Being at the Right Place, at the Right Time, for the Right Reasons—Plant Pathology

This article relates some personal history and influences leading to becoming a plant pathologist. Next a summary of my research experiences on rice and barley diseases and the effect of regulatory changes on efforts to manage rice diseases in California. I conclude with an invitation to consider the opportunities and obligations of plant pathologists to return to the field and for individual introspection regarding attitudes and behavior toward colleagues and factors affecting our profession.