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 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
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
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
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
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
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
Admissions
• What makes a successful MD/PhD
candidate?
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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
The Standard Student
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•
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•
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3.7 GPA
34 MCAT
Research Experience
Usually always intended to practice
medicine
Discovered research
Realized that they could have it all
Financial Support
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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.
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
What Should You Do
• Get some research experience! -Even if you
just plan on Medical School
• Summer research programs
For more information
• AAMC
– www.aamc.org
• APSA
– www.physicianscientists.org
• Contact us – we’re happy to help
• mspo@illinois.edu
• 217/333-8146