Can JPM And BTS Make A Bigger Difference?
By Rob Wright, Chief Editor, Life Science Leader
Follow Me On Twitter @RfwrightLSL
This is part of a series of blogs dedicated to my visit to the 36th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM) and the 10th Annual Biotech Showcase (BTS).
It’s day one of my annual trip to San Francisco for JPM and the Biotech Showcase, and as I walk to the Westin St. Francis, passing by many of the city’s ubiquitous homeless, the early morning rain seems incapable of washing away the stench of body odor, garbage, feces, marijuana, and urine. As I enter the hotel I attempt to shed my feelings of guilt like the water running off my umbrella. The panhandling pleas still ring in my ears, and I think that even if I had a million dollars to throw at this glaring problem I doubt it would make a difference.
Within the Westin, attendees of JPM are readying to listen to the top 1 to 5 percent of all income earners and look forward to hearing what medical miracles might soon be on the way. There is little doubt that these companies are making a significant difference for patients and shareholders. But the dichotomy between those milling around inside this hotel (and many others around town during this week) and those outside huddled on the sidewalks is still startling to me. It leads me to wonder if an opportunity exists for JPM, BTS, and the dozen or so other conferences taking place nearby, to possibly have an impact on the homeless problem of this city we flock to every January. Could there be a coordinated effort, for example, to have collection stations (e.g., large clear “kettles”) strategically stationed in the lobbies of the various show hotels where attendees of the week’s events would be encouraged to deposit spare change to be earmarked for nearby charities that work with the people we all walk by during this week? No, this isn’t going to solve the problem nor is it likely to make a significant impact. But it would still help, even in a small way, perhaps for purchasing additional blankets or providing additional meals at a shelter.
Of course some people would view such an initiative — properly marketed, of course — as a small way we could improve the tarnished image of our industry. I’m not suggesting that should be the goal. After all, many biopharmaceutical companies already provide tremendous financial support to various charities and nonprofit organizations around the world, yet those aren’t the stories the media and the public use to define the character of this industry. And yes, such an initiative, no matter how much it raises, would likely be criticized in some way. But aren’t we used to that now with every drug that is developed? In the end, though, we know that our drugs or a small charitable-giving campaign like this will help some people. And maybe that’s all the incentive we need.