MIDP Retreat at Alumni Hall

This year, the MIDP had their first retreat in four years to talk about the structure of our program and enjoy some time together in the new year. With the changes in the Medical Innovators Development Program and the acceptance of different backgrounds of medical students into our program, it was important to brainstorm with our students about ways to enrich curriculum and student life. We had a great afternoon looking at our classes, our curriculum and ways that we can impact our community. In rotating discussion groups, our students generated ideas and were led by MIDP director, Dr. Ryan Buckley.

Right Brain Activity at the Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery

The MIDP has long enjoyed getting outside the medical school and experiencing something different. On a balmy Wednesday in January, we all walked across 21st Avenue to the Fine Arts Gallery at Vanderbilt. Led by Dr. Mary Anne Caton, Senior Associate Curator of Campus and Community Engagement, we learned about Vanderbilt's extensive collections, installations and and unique relationships with artists. Maybe the most most colorful piece we viewed was Andy Warhol's rendition of the Queen Mother of Swaziland gifted to the university by the Warhol Foundation. We always hope in our moves outside the medical school we can encourage our students to engage with the wider cultural offerings that Vanderbilt has on display.

January Forum

This month's forum was hosted by our first year medical students. Having given them a semester to settle into the medical school routine and getting comfortable with their cohort and MIDP classmates, each first year student shared a bit about themselves. We had the best time letting each student tell us a little about their life before medical school and how the journey is going so far. What a great afternoon listening to family stories, post graduation ambitions and the way everyone spent their gap time in between medical school and their graduate and undergraduate careers.

Photography by Dr. Trent Rosenbloom

Spotlighting beautiful photography by the MIDP assistant director, Dr. Trent Rosenbloom is one of the highlights of the MIDP newsletter. The spectacular images of Percy Warner park, just a mile or two down the road from Vanderbilt emphasize the natural beauty available just a stone's throw away from campus.