Bret Michaels To Deliver Keynote At Science Conference

The words "Bret Michaels" and "Science" don't seem to belong in the same sentence. However, the rocker and reality show participant will address the medical community when he delivers the keynote speech at the Diversity Alliance For Science's 5th annual conference on May 22 in Newark, N.J.

Then again, maybe it makes sense. The fact that Michaels is still alive is, in and of itself, a miracle of modern science. In a five-week spell in 2010, he was hospitalized three times, for an emergency appendectomy, a brain hemorrhage and a hole in his heart.

Health problems are nothing new to Michaels, a lifelong diabetic who has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for diabetes-related charities. This included $640,000 to the American Diabetes Association as a result of his victory on NBC's 'Celebrity Apprentice' in 2010. Michaels has also donated and raised money for Parkinson's disease, brain tumor research and St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis. Michaels appears to have made a complete recovery.

According to their website, the Diversity Alliance For Science aims to "support, mentor, and develop minority, women, disabled, small disadvantaged, HUBZone, veteran, service-disabled veteran, and LGBT-owned, and small businesses in the Life Sciences."