On Saturday, October 22, we held the MD/PhD Outreach Symposium, a day-long conference for high school and undergraduate students to learn about the dual degree program. We had over 150 attendees, ranging from high school freshmen to college seniors (and some parents) from 20 institutions. We were thrilled that there was so much interest in the community for this event.
Our own MSTP director, Kerry O'Banion, MD/PhD, started the day with a talk about the basics: What is an MD/PhD program? Next, three student speakers, Keshov Sharma MS2, Nguyen Mai G4, and Andrew Shubin CC3, told us their stories of how they chose their career paths. In addition, they gave insight into the life of an MD/PhD student at various stages of training. Dr. O'Banion returned to the stage for an informative session on MD/PhD admissions. Finally, two students showcased their research. Jimmy Zhang, G3, presented on the development of new therapeutics to treat acute myocardial infarctions, aka "new heart attack drugs." Next, Irina Lerman presented on the role of infiltrating immune cells in prostate cancer. The morning ended with a small group "Problem Based Learning" session, where the attendees had the opportunity to discuss and reason through a clinical scenario. Trainees in the program and conference attendees were able to mingle at lunch, where several research posters were presented.
The keynote address was delivered by Jason Mendler, MD/PhD, and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, and a graduate of University of Rochester's MSTP, Class of '05. Dr. Mendler spoke of his journey to becoming a physician scientist, and how he integrates research and patient care into a fulfilling career. The Symposium concluded with several Question and Answer panels, a message from our American Physician Scientist Association (APSA) representative, and a raffle.