Cruise the Panama Canal
Penn lecturer - Professor of Medicine Dr. Rob Roy MacGregor
January 31 - February 11, 2008
Cost: From $2,595
Tour Operator: AHI International
(800) 323-7373
Brochures available

Relax aboard the luxurious Crystal Symphony as you visit many fascinating ports of call. Set sail on the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean from charming Caldera, Costa Rica, and admire one of the world's most impressive feats of engineering as the ship travels through the six locks of the Panama Canal. Journey to cultural Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, then witness the beauty of Antigua, Leeward Islands. Cruise to the tropical paradise St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, before exploring the stunning white beaches of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Finally, ride the Atlantic Ocean to Miami, Florida. Along the way, Dr. MacGregor will tell how yellow fever made the construction of the Panama Canal virtually impossible, and how other infectious diseases we face today have a similar impact on mankind's ability to advance.

About our Faculty Lecturer - Dr. Rob Roy MacGregor
Dr. Rob Roy MacGregor has been on the Penn medical faculty since 1971, and was chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases for 15 years. Trained at Harvard Medical School, University of Washington, and NIH, he has a strong interest in the history of how humans and infections have interacted over the centuries. He will describe how yellow fever made the construction of the Panama Canal virtually impossible. The discovery of its cause and the work to prevent its transmission reads like a mystery novel. Other infectious diseases have had similar profound impact on mankind's ability to advance, and his explanation of their conquest or control will provide insights into modern problems such as AIDS, SARS, and avian influenza. Dr. MacGregor has also spent time with the Penn HIV program in Botswana, southern Africa, and will bring you up to date on the University's efforts there.