Photo,
Arwen Long
Duke
University School of Medicine
Training for careers in biomedical research
Duke
University School of Medicine's dual-degree MD/PhD program,
the Medical Scientist Training Program,
begun in 1966, is one of the three oldest such programs
in the country. The program's purpose is to add a significant
research component to MD education, training physician-scientists
(MD/PhDs) for high-level research careers in the medical
sciences and academic medicine.
Duke's unique year-long research requirement for all
Duke MD students lends itself naturally to MD/PhD training.
The Duke University School of Medicine faculty fields
some of the best medical researchers in the world. Training
opportunities are top-notch, and graduates go on to
significant roles in biomedical research and academic
medicine. Graduates of Duke's forty-plus-year-old program
populate biomedical research institutions and academic
institutions throughout the US.
The
Duke Medical Scientist Training Program (Duke MSTP)
is one of the most diverse in the country with an underrepresented
minority enrollment of 13% and a current female enrollment
of 42%.
The
Duke MD/PhD program, conducted under
the auspices of the Duke University Graduate School and
the Duke University School of Medicine, is designed for
students who have strong backgrounds in science and who
are interested in careers in the medical sciences and
academic medicine. The program, which leads to both the
MD and PhD degrees and typically takes seven to eight
years for completion, integrates the clinical curriculum
of the School of Medicine with graduate education in one
of the sciences basic to medicine. Although the emphasis
of the program is on basic medical science, the additional
clinical component affords program graduates a remarkable
range of career opportunities. Graduates typically follow
one of two broad paths: Some go directly into careers
in teaching and research in one of the basic medical sciences,
while maintaining strong ties with clinical science; others
enter residency programs before pursuing investigative
and teaching careers in clinical medicine, carrying with
them strong academic backgrounds in the basic sciences.
The
Training Program. Duke University School of Medicine’s
unique third-year research curriculum makes an ideal fit
for a dual-degree program. The third year of medical school
is essentially the first year of the PhD program, shortening
the time-to-degree for the dual-degree student by a year.
The typical student spends the first two years in medical
school, followed by about four years (which serve as the
third medical school year) in a PhD program and, finally,
returns to a fourth year of medical school. The course
work in the first medical school year provides a solid
grounding in the basic medical sciences. The second year
is devoted to a clinical sciences curriculum. Following
completion of the second year, the trainee enters a graduate
program to complete the requirements for the PhD degree.
A final academic year of elective clinical study completes
the requirements for the MD degree.
While
the typical student follows the plan outlined above, students
whose research interests are well developed early in the
first year may opt to begin the PhD at the beginning of
their second year and then complete the clinical sciences
curriculum after finishing the PhD. While this is not
the typical sequence, much latitude is granted to students
interested in early research experiences.
Eligibility.
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both
the Graduate School as a candidate for the PhD degree
and the School of Medicine as a candidate for the MD degree.
Most candidates apply for admission to the first year
of the program, but a few students are admitted each year
after completing the second or third year of Duke University
School of Medicine. In addition to the minimum requirements
for acceptance into the Graduate School and the School
of Medicine, advanced course work in science and mathematics
as well as prior research experience count heavily in
the selection of candidates for the MSTP. The quality
of prior research experiences, the individual personal
statement of purpose and research interests, and evidence
of a passion for research are key components in a successful
application.
Because
a significant portion of the program’s funding is
provided by a National Institutes of Health training grant,
program participants must be United States citizens or
official permanent residents of the US.
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