Three Simple Wine Pairing Guidelines

Since 2016, Erol Onel, MD, has served as the vice president for Heron Therapeutics. Outside of his work, Erol Onel finds joy in experimenting with different food and wine pairings. 

You do not need to be a wine expert to find a bottle that goes well with your next meal. Follow these three basic guidelines to help find the perfect pairing. 

1. Regional Pairing - While not a die-hard rule, you can usually get away with pairing wine with food from the same region. For example, a nice Chianti is a safe bet for pairing with pasta Bolognese, as both are Italian.

2. Choose a Sweeter Wine - Generally speaking, you want to choose a wine that is sweeter than the meal you serve with it. Pairing wine with sweeter food will often make the wine taste more tart and bitter than it would in a proper pairing. Similarly, you never want to pair a bitter wine with a bitter dish, which will only exacerbate the bitterness of both. 

3. Highlight the Wine - The goal with a wine pairing should be to bring out the wine’s best properties. A sweet red with high tannin can taste even sweeter when paired properly, like with a salty dish. Figure out your wine’s key.

Partnership between Samsung and Boys and Girls Clubs Promotes STEM

A vice president at Heron Therapeutics, Dr. Erol Onel has been working as a pharmaceutical physician for more than a decade. A graduate of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he is experienced with all phases of clinical development. Maintaining an active community presence outside of work, Dr. Erol Onel donates to several charities, including Boys and Girls Clubs of America, an organization dedicated to helping youth reach their full potential.

Thanks to a partnership with Samsung Electronics America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America promotes youths’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Together, the organizations created the Climate Superstars Challenge. This first-of-its-kind challenge motivates youth to take action to protect the environment. Over the course of seven weeks, members of Boys and Girls Clubs of America participate in sustainability activities, and a single chapter is selected as the grand-prize winner.

The challenge focuses on individuals between the ages of 11 and 13. Now in its second year, it has enjoyed the participation of more than 180 chapters from around the United States. Each weekly activity that each chapter must complete during the competition focuses on a core theme. These themes include reducing waste and conserving water. The specific activities of each chapter are highly creative and can range from interpretive dance videos to hosting a recycle party. Winning chapters receive a technology makeover using ENERGY STAR-certified products.

The AUA Annual Meeting Provides Invaluable Information

An accomplished pharmaceutical physician, Dr. Erol Onel serves as a vice president of Heron Therapeutics in California. In this capacity, he provides scientific leadership to the company and attends meetings to develop clinical plans and strategies. Dr. Erol Onel has been a member of several professional organizations over the years, including the American Urological Association (AUA).

Since 1902, the AUA has been using research and education to promote the highest standards of clinical care. One of the organization’s premier educational and networking events is the AUA Annual Meeting. As the world’s largest gathering of urologists, the AUA Annual Meeting provides attendees with access to groundbreaking research, information about advances in neurological medicine, and details about new guidelines pertaining to the field.

The 2017 AUA Annual Meeting will be the event’s 112th. Scheduled from May 12 to 16, the event will be held in Boston and continue the meeting’s legacy of providing invaluable information to attendees. Urologic health care professionals and urologists from around the world are encouraged to attend. This year’s meeting is expected to feature more programming and educational offerings than meetings in the past, and the organization hopes that attendance will exceed the over 16,000 figure for the 2016 meeting.