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The Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University |
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Please make reservations directly with the Marriott and request the "Ocular Symposim" block. Please reference "Ocular Symposium 2008" and group code VOCVOCA. Please make your reservation as soon as possible. All reservations must be guaranteed by a first night room deposit or with a major credit card. Phone: 1 615-321-1300 |
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| Vanderbilt Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt had a vision of a place that would contribute to strengthening the ties that should exist between all sections of our common country when he gave a million dollars to create a university in 1873. Today, that vision has been realized in Vanderbilt, an internationally recognized research university in Nashville, Tennessee, with strong partnerships among its 10 schools, neighboring institutions and the community. Vanderbilt offers undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, music, education and human development, as well as a full range of graduate and professional degrees. The combination of cutting edge research, liberal arts and a distinguished medical center creates an invigorating atmosphere where students tailor their education to meet their goals and researchers collaborate to solve complex problems affecting our health, culture and society. Vanderbilt provides a gateway to greatness, drawing the best and brightest students from across the nation and around the world. Vanderbilt alumni can be found in Congress, on the judicial bench, heading corporations, conducting innovative medical research, writing for and appearing on the stage and screen, and playing in the NFL and NBA. An independent, privately supported university, Vanderbilt is the largest private employer in Middle Tennessee and the second largest private employer based in the state. |
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| Vanderbilt Medical Center Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a comprehensive health care facility dedicated to patient care, research, and the education of health care professionals. Supported by respected, research-based medical and nursing schools, Vanderbilt University Hospital delivers both routine inpatient care and highly specialized medical treatment and surgical procedures. The Hospital is also home to the region’s only Level I Trauma Center and most comprehensive Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Each year, over 550,000 people choose Vanderbilt for their health care needs. Its reputation for excellence has made Vanderbilt a major patient referral center for the Mid-South. Research into the causes and treatment of disease as well as studying fundamental biological properties is the focus of discovery at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We have some 450 research laboratories supported by $280 million in extramural funds. We have 350 graduate students and 400 postdoctoral fellows involved in the research endeavor. |
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| The Parthenon Created as an exact replica of the Parthenon in Athens for Tennessee's centennial celebration in 1897, the building houses Athena Parthenos, the largest piece of indoor sculpture in the Western world at 41 feet 10 inches tall. In the palm of that statue's hand stands Nike, a 6-foot goddess of victory. Downstairs, the Parthenon art galleries include the Cowan Collection, a permanent exhibit that contains works by William Merritt Chase and Winslow Homer. The gallery also hosts national touring exhibits. |
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| Nashville | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nashville is located on the Cumberland River and is the capital city of Tennessee. As of the 2000 census, Nashville had a population of 569,891 and the metropolitan area contained 1.23 million people. Nashville is the county seat of Davidson County. Its largest industry is insurance and finance, followed by publishing. It is also a major center for healthcare enterprise, and home to Hospital Corporation of America, the largest private operator of hospitals in the country and likely the world. |
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Founded on Christmas Day of 1779, Nashville is located on the Cumberland River in Middle Tennessee. Slightly later, Nashville became the trailhead of the Natchez Trace. Nicknamed “Music City, U.S.A.”, it is the home of the Grand Ole Opry and is a major recording center. The graceful state capitol is one of the oldest working state capitol buildings in the nation, while The Hermitage is one of the older presidential homes open to the public. Civil War history is also important to the city’s tourism industry. Sites pertaining to the Battle of Nashville and the nearby Battle of Franklin can be seen, along with several well-preserved antebellum plantation houses such as Belle Meade Plantation and Belmont Mansion. Climate Nashville typically enjoys a mild and pleasant climate with only a few days of the year having either very hot or very cold conditions. Most of the city's rain is confined to the spring months, but a shower throughout the year is not unusual. Fall is a celebrated time throughout Tennessee. Visitors come from all over to see the annual changing of the leaves in mid-October. Days are warm and pleasant. Evenings require a sweater or light jacket. Since the weather is changeable, layered clothing is a good idea to accommodate sunny days and cooler nights. In October, the average daily high temperature is 72 degrees F and the average daily low is 49 F. |
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