Program Overview

Translational Medicine (MTM) Program

The Master of Translational Medicine program (MTM) trains students to solve fundamental problems in healthcare technology innovation. Within the MTM, trainees gain experience solving real-world problems in a creative, multi-disciplinary team setting.

Program Overview

A joint program between UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley, the MTM provides a unique combination of engineering, business, and clinical expertise. The program revolves around a professionally oriented, team-based capstone project experience with mentorship from academic leaders, clinical specialists, and industry professionals. Students join the learning communities on both campuses, taking elective classes in engineering, business, public health, and more.

Faculty

The faculty director of the MTM program is Dr. Shuvo Roy. Numerous other faculty participate for specific courses or modules.

Career Outcomes

MTM graduates pursue several career paths after graduation, including as medical device engineers, biotech scientists, regulatory consultants, clinical trialists, entrepreneurs in start-ups, and other areas involved in bringing new health innovations to patients.

While the MTM is intended as a terminal degree, some graduates continue their education, typically pursuing MD or PhD degrees.

A number of MTM students are taking time out of their medical education, residency, or clinical practice to develop the skills for translating new ideas into products and processes for improved clinical outcomes.

Program Details

The MTM program office at UCSF is located in Byers Hall on the Mission Bay campus. (At UC Berkeley, the office is in Stanley Hall.)

The MTM program is offered by the UCSF Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, administered jointly by the UCSF Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and the UC Berkeley Bioengineering Department, and delivered by faculty members in the UCSF schools of medicine and pharmacy and in UCB's College of Engineering.

Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to train students in applying translational research and engineering approaches to solve fundamental problems in healthcare delivery. The program is focused on addressing real-world problems in a creative, interdisciplinary team setting.

The MTM program is an intense year of coursework designed around the main content themes of engineering, clinical needs and strategies, and business, entrepreneurship and technology. The centerpiece of the curriculum is the capstone project course. Complementing 10 months of work with external mentors, this class meets regularly to provide peer support, introduce concepts in translational medicine, and develop presentation skills.

Degree Requirements

• Completion of core and elective classes in appropriate topical areas:
  • 15 units of technical courses
  • Nine units of courses on clinical needs and strategies
  • 12 units of business and entrepreneurship courses
• Completion of an integrative capstone project.
• Presentation at MTM final symposium.

Core Courses

Course List Code | Title | Units
---|---|---
BIOENGR 270| Translational Challenges: Diagnostics, Devices &Therapeutics| 2
BIOENGR 260| Translational Challenges in Medicine| 1
BIOENGR 283| Designing Clinical Research for Industry| 2
BIOENGR 285| Health Care Finance & Economics| 2
BIOENGR 296| MTM Capstone Project (UCSF) (Enroll FA,WI,SP)| 9
Total Units| 16

Core Courses from UCB

Plan of Study Grid Fall| Units
---|---
ENGIN 270A| Organizational Beha | 1.5
ENGIN 270B| Tech Management | 1.5
BIOENG 291| Project Management for Translational Medicine | 3
| Units| 6
Spring
BIOENG 280| Ethical and Social Issues | 1
BIOENG 290| Adv Topics in BioE | 3
Select one of the following: (all courses are 1.5 units) | 1.5
ENGIN 270D| Entrepreneurship |
ENGIN 270E| Technology Strategy |
ENGIN 270F| Data Analytics |
ENGIN 270G| Marketing Prod Mgmt |
ENGIN 270H| Acctng & Finance |
ENGIN 270I| Tech Strategy |
ENGIN 270J| Industry Analysis |
ENGIN 270K| Coaching for High Performance Teams |
ENGIN 270L| Global Leadership Expertise |
ENGIN 270M| Professional Ethics in Technology, Law and Business |
ENGIN 270N| Innovation Management |
ENGIN 270P| Power and Persuasion for Engineering Leadership |
ENGIN 270Q| The Power of Diversity and Inclusion for Engineering Leaders |
| Units| 5.5
| Total Units| 11.5

Non-course Core Requirements

• Capstone project
• Participation in final symposium

Program Leadership

• Degree Offered: Master of Translational Medicine (MTM)
• Program Leadership:
  • Shuvo Roy, PhD, Faculty Director
  • Verna Manty Rodriguez, Executive Director