FAQ#1: How did you end up doing a TED Talk?

I'd do anything for my daughter, even a TED Talk!
   When my daughter had the idea of having me apply to the TED Residency, it did not occur to me that I might actually get it.  As a big fan of TED Talks, I have watched many, yet, I've never seen a Talk by someone I know.  All the speakers seem so confident and knowledgeable, and famous.  It all seemed so out of my league.
  To say that I was shocked that I was selected for the TED Residency is an understatement.  Once the shock dissipated, reality kicked in:  How would I find the time to prepare? What is my idea worth spreading? What should I wear?!  Reality check number 1.
   Sure, as an academic research scientist, I have given talks, seminars, lectures, classes, workshops.  I would say that I have been an average speaker giving the average seminar in which every statement is illustrated by a Powerpoint slide.  The purpose of an academic seminar is usually to present data.  It is very much like a scientific paper in oral form: the intro, the methods, the data, the conclusions.  I quickly learned that I wasn't going to get away with that on the TED stage.  Reality check number 2.  
   And as scientists, what do we ever feel sure about?  We are trained to say "the data suggests" in our papers.  We still call evolution a "theory". And we end every research paper with "more studies are needed".  What can I say on the TED stage that I "know for sure", as Oprah would say?  Reality check number 3.
   The TED Residency program helped me check off all those realities.  The program selected a VERY DIVERSE group of professionals and put us together in a pot, raised the heat to simmer, and stirred.  
   Twenty residents were selected, ranging in age from 21 to 70, different races and backgrounds, different areas of expertise, from different countries, working together in open cubicles at the TED Conferences Headquarters for three months.  During this time, I continued working at Mount Sinai, submitting three research proposals to NIH.  I was working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Thanks to my family and a flexible schedule at my job, I was able to do it.
   At TED, I was quickly humbled by how much I needed to learn.  Mostly, I learned from my peers in the Residency. I engaged in conversations with two veteran New York Times reporters about health information and the media, learned from two young African-American men about using technology for social good, and was moved to tears by two LGBT youth about how to tell their stories. The most helpful and surprising learning experience came from an amazing British rapper.  This young red-headed woman taught me the value of every word I say in my Talk. I am forever bonded with all the residents in my group.  It was like going skydiving with strangers, after that experience, you really can't call them strangers anymore.  
   I can honestly tell you that it was very hard for me to do this.  It required a lot of unlearning and learning.  It was truly a humbling experience.  I am still not totally sure that I was deserving, and it took me a while to be willing to share the Talk with all of you.  But I could not let my daughter down.  She kept saying: "Do it Mamami, do it!"  So I tossed the reality checks out the window.  Shook off the impostor syndrome.  And worked my butt off.  
Thank you all for your support during this journey. I really need you to view and share this TED Talk with your contacts.  Now we both can say that we know someone who did a TED Talk. ;)