Acceptance of the Henry Baldwin Ward Medal for 2018: A Fascination of the Abomination

Good afternoon. I want to sincerely thank everyone for coming today, particularly in light of the many potential distractions afforded by this venue. It really is an honor and a pleasure to be here. I want to begin by thanking Dr. David Marcogliese, who was the 2001 recipient of the Ward Medal, and Dr. Cam Goater, both of whom went to great lengths to nominate me for this distinction. Beyond the nomination itself, I am grateful to them for their insights, guidance, and enthusiasm over the years, tracing all the way back to my early days as a graduate student. And, of course, thank you to Dr. Janet Koprivnikar for that enlightened and only slightly embarrassing introduction. More importantly, I thank her for being a dedicated collaborator and co-conspirator throughout much of my scientific career. Our interactions have taught me more about parasites and parasitology than any class or textbook,...