made OMRF special? the sheep and goats we raised
to make antibodies. They
Our group worked very well together. smelled terrible, and I think
I never did anything by myself. I would work they hired me just because I
on something for a while and then pass it was big and tough enough to
off to another person, so together, we would handle them!
work as a family to do the best work. But
we had fun together too, with Bedlam and What would you say to yourself on
Halloween. I loved the dressing up and your first day at OMRF?
the snacks.
I would tell myself not to worry about money
What memory stands out? because money isn’t everything. You found
a place where you enjoy the work, you like
My first job was in the memorial fundraising helping people, and you get to stay long-term
department, and I worked with donors from at a decent place. That’s what’s important.
all over the state. I had to learn fast how to
pronounce all the tiny town names, and then Four decades in, what keeps work
I really felt like an Okie from Oklahoma City. interesting?

What changed the most over time? There’s still that ability to do new things. I’m
not working on an assembly line day after day.
Between expansions and renovations, I Projects change, the work changes,
was always moving around! From the main the challenge changes.
building to the allergy clinic and back, I think But it’s all for the benefit
I worked on every single floor as I worked in of humanity.
different departments.
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Brent Keck Marsha Lewis

Information Technology Human Resources
Joined OMRF in 1980 Joined OMRF in 1981

Though Brent Keck has had many For Marsha Lewis, the third try really was the
different titles at OMRF, he has charm. Marsha was working at OU and twice
always kept the same mission: Let failed in attempts to land a job at OMRF. “I
us do tech so you can do science. finally had to say, ‘Chip [Morgan], just give
His goal is to make sure everyone me a chance,’” says Marsha. He did, and
can do their jobs to the fullest Marsha made good on that chance for nearly
because of the support of his team. 40 years.

What was your workday like? What was OMRF like in
the ‘80s?
Back then, I was in college running the
computer backups at night. I would mount It was just good. We took care
the tape, hit the go button, and put a new of each other. We had a lot of
tape on an hour and thirty minutes later. So, fun! I was dedicated to OMRF
there was lots of time in between to study. because OMRF was dedicated
That was back in the days of mainframes with to me.
big round 9-track reel tapes before OMRF got
a much faster IBM computer. What changed the most over time?

What has changed the least? I always felt young, but people from my
generation would walk around and see
The thing that hasn’t changed is that people technicians in the labs and think, “These kids
here are so smart. They’re so good at what are young enough to be my kids!”
they do: capable, talented. And that’s all across
the board. The people here are the kind of What kept you at OMRF for so
people you want to be around because they’re long?
so inspiring.
I loved the mission, the research. Especially if
Any predictions for the future?
you have a personal connection to a disease,
I hope OMRF will continue to grow, which
will give us more opportunities. I think we’ve it was always good to
got such great people who will find new and
better ways to support science. know someone might Lab Jams
come up with a cure

during my lifetime, and I

would be a part of it.

.

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Jeannie Evans Toni Snow

Aging & Metabolism MS Center of Excellence
Joined OMRF in 1995
Joined OMRF in 1998
With both parents working here, OMRF
was a natural destination for Jeannie Evans. Toni Snow loves her job because her
Twenty-six years later, she says the people coworkers and bosses have always made her
she’s worked with have become like a feel important. She has a lot of love for those
second family to her. she’s met at OMRF – human and
otherwise. Toni adopted a kitten
What memory stands out? found in the OMRF courtyard
and named him Gordy. The two
When I was little, my dad were inseparable for 19 years.
used to bring me up here.
In those years, OMRF What would you say to
had rabbits. I loved to pet yourself on your first day at
them when he brought OMRF?
me for a visit.
I would tell myself that I made the right choice.
What changed the most Even though it meant starting over in my
over time? career, it was worth it.

The buildings. By far. The whole 26 years I’ve What’s a big difference since you
been here, it feels like we’ve been under started?
construction. It’s a good thing, because if you
are building, you are growing. OMRF used to be a hidden gem. Now people
know about our grants and discoveries; I see
What has stayed the same? more people who know about what we’re
capable of.
The various accounting practices and forms
to fill out. In my job, if it works, don’t mess What has changed the least?
with it!
Somehow, we are all connected, and I haven’t
Any predictions for the future? seen that change. I love it when I get an email
with someone’s good news, even if I’m not in
I hope it’s basically the same. Even though their department. Maybe somewhere along
there’s always going to be change, I like the line, our group did something that helped
OMRF the way it is. them achieve it. Even just a conversation
between scientists in a hallway might spark an
idea in somebody. I’ve seen it happen.

5

Milestone Memories

OMRF’s 75th anniversary is a big one. The pandemic
changed our celebration plans, so until we can mark the occasion properly,
we wondered: What is your favorite birthday or anniversary memory?

“My husband
proposed on our (belated)
fourth dating anniversary
celebration. He popped the
question while we were at “My husband
the top of the Ferris wheel and I traveled to
Olympic National Park
at Wheeler Park!” for my birthday in 2016. It

Heather Rodriguez was our first time visiting a
Human Resources
“My daughter
national park and it was an had an idea for my
70th birthday to ask all
amazing experience!” my friends and family to
Ann Chiao send a card with $7. Being
70 was already special, but
“I began Aging & Metabolism all the cards were the
icing on the cake.”
working at OMRF just a
Jannie Jefferies
few months before my 60th Accounting

birthday. To my surprise, on that

day I walked into the mailroom

decorated with balloons and

streamers to celebrate my big

6-0. I knew then I had found

a home at OMRF.”
Kenny Jones
Purchasing

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“On my 43rd
birthday, my then-
wife and I stood in an
“My friends “My favorite American consulate in China
threw me a surprise birthday memory was to certify the adoption of our
sweet 16 birthday party! It not mine, but my dad’s. First first child, Abbey. It meant our
was awesome; we spent the thing I did when I got up on his daughter would be a U.S. citizen
night at the driving range and when our return flight landed
cruising the downtown strip
two days later.”
in Reno, Nevada.”
Tony Thornton
Robyn Berent Public Affairs
Genes & Human Disease

birthday was call him and sing
happy birthday to him. However,
instead of listening to me sing, he
started singing happy birthday

for me, too.”
Bertha Osei
Aging & Metabolism

“When I
turned 24, my friends
and I ventured on a long
“My 17th bicycle ride from Puebla City to
birthday was a surprise
from my friends while Cuetzalan in Mexico’s Sierra Norte
mountains. After hard pedaling in
vacationing at a sea beach in the rain for nine hours, we made it
India. I received my first guitar
from my friends as a gift and since “Birthdays in to our destination at midnight.
my household are My birthday was just beginning!”
then I have fallen in love with usually cake and a card. For
the instrument and music.” my 50th, my husband planned Maday Galeana Figueroa
Arthritis & Clinical Immunology

Akash Chakraborty a surprise cookout with our close
Cardiovascular Biology friends and even some family that

drove in from Alabama! We built
a bonfire, I made a wish and
jumped over it. My wish came
true: I didn’t get burned!”
Melissa Reed

Development

7

A • Debi Gibson, B • Jeanne Fowler and Lisa Nelms, C • Mike Bailey, D • Joan Merrill, E • Steve Graham, F • Sue Campbell,
G • Courtney Montgomery, H • Venus Dartez, I • Gina Leeds, J • Hal Scofield, K • Padmaja Mehta D’souza
L • Roger Titsworth and Craig Wasson

1980 2000 1980 A

1997 H 1992

KL 1996 D

J 2001

1990 G

1991 1999 1998

F E I

Photo Flashback 2002

They’ve seen a few anniversaries along the way.
Can you name these longtime OMRFers?

BC