Curriculum
The Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) is an integrated training
pathway that combines the graduate and medical curricula and leads to
both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. It is designed to produce highly qualified
physician/scientists who will pursue outstanding careers in academic medicine
and research. Sponsored jointly by the National Institutes of Health,
the School of Medicine , and the UCSF graduate programs, the MSTP provides
financial support to cover all medical and graduate tuition and fees,
along with a yearly stipend of $26,000, as its students explore the full
range of coursework and research opportunities available at UCSF.
The MSTP training sequence generally consists
of the two pre-clinical years of medical school, followed by three or
more years of graduate research leading to a doctoral dissertation, and
then by the final five quarters of medical-school clinical clerkships.
At each phase of this process, special efforts have been made to optimize
and integrate the combined training experience. Graduate requirements
are streamlined to enable MSTP trainees to complete all coursework and
begin full-time thesis research early in their third year, and a unique
series of clinical preceptorships ensures continued exposure to clinical
medicine throughout the graduate years. This curriculum enables students
to complete their M.D./Ph.D. training as efficiently as possible while
maintaining the highest standards for both degrees; as a result, our graduates
have been exceptionally successful in competing for prestigious residencies,
fellowships, and careers.
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