As I return from yet another grounding trip to the high Sierras, I can’t help but reflect on the strange ways in which the world works and the interconnectedness of us all. For those who don’t know, I, Dr. Bob Harman, am an avid outdoorsman and hiker. I really enjoy solo backpacking trips with my exceptionally smart border collie, Ben. He is a great hiking partner who carries his own backpack full of supplies and serves as my hearing assistance dog. He’s trained in rattlesnake detection and avoidance and knows to alert me to the presence of rattlesnakes when on the trail- a valuable skill out here in California!
I use these trips as a way to clear my mind and refocus on the next big thing. Those who know me know I’m often moving from one big idea to the next, and I have to remind myself to stop and take a breath once in a while. Some fresh air and solitude with nothing but the sound of the trees rustling in the wind and mine and Ben’s footsteps on the trail is the perfect way for me to refresh and regroup.
Though these trips are meant to clear my head, the universe always finds a way to bring me back to my mission as a regenerative medicine entrepreneur and advocate. Multiple times, I have met people on the trail who have some connection to what we do here at Personalized Stem Cells. Whether it is FDA regulatory folks, relatives of past or present colleagues, stem cell recipients, or people who have had their animals treated by our veterinary parent company, VetStem Biopharma, the universe just wants to make sure I keep my head in the ever-evolving world of regenerative medicine.
The universe works in strange ways, and I can’t really begrudge it. My life’s work and one of my passions in life is stem cell therapy and the power of regenerative medicine. I have spent the last 20 years helping to build the rapidly developing regenerative medicine market. We have come so far on this journey, starting in veterinary medicine and building upon nearly two decade’s worth of experience and data to then move into human medicine. With our first stem cell clinical trial complete, Personalized Stem Cells is working to move into a second clinical trial in the coming months. And while I never know who I might meet along the trail, I truly look forward to what the future (and the next backpacking trip) has in store.