Annual Retreat
M. Kerry O'Banion, MD, PhD
This year's retreat took place on Friday, August 8, 2008 at Casa Larga Vineyard in Fairport, NY. We were pleased to welcome and introduce 9 incoming students this year. Two students discussed their research in oral presentations; 10 presented posters, and 8 students gave a summary of their trip to the annual MD/PhD Conference in Keystone, CO. Keynote speaker Chi Dang, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Cell Biology, Oncology, and Pathology and Vice Dean for Research at Johns Hopkins discussed his career as a physician scientist in his talk “A Journey from the MYC Oncogene to Leadership in Academic Medicine”. Debbie Dao, Grad 3 in pathology organized the Retreat and did a tremendous job for her final event of the 2007-08 academic year! Kudos, Debbie!
A day-long retreat is scheduled for all MD/PhD students and a subset of faculty involved in the program at an off campus site early in the academic year, typically the Friday prior to the day medical school starts. Planned by the MD/PhD Student Council, this event welcomes new students to the program and consists of a balance of research presentations (students and an invited scientist) and social activities. The event provides an opportunity to discuss programmatic issues that affect all students. The membership of the student council is also established. Previous venues have been at a Finger Lakes winery, an Inn in Letchworth State Park, and an Inn on Lake Canandaigua. The food and company are always outstanding. Traditionally our retreats are followed by a gathering of students, their families and friends for a catered dinner, games, and water sports.
