Medical Scientist Training Program

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Enter the text here that is the new abstract information for your application. This section must be no longer than 30 lines of text. This is an application for T32 support of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program. The overall goal of our MSTP is to produce MD-PhD leaders who will use a robust, broad education in medicine and research training to improve health through highly innovative research, patient care and education. The Hopkins MSTP has a remarkable record of success in training physician scientists and continues to attract highly qualified applicants. The Program received 410-511 completed secondary applications annually between 2019 and 2024 and interviewed ~18% of these applicants. The process of applicant selection for interviews and admission is holistic, assessing an applicant’s unique experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement. Approximately 12 students enter the program each year. Admitted students have an average GPA of 3.91, an average MCAT score of 522, substantial research and clinical experience, and high aptitude and motivation for careers in biomedical research with the potential to transform clinical care. We have 96 current MSTP students. Students typically take two years of medical school preclinical science courses before enrolling in one of 28 available graduate programs for approximately four years. Our MSTP students have over 1000 research faculty from whom they can select a PhD mentor and physician scientist role models in every area of medicine. While completing their thesis research, students remain engaged in clinical education and take advanced courses. The average time to degree for graduates from 2014 and 2024 is 8.7 years. Students published an average of 10.3 peer-reviewed papers before returning to medical school required clerkships and electives. Andrea Cox, MD, PhD has been directing the program since 2013. She is a Professor of Medicine and Oncology, an infectious disease specialist, an active basic science and translational researcher, and a distinguished teacher. Dr. Cox heads a 29-member MD-PhD Committee that formulates policies for the Program, screens and recommends applicants for admission, and assists Dr. Cox in advising trainees and evaluating student progress and data on program satisfaction. The Program has been highly successful in fulfilling the MSTP mission of training outstanding physician scientists. Of the MSTP-supported students who graduated between 2019 and 2024, 98% are currently in or have completed clinical residencies, primarily in top-tier programs. Among graduates from those years, 95% remain in research-focused careers. Programmatic initiatives include increased engagement of Program alumni with current students, intensified efforts to shorten time to degree, dedicated instruction in ethics, rigor, reproducibility, and responsible conduct of research, and increased exposure of current students to the full range of physician scientist careers.