The 9th Annual MSTP Student-Faculty Retreat was held on Sunday morning, August 17 through Monday afternoon, August 18, 2003 at the Harbor Grand Hotel in New Buffalo, Michigan. This retreat provided time for students and faculty to gather in a relaxed setting that offered opportunities to build our sense of community through scientific exchange (research talks and poster sessions), professional development (faculty keynote speaker and alumnus speaker), and a variety of fun activities, including boating and water skiing, canoe and bike rentals, golfing, vineyard tours, botanical tours, shopping and antiques, clay and skeet shooting, art galleries, and the beautiful, sandy Lake Michigan beach for volleyball, long walks, or just relaxing in the sun.

Faculty Keynote Speaker and MSTP Alumnus Speaker

Thomas McGarry, M.D., Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Northwestern University. Dr. McGarry's research focuses on the control of cell division in development and cell differentiation.

Thad Stappenbeck, M.D., Ph.D., graduated from the NU MSTP in 1995 and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Stappenbeck's research focuses on gut stem cell biology.

How to Get There

The Harbor Grand is 70 miles from Chicago (1.5 hour drive) and the Student Council will organize a ride-share for those who do not have transportation. Those who do have transportation are encouraged to volunteer to help with the ride-share by contacting Amanda Bass. Please let us know whether you are driving one way or both ways and how many passengers you can accommodate. Click here for more detailed driving directions.

The Harbor Grand is accessible via commuter train (South Shore) to Michigan City, Indiana, from which we will arrange a ride for you to and from the hotel in New Buffalo, Michigan. An eastbound train departs from the Randolph Street station on Sunday every 2 hours on the even hour. Exit at the 11th Street Station in Michigan City, Indiana. The ride will take 1 hour and 40 minutes to Michigan City and the cost is $7.55 one way. To return to Chicago on Monday, take the westbound train from the 11th Street Station in Michigan City. Please note that times for the train schedule are in Central Daylight Time but the hotel in New Buffalo follows Eastern Standard Time (on hour later than CDT).

Driving Directions

1. Take the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94 East). Be sure to stay in the local lanes after 51st St.
2. Merge onto the Chicago Skyway (I-90 East) Exit 59A/Indiana Toll Road. 29 Miles
3. Merge onto I-94 East at Lake Station, Exit 21 toward Detroit. 32 Miles
4. Take the M-239/LaPorte Road exit. Exit 1 in Michigan.
5. Turn LEFT at the top of the ramp. M-239/LaPorte Road becomes Whittaker St. as you enter the city of New Buffalo. 1.6 Miles
6. Continue straight toward the lake at US-12. The Harbor Grand is on the left just before the bridge to New Buffalo Harbor.

Schedule of Events

Sunday, August 17, 2003

Monday, August 18, 2003