1 / 13

James M. Slauch, PhD Director, Medical Scholars Program

James M. Slauch, PhD Director, Medical Scholars Program The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. MD/PhD Training. Combined medical and research d egrees Primarily training for a career in research Physician Scientists What’s the point? Synergy

edward-powell
Download Presentation

James M. Slauch, PhD Director, Medical Scholars Program

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. James M. Slauch, PhD Director, Medical Scholars Program The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign

  2. MD/PhD Training • Combined medical and research degrees • Primarily training for a career in research • Physician Scientists • What’s the point? • Synergy • Physician-Scientists: • Use their clinical knowledge to frame and target their scientific efforts • Understand how advances in basic scientist can most readily be applied to clinical problems

  3. Careers for MD/PhDs • Most MD/PhDs receive the PhD in a biomedical lab discipline • Biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, bioengineering, etc • Some programs (like UIUC MSP) also allow PhDs in other disciplines: computational, health care policy, anthropology, history, etc • Most MD/PhDs have careers in academic medical centers or pharmaceutical companies. The deans and directors in Med Schools are often MD/PhDs • Goal: 70-80% research with clinical and perhaps teaching taking up the other 70% of your time

  4. MD/PhD Training • Combining MD and PhD but the route varies with the institution • Many have a “2-3-2” or “2-4-2” structure – Med-PhD-Med • UIUC MSP has PhD with 1st yr Med, then M2-M4 • Average time is ~8 years but this is strictly dependent on the research

  5. Then what? • Most MD/PhDs enter a clinical residency program • Medicine, pediatrics, pathology, neurology, etc • MD/PhDs are particularly attractive to many residency programs • Subspecialty training - Fellowship • Cardiology, Hemotology-Oncology, etc • Postdoctoral work • Transition back to mostly research

  6. Then what? • Growing number of “research residency programs” – built-in postdoctoral work • Transition into faculty position • NIH K awards • Training IS life • MD/PhD 8 yrs; Residency/Fellowship 3-7 yrs

  7. Applying to MD/PhD Programs • AMCAS Med School Application • Check “MD/PhD” • Brings up two additional essays • Why do you want to be an MD/PhD? • Describe your research experience • Secondary applications for med school • Some MD/PhD programs ask for additional information/application • Most programs accept the MCAT in lieu of GRE • Letters of recommendation

  8. Admissions • What makes a successful MD/PhD candidate? • MCAT scores • GPA • Research Experience • Letters of Recommendation • Essays • Extracurricular Activities • Qualified applicants are invited for an interview • Could be both basic science and clinical faculty

  9. The Standard Student • 3.7 GPA • 34 MCAT • Research Experience • Usually always intended to practice medicine • Discovered research • Realized that they could have it all

  10. Financial Support • There are 120 MD/PhD programs in the country • Most fully fund their students: tuition and stipend • About 46 are “MSTP” • Supported by NIH training grant • Doesn’t actually pay for all the students in the program • Students are funded by other training grants, research grants, TAs, etc.

  11. What I Look for In a Candidate • Clear, well-written statements that focus on research experience • Letters of recommendation – particularly from the research advisor • Be able to explain your research projects in detail and be aware of other projects going on in your lab. • Look up faculty ahead of time

  12. What Should You Do • Get some research experience! -Even if you just plan on Medical School • Summer research programs

  13. For more information • AAMC • www.aamc.org • APSA • www.physicianscientists.org • Contact us – we’re happy to help • mspo@illinois.edu • 217/333-8146

More Related