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American Physician Scientists Association
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Welcome to the community site of the American Physician Scientists Association (APSA), a national organization dedicated to addressing the needs of future physician scientists. On Medstro, we host online discussions and resources for physician scientist trainees. We welcome you to connect with your friends and colleagues, participate in discussions and browse our catalog of useful resources.
Welcome to the community site of the American Physician Scientists Association (APSA), a national organization dedicated to addressing the needs of future physician scientists. On Medstro, we host online discussions and resources for physician scientist trainees. We welcome you to connect with...Read More
MSTP Applications
On July 27, 2017, APSA held a session focused on MSTP applications featuring three MSTP program directors: Dr. Skip Brass (University of Pennsylvania), Dr. Robin Lorenz (University of Alabama Birmingham), and Dr. Kerry O'Banion (University of Rochester). We asked them frequently asked questions about MSTP applications. Hear their answers:
What do you look for in a prospective MD/PhD student?
Dr. Lorenz
Dr. Brass
Does the MD/PhD admissions panel prefer if you have a variety of research experiences, i.e. from multiple different labs, or if you have long term commitment to a single lab where you are in charge of your own project?
Dr. Lorenz
Dr. O’Banion
What exactly is MSTP? Is it focused on medical scientists or inclusive to all MD/PhD programs?
Dr. Brass
Discuss the advantages of physician-scientist training and why you all specifically chose this pathway.
Dr. Lorenz
Will the career of an MD who runs their own research lab be different from that of an MD/PhD who also runs their own lab and if so, how?
Dr. O’Banion
Dr. Brass
Dr. Lorenz
What constitutes a healthy MD/PhD or MSTP program?
Dr. O’Banion
Dr. Lorenz
Many of our PhD-specific secondary applications ask us to further describe our long-term research interests. Do you find that the most successful applicants and MD/PhD students have a detailed idea of what their future clinical or basic science investigation will entail, or do most programs encourage exploring other scientific areas?
Dr. Brass
Dr. O’Banion
With undergraduate students interested in MD/PhD programs spending significantly more time in the lab in undergrad than MD-interested students, do you see other parts of the potential MD/PhD student’s application that lack compared to an MD application, and if so, how can this be fixed?
Dr. Lorenz
How does clinical research experience compare with wet lab experience when considering applicants?
Dr. O’Banion
Dr. Brass
Do most MD/PhD’s tend to lean more toward one end? Do they focus more on their clinical practicing or their research or is it fairly balanced?
Dr. Brass
And would you say that’s more commonly basic science research or is clinical research a viable career path for an MD/PhD?
Dr. Brass
Can you tell us about the timeline of completing a program and about the different timeline options that exist across the country?
Dr. Lorenz
Dr. O’Banion
What research questions do you feel can be answered by an MD/PhD program as opposed to only a PhD?
Dr. Lorenz
Dr. Brass
Dr. O’Banion
As physician-scientists, what are some of the obstacles you face, especially dealing with knitting together the clinical and basic science parts?
Dr. Brass
Dr. Lorenz
Can you offer any specific or practical advice about the application process for students applying to social science/humanities MD/PhD programs?
Dr. Brass
Do you commonly see MD/PhDs passionate in global health? How can they pursue these passions?
Dr. Lorenz
Who should get a master’s in public health versus a PhD?
Dr. Lorenz
I have seen that MD/PhD applicants often have to be accepted separately to medical school and to the PhD program; is this the same for MSTPs or is that a single-admission process?
Dr. Brass
Dr. O’Banion
Dr. Lorenz
How does the process change for non-traditional applicants, e.g. those who have recently completed a post-baccalaureate program or those who have taken one or more gap years?
Dr. O’Banion
Would you turn that around and say that it’s almost a recommendation to do either of those things before applying?
Dr. O’Banion
Final words of advice:
Dr. Lorenz
Dr. O’Banion
Dr. Brass