There are a number of medical students who have had significant research experience in college and/or the years before attending medical school. Many of them are interested in careers in academic medicine but do not want to participate in the MD/PhD Program. In addition, many students are interested in clinical and translational research rather than in pure basic science. In response to these needs, the School of Medicine has created a program in which a medical student can take a year off from medical school after either the M-2 or M-3 year and do research. At the end of this time a Masters Degree will be awarded. The details are as follows:

Structure

• A full year of time dedicated to research under the mentorship of research-active faculty
• Student would receive instruction in the responsible conduct of research, participate in journal clubs, develop presentation and writing skills and take limited appropriate coursework
• The year would take the form of existing masters degree programs in the basic sciences or the proposed masters degree in Clinical Research. The student cohort would enroll as full-time graduate students in the appropriate M.S. program

Selection

Five or six students will be chosen each year and the process will be competitive and highly selective. Students would apply at the end of either the M-2 (more focused on basic science research) or the M-3 (focus on clinical research) year and return to M.D. training at the normal start of M-3 or M-4 respectively. Elective time in M-4 might be used to complete M.S. degree requirements.

Support

The School of Medicine would provide a stipend of $10,000 and pay applicable fees and tuition. Full-time enrollment in the graduate school ensures that loan payback deferrals remain in place.

Special Requirements

In lieu of preparing a formal thesis, students will write up their year’s work as a manuscript suitable for submission to an appropriate journal. A degree will not be awarded until this requirement has been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the faculty mentor/advisor.

The estimated cost to the School of Medicine for the initial implementation of the program as described would be over $110,000. We believe that the urgency of the state of physician researcher training strongly supports immediate implementation, at least on a trial basis. As presented the program would form an added approach to addressing a recognized national need, enhance our ability to attract the best students to our physician training programs, complement existing programs and add to our graduate enrollment.