On April 23, 2022, the MSTP held its annual Spring Retreat, titled: "Innovation & the Business of Science -- A virtual retreat covering resources to support innovation in biomedical research + important skills not formally taught in MD/PhD training.” 

The retreat provided information about institutional resources that support translating discoveries and innovative ideas into products and services.  It also delivered valuable content on many topics actively requested by students – which are not typically formally taught in MD-PhD training. These topics included networking approaches for extroverts and introverts, best practices for being a good mentor/mentee, tips for negotiating salary and protected research time in the first faculty position, what to know about starting a lab and building a team, and advice for being an effective leader.  

We were honored to be joined by the following special guest speakers (pictured above in the top row, from left to right):

• Louito Edje, MD, MHPE, FAAFP, Professor, Departments of Medical Education and Family and Community Medicine, Designated Institutional Official, University of Cincinnati
• Geoffrey Pinski, J.D., Assistant Vice President, Technology Transfer, University of Cincinnati
• Eric Raabe, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatric Oncology and Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (UC MSTP Alumnus) 
• Seth Reighard, MD, PhD, 1st-Year Psychiatry Resident, UC Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience (UC MSTP Alumnus) 
• Reid Smith, MBA, Portfolio Manager for Biologic, Cell and Tissue Therapies at Innovation Ventures, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
• Stephen Waggoner, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, CCHMC & UCCOM, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
• Jeffrey Whitsett, MD, Kindervelt Professor of Pediatrics; Co-Director, Perinatal Institute; Chief, Division of Neonatology and Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, UC Department of Pediatrics
• William Zacharias, MD, PhD, Graduate Advisor, MSTP; Assistant Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics, UC Department of Internal Medicine

Many thanks to the MSTP graduating students involved in the "M4 Pearls of Wisdom" peer-advice session and the students in our planning committee (pictured above, in the second and third rows, from left to right): Tammy Gonzalez (M4), Robert Kleven (M4), Amanda McGann (G2), Talia Nasr (M4), Michael Petrany (M4), Joe Salomone (M4), Keisuke Sawada (G1), Akaljot Singh (G5), Camille Sullivan (M4), Kevin Zhang (M4), and Sandra Zoubovsky (M4).