Acknowledgements
Yesterday was an important day. I successfully defended my doctoral dissertation. It’s been a long, challenging road, but it has been worth it. I don’t have a lot today say about it, but I did want to share a portion of my defense with all of you. It’s the Acknowledgements section. In this part, I had a chance to recognize the many wonderful people who have done so much to help me get to this point. You don’t get many opportunities like this in life, so I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to share it publicly. Below are some excerpts.
Upon entering the Biomedical Informatics program at the University of Utah, I had only a vague idea of the field of biomedical informatics. I had information-systems expertise but had taken only one college-level course in biology—12 years prior to that time—and had little understanding of the medical, statistics, and public-health disciplines. Despite that lack of knowledge, I had a strong desire to learn and to develop my skills. Thanks to the guidance and patience of numerous mentors, friends, and family members, I have grown immensely during my time as a doctoral student and feel prepared for the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.
First and foremost, I gratefully acknowledge my wonderful wife, Laurel (Harmon) Piccolo. We started dating as I started this doctoral program, and we were married by the end of my first year. Many times I have been discouraged or flustered, and just as many times she has buoyed me up with heartfelt words of encouragement and expressions of confidence. Additionally, Laurel has cared for our wonderful children, cooked glorious meals, and performed innumerable chores to make up for the long hours required by my studies. What a marvelous companion, support, and friend!
Secondly, I acknowledge our two young children, Kate and Joshua. Their smiling faces, innocent love, and abundant energy have lifted my spirits each day and provided motivation to push through difficult obstacles.
Thirdly, I express gratitude to several family members who have been instrumental in helping me reach this point. From an early age, my mother, Alice (Cook) Piccolo, encouraged me to explore a variety of disciplines. With her encouragement, I attended a computer-skills class in high school and discovered a new aptitude and interest. Mom has always been a comforting influence in my life and helped me cope with challenges. My father, Richard Piccolo, has taught me the value of consistency, hard work, and responsibility. During most of his career, Dad has arisen before sunrise and ridden his bicycle to work. Often he has followed his day job with a second or third job to support his family. I also thank my aunt, Janice Piccolo, and my pseudo-aunt, Linda Palmer. In addition to offering their cheery demeanors and insightful perspectives on life, they generously allowed us to live in their basement apartment during the final (and most demanding) stages of completing this dissertation. And many thanks be to Roger and Maxine Harmon, Laurel’s parents, who brighten my day each time I see them and who continuously offer support beyond any expectation.
Many thanks to the rest of you, even though I didn’t mention your name specifically, for your support, friendship, and encouragement!
Loading ...