Program Overview

Medical Scientist Training Program

The Iowa Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) prepares trainees for careers in academic medicine, emphasizing basic and clinical research.

Combined Programs

MD/PhD

The combined Doctor of Medicine/Doctor of Philosophy program normally requires seven to eight years of continuous study. It provides an effective and efficient means to integrate graduate and clinical training, combining the scientific approach with clinical medicine.

• Students register for MSTP:8515 Medical Scientist Training Program Topics every semester.
• The course focuses on a variety of topics relevant to training as a physician-scientist.
• During the first three semesters of the program, trainees take coursework in the basic sciences fundamental to the study of medicine and complete experiences that introduce mechanisms of health and disease, and principles of clinical practice.
• Trainees also begin the research component of the graduate phase of the program during this time, through summer laboratory MSTP:8511 Medical Scientist Training Program Research rotations, enrollment in MSTP:8513 Sitting in the Middle: Physician Scientist 101, research presentations by MSTP faculty and students, and a student-sponsored seminar series.
• Trainees participate in Conversations in Research, in which MSTP faculty members discuss their research and career interests, and they attend MSTP Grand Rounds, a forum for patient-based discussions that emphasizes how science and medicine intersect.

Admission

• Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to the MD program in the Carver College of Medicine.
• They also must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College.
• Applicants should have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree at an accredited academic institution.
• In addition to outstanding academic credentials, including strength in biological, physical, and mathematical sciences, they must demonstrate aptitude for and commitment to scientific research through productive research experience during their undergraduate years or after.
• Admission normally is made for entry to the first year of the program, but applicants already enrolled in the Carver College of Medicine may request admission with advanced standing.

Application

• The Carver College of Medicine participates in the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).
• Program applicants should select MD/PhD Program-Type on their AMCAS application and instruct AMCAS to forward their credentials to the Carver College of Medicine.
• Applications should be submitted as early as possible to allow careful review by the admissions committees of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) and the Carver College of Medicine.
• All candidates must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), according to Carver College of Medicine requirements.
• The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test is not required for admission.

Financial Support

• Trainees receive a stipend and full tuition support from a National Institutes of Health Medical Scientist Training Program training grant to the University of Iowa, supplemented by other institutional and individual awards.
• Students in the graduate phase of training receive support from their graduate departments or interdisciplinary programs and their research advisors.
• The program office also helps selected trainees apply for competitive national awards for outstanding academic and research achievement.

Medical Scientist Training Program Courses

• MSTP:7270 Medical Scientist Training Program Principles of Scholarly Integrity 1 s.h.: Training in responsible conduct of research; student/mentor responsibilities; authorship and reviewing; plagiarism and falsification/fabrication of data; intellectual property; fiscal, institutional, societal conflicts of interest; treatment of human and animal subjects; data handling.
• MSTP:8511 Medical Scientist Training Program Research arr.: Research experience.
• MSTP:8512 Medical Scientist Training Program Clinical Connections arr.: Experience with physician-scientist preceptor in medical interviewing, physical examination, patient presentation through direct patient interaction.
• MSTP:8513 Sitting in the Middle: Physician Scientist 101 1 s.h.: Physician scientists have a unique role in the processes of medical research and patient care. Students study a variety of topics crucial to becoming an effective physician scientist, including critical interpretation of medical literature, time management, imposter syndrome, data presentation, and interactions with patients.
• MSTP:8514 Grant Writing Basics: A Focus on Predoctoral Applications 1 s.h.: Introduction to practical and conceptual aspects of grant-writing process, with the goal of completing an NIH F30-like grant; encourages critical thinking about significance, innovation, and experimental design; relate critical information and study design in concise and clear language; practical concepts of grant writing such as specific aims, experimental design, and the grant review process; trainees will present their research ideas, establishing opportunities to give and receive scientific criticism.
• MSTP:8515 Medical Scientist Training Program Topics 1 s.h.: Workshops and speakers; focus on a variety of topics including wellness, research presentations, professional development, and on-going faculty research partnerships.

Program Faculty and Administration

• Director: Gordon F. Buchanan (Neurology)
• Administrative Director: Linda M. Varvel

Related Programs

• Doctor of Medicine

Program Structure

• The program is designed to provide a comprehensive education in both medicine and research, with a focus on developing the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful physician-scientist.
• The program is divided into two phases: the graduate phase and the clinical phase.
• During the graduate phase, students complete coursework and research rotations, and begin to develop their research skills.
• During the clinical phase, students complete clinical clerkships and gain hands-on experience in patient care.
• The program also includes a variety of seminars, workshops, and other activities designed to promote professional development and provide support for students.