Scieneering Summer 2013: Floyd, VA: Modern Renaissance Men

I've wanted to be a doctor for a decent amount of time now, time enough to take it seriously. But if a purpose more interesting came calling, I would think about it. Call it fate, but if something were to change my idea of my own future so drastically, I would be open to it.

Guys like Skip Garner and Michael "Buzz" Waitzkin prove that there's more out there than your cookie-cutter careers. Several undergrad researchers and I drove down to Floyd, Virginia to meet the two at Buzz's home up in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

They first showed us into Buzz's office, the headquarters of Genomeon, a genetics company run by the two. They aim to help clients analyze human genomes with specific markers meant to detect microsatellites, repetitive pieces of DNA often indicative of disease.

Buzz's office was built from wood taken from the multi-acre property. This reminded me of our family friend's cabin up in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin.

But that's not all; Skip has founded several other companies with lofty scientific goals, such Heliotext, BioAutomation, and Xanapath. They range from data search/organization services to selling DNA sequencing/synthesis machine parts. I think he picked a badass name and then just added a more mundane word like "path" or "text" on the end.

Skip spent a decade or so at General Atomics, a nuclear energy company based at the time in California. He worked on projects ranging from nuclear reactors to paint for stealth bombers. Oh, and he was director of the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) here in Bburg for several years.

Buzz came from a different background. He went through law school in Stanford, worked as a D.C. public defender, and was brought on as one of President Bill Clinton's lawyers. As he told us, "I never thought I'd be working in the White House because of blowjobs," and said his meeting with Ms. Lewinsky was "a rather unimportant moment in my life." Classy. I would not have been as polite.

Old habits...

Hearing Buzz talk about his forays into different fields, whether it be giving talks at the Duke Business School or founding biology companies with Skip, was reassuring. They didn't fit to any mold, and have been involved in more scholarly and business circles than I can imagine.

I asked him, "Was there ever a moment for you knew what you wanted to do?" He responded that his father encouraged law school, but he would have preferred med school. He told me, "Don't be so narrow-minded that you pass up everything that comes by you. Take advantage of every good-looking opportunity you get, and see where it leads. Get out there." However, he wished he kept more in touch with his mentors and mentees from his various pursuits. I'll have to remember that one.

Next we toured the art studio of Buzz's wife, Gibby. Her approach is unique; she only uses organic materials, like banana peel fibers and tree lichens. She's putting on a display this fall in Blacksburg that I hope to see.

Gibby picks some of her materials as they grow out of the ground, while others, like banana peels, are ground up into their fibers to make paper.

Water is used frequently to affix some of Gibby's materials. The grate at the bottom left takes any spills into the soil outside.

Gibby's current collection resembled pairs of angel wings, which she said double as a pair of feminine legs. Her enthusiasm with her work made it all the more enjoyable to see.

Buzz gave us a tour around his property before we left for town. Long story short: I'm buying this house if I ever get rich.

That's a Tibetan prayer flag on the right, and you can several in a straight line if you stand near one. The whole lake is man-made as well, back when there weren't as many restrictions on such a project.

This square is the land's own "dig site". 17-18th Century Appalachian families would dig square sections such as these to construct lean-tos for temporary shelter while they built their homes.

Old mason jars and shoe soles are among the relics Buzz has found since he's been here. The soles, like Joan Rivers, have been estimated at over 100 years old.

Having spent his childhood in Miami, Buzz received this "beach" for his birthday one year. On a side note, I should buy a boat.

We saw the sights in Floyd as well. Bluegrass street performers, plenty of vendors, and great local food. The big attraction is the Floyd County Store, AKA The AARP Convention Center. Local groups play with an open floor for dancing and flatfooting. FloydFest is going be packed in such a small town.