Well wishers from around the world converged on sunny Rochester, Minnesota the first weekend of August to join the IMF in presenting its first Robert A. Kyle lifetime achievement award to the man in whose honor it is named. Dr. Kyle is a respected member of the scientific community with a long list of accomplishments and rewards. He is beloved by patients around the world who have come to the Mayo Clinic for treatment as well as the thousands he has provided education and counsel to while serving as a regular member of the faculty at IMF Patient and Family Seminars.

Attendees were given tours of the Mayo Clinic myeloma labs by proteges of Dr. Kyle, including Dr. Phillip Greip (inset) Vincent Rajkumar (rear, center) and Rafael Fonseca (not shown).

At the reception preceding dinner, IMF president Susie Novis presented Dr. Kyle with a leatherbound copy of the Tribute Journal, which contained personal messages from Dr. Kyle's many friends, patients and colleagues.

Mrs. Fineman, a talented artist and the wife of one of Dr. Kyle's patients, presented him with a portrait that she had painted.

Dr. Kyle's beautiful family turned out in force. Shown to the left are three generations of Kyle women, including wife Charlene, their daughter Barbara, and granddaughter Marie

Dr. Morie Gertz served as Master of Ceremonies, heading a long list of people who paid tribute to Dr. Kyle during the dinner. The Unknown Patient was at the event, and will be providing a more detailed account of the festivities in the next issue of Myeloma Today.