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?– 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

• 3.7 GPA• 34 MCAT• Research Experience• Usually always intended to practice

medicine• Discovered research• Realized that they could have it all

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.

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