Francis Collins

About Francis

• At the end of high school and through most of college, he was 100% certain he'd be a chemist.
• Stresses "just because something is fun to learn about in a school setting, doesn't necessarily mean it's something you want to do with your life."
• As he saw his fellow chemistry graduate students going into teaching positions, he realized that might not be a path he wanted to take.
• Coincidentally shared a lab with a fellow graduate who was working with DNA; was always more interested in that work than his own.
• Says you might come to a crossroads where you wonder, am I truly changing course to follow a passion, or do I just not have the drive to see my current work through?
• Took the leap and changed course; went to medical school and loved it from day one; says he felt like, "Hallelujah, I've really found it."
• Says in the same way he had a completely different path laid out 20 years ago, he's open to more changes in his path over the next 20 years.
• Wishes he'd known the average person has five careers; started out so worried he'd mess up his one shot at a career that he almost didn't take any risks.