Text IIB

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS REMEMEBER THEIR SCHOOLS

Part 1.

Bio-tech CEO Remembers Mentor C.R Smyth

If you ask George Rathmann *51, chairman, president and CEO of ICOS Inc., a start-up biotechnology firm, what he remembers most vividly about his scientific education at Princeton, he responds without hesitation, "Charles P. Smyth" 16.

"Professor Smyth was the chair of the Chemistry Department when I was there," he says, "and a model for me and many others of the careful scientist. He taught us the meaning of integrity.

"The strongest message you receive as a student comes from your mentor— if you're lucky enough to have one," Rathmann continues. "Smyth had extraordinarily high standards. He read every word of every paper he worked on, and there were hundreds. He wrote well, too. He gave a level of guidance, care and attention that is rare. Did he delegate? Not very much. You have to remember that he was training generations of scientists. That is something that simply has to be done in a hands-on way if it is to be done well."

After earning his MA and Ph. D at Princeton in 1950 and 1951, respectively, Rathmann spent two decades in research and development at 3-M Co., before becoming president of Litton Medical Systems for three years. In 1975 he joined Abbott Labs, where he became vice president of research and development before joining his first start-up biotechnology firm, the spectacularly successful Amgen, as president, CEO and chair in 1980. He remained there almost a decade before beginning the process again at ICOS near Seattle, Wash., after a brief hiatus.

Rathmann enjoys a strong reputation in the business world for a rare combination of business and scientific skills. His insights into the issues surrounding scientific education come from long experience and deep conviction.

"At Princeton," says Rathmann, "we were able to get to know the professors well; we knew our fellow students well; and most of all, perhaps, we were able to benefit from the informal discussions about science with the world-class scientists who worked, visited or lectured at Princeton. The association with the Institute for Advanced Study was a big part of this. The strength at Princeton was not only in chemistry but also in physics, math and other areas. You could rub shoulders with Einstein, Wigner and other people from whom you could benefit even in brief interactions. There is really no substitute for interacting one-on-one with outstanding scientists. I've tried to make that happen at 3-M and the two start-up companies by bringing top scientists into the labs for personal discussions.

"I believe that the application of technology represents a significant contribution to society," Rathmann continues. "Today, the impossible is becoming possible—we're seeing miracles every day. Developments occurring in research labs around the country will eventually affect the health of everyone on the planet. Young people now have the opportunity to transform society in wonderful ways. We have a unique mix here in the United States that makes this possible. We encourage basic science, and then the free enterprise system takes the science and puts it together with the marketplace to make progress."