I'm sitting in the aftermath of a Friday Annual Meeting session watching a small group of people gathering around the speakers when a smile comes to my face. It reminds me of a lesson I have worked to teach my children and one I continue to try and remember myself.

When my kids were in high school, they both showed real interest in math and science (only slight parent brag). Living in a University town, I was able to connect them to researchers and let them get summer experiences working in labs. My daughter was able to learn genome sequencing with Larry Schook, whose lab reported the first complete pig genome. My son still works in a nano particle lab while he is studying bioengineering.

So what does that have to do with speakers at the Annual Meeting? My children were both able to learn that these professors, who might seem intimidating from a distance, were just people. They have both been more willing and able to just go and talk with people where before they would not think that was okay. The same is true with our speakers at the meeting. 33,000 of us are currently walking around McCormick, including some of the true lights of Oncology practice and research. The thing is, they are just people like the rest of us. Like the rest of us, they are in this because this is really their life's interest.

Those of us from smaller, community practices may think they cannot or should not approach these folks. Forget that. When you see someone you might want to ask a question or just introduce yourself to, do it. You will likely find your meeting enhanced, and you might just make a great new connection. 

Tweet: .@davidgrahammd on #ASCO14 speakers: “They're in this bc this is really their life's interest.” http://bit.ly/1u1Fb5t via @ASCO