Medical Scholars Program
2006 Allerton Research Symposium

We enjoyed another MSP Retreat at Allerton Park & Conference Center on Saturday, August 26, 2006.  Thank you to all of the students, faculty, staff and guests who joined us.  We enjoyed the series of graduate student presentations, poster sessions, and social gatherings. Dr. Reggie Alston, graduate advisor to Dr. Travis Gayles in the Department of Kinesiology & Community Health was awarded the MSP Advisor of the Year Award.  Congratulations, Reggie, on this well-deserved honor.

Our keynote speaker was MSP Graduate, Jamie Feldman, MD/PhD. Dr. Jamie Feldman completed her residency training in family practice at Lutheran General Hospital in 1996. She serves as Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota, faculty member at St. Johns/Phalen Village residency program, and clinical co-investigator in a diabetes related trial. Dr. Feldman has expertise on the topics of HIV/AIDS, sexual dysfunction, and transgender health issues. She has authored the book: Plague Doctors: Responding to the AIDS epidemic in France and America, is a sought after presenter, and an established researcher. She spoke on Adventures in Gender: The Emergence of Transgender Medicine.

Drs. Ed and Jeanne Goldberg, also joined us and presented a talk entitled "Who You Are and How You Use What You Know...Some Thoughts on Achieving Excellence." Dr. Ed is a retired Internal Medicine Physician and former Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Jeanne is a UIUC Alumnus and retired Radiologist. Both Drs. Ed and Jeanne share a belief that in the 21st Century the Life Sciences will be at the forefront of scientific progress and believe UIUC will be a leader in this revolution. To learn more about Drs. Goldberg's fascinating careers, accomplishments, interests and commitments to the future of scientific progress at UIUC, please read their biographical information.

Our student oral and poster presentations were exceptional this year.  We'd like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Sabra Abbott, Dr. Phil Holler, Dr. Georgina Cheng, Dr. Erik Antonsen and Dr. Adam Wolfe for sharing their research with us. Congratulations to Dr. Adam Wolfe for earning the Swartz-Flood Award for Outstanding Student Oral Presentation and Samit Shah for being selected for presenting Best Student Poster Award at the retreat.

Many thanks to the Student Planning Committee Members for their hard work in planning the day.  A very special thanks also to the SA/MSP and COM Staff & Administration including Steve Sanderson whose help is invaluable. We look forward to another great retreat next year the weekend of August 25th.  Please remember to mark this weekend on your calendars as we expect that all MSP students participate and attend the retreat.

MSPAC election results are as follows:

Entering Class: Adrienne Victor
Class I: Claire Miller
Class II: Kurtis Mayz
Class III: Georgina Cheng
Class IV: Adam Wolfe

Committee Members:

Educational Policy: Sabra Abbott
Progress and Promotions: Chuck Smittkamp
MSP Steering Committee: Paul Rodriguez-Waikus
Subcommittee on Admissions: Maritza Alvarado

All three amendments put up for vote passed.

View the 2006 MSP Allerton Retreat Program.

Details about our 2007 MSP Fall Retreat Coming Soon.