M.D.-Ph.D. Social/Professional Activities

Social activities are an essential component of the student experience at Dartmouth, and they serve as a venue for building the intellectual connections among the students and faculty. These activities provide opportunities to increase the students' didactic knowledge of science and to learn about the personal and professional career choices of physician-scientists. These activities also foster interactions among our students, allowing them to stay connected during the various phases of their training while at Dartmouth, and after they leave. These social activities include:

Annual Retreat
This takes place over a two-day period. There are two or three guest speakers, both from within and outside of Dartmouth, as well as poster and podium presentations by the students on their research. Additional sessions are devoted to choosing a residency, which are presented by both graduating students and faculty. An important component of the Retreat is some unscheduled time so that students and faculty can interact in a casual and informal environment.

Annual Spring Dinner / Medical Grand Rounds
This event is hosted by the M.D.-Ph.D. Program and is held in conjunction with the Department of Medicine's Grand Rounds, which takes place on the following day. The students select and host the guest speaker, and the

Department of Medicine co-sponsors the invitee along with the M.D.-Ph.D. Program.

Annual National M.D.-Ph.D. Conference
Each year, two to three students, along with a member of the M.D.-Ph.D. Program office attend this national conference in Colorado. Students who are fairly advanced in their thesis research submit an abstract to the M.D.-Ph.D. Office. The abstracts are evaluated, and based on the quality of their abstracts, several students are selected to attend the conference. This meeting is highly regarded by the students as an opportunity to meet outstanding faculty from programs across the country and to connect with M.D.-Ph.D. students at other institutions.

Monthly Student Chalk Talks
These are usually scheduled in the evenings, when students gather, without faculty, for informal presentations of their research. This encourages a free exchange among the students where they comment on each other's work and suggest new approaches.

Monthly Pizza Lunches
A monthly lunch for students and a physician-scientist provides an informal and personal opportunity to learn about the training experiences and career choices of physician-scientists on campus.