Chaired by Dr. Augustine M.K. Choi, John P. Leonard, and Steven M. Lipkin, the first Weill Department of Medicine Research Retreat was held in the Belfer Research Building on October 7, 2016. The conference, which included residents and post-doctoral trainees, was designed to achieve several goals: to highlight research programs within the Department, to expand scientific collaborations, to promote the exchange of knowledge between trainees and senior investigators, and to foster the development of the next generation of researchers.
Following opening remarks by Dr. Choi, Interim Dean of Weill Cornell, the forum featured a key note speaker, Richard P. Lifton, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Lifton, who is President of The Rockefeller University and a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine. A world-renowned expert on the use of genetics and genomics to understand fundamental mechanisms underlying human disease, Dr. Lifton provided state-of-the-art expertise to young investigators that crossed many areas of study, such as cardiovascular disease, neoplasia, kidney disease, osteoporosis, and hypertension. The retreat also included abstract oral presentations and scientific lectures given by leading researchers at Weill Cornell from a wide range of research laboratories.
A luncheon, held in the Griffis Faculty Club, was another highlight of the day’s retreat where each lunch table focused on a particular theme. Hosted by senior faculty members in the Department, topics ranged from “Getting a K Award” and “Navigating the IRB,” to “Patient Databases and Outcomes/Retrospective Chart Reviews,” “Working with Industry,” and “Global Health Research.”
“This forum was a success for both our trainees and senior faculty,” said Dr. Leonard, “especially in terms of expanding our research efforts for the department and in furthering the careers of some extraordinarily talented young investigators as they develop into independent researchers.”
"The Weill Cornell Medicine research enterprise, federal research funding and the number of faculty researchers are growing. The retreat highlighted the progress made in the past several years to enhance clinical, translational and basic research progress at Weill Cornell and beyond," added Dr. Lipkin.
The department thanks the Executive Committee and its faculty members who participated in the successful launch of the first Weill Department of Medicine Research Retreat.
Luncheon Table Topics and Faculty Hosts
Executive Committee of the WDOM Research Retreat:
Mary E Choi, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine
Marshall J. Glesby, MD, Professor of Medicine
Paraskevi Giannakakou, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology in Medicine
Fernando J. Martinez, MD, Professor of Medicine
Holly G Prigerson, PhD, Professor of Sociology in Medicine
Shahin Rafii, MD, Professor of Medicine
Kyu Y. Rhee, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine
Monika M Safford, MD, Professor of Medicine
Joseph M Scandura, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine
Jonathan W Weinsaft, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine