Annual Retreat
M. Kerry O'Banion, MD, PhD
This year's retreat took place on Friday, August 10th, 2007 at lovely Steamboat Landing, Canandaigua, NY. With 45 MD/PhD students and 16 faculty members it was a big success. Our keynote speaker Robert Colbert, M.D., Ph.D., an alumnus of our own MSTP, discussed his career and research on HLA-B27 and Spondyloarthritis. Dr. Colbert is Professor of Pediatrics, Director of the Division of Rheumatology and Associate Director of the Physician Scientist Training Program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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.
