Medical Scientist Training Program

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PROJECT SUMMARY The goal of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UMMSM) is to provide a rich, supportive and inclusive training environment that fosters the development of diverse, highly motivated and goal-oriented physician scientists who will pursue careers matching state of the art research with evidence-based medicine. The Miller School is fully positioned to ensure the success of the MSTP. The continuous expansion of basic and clinical funded research, the establishment of several new NIH funded Centers and training grants, the Institutional investment in new infrastructure and core facilities over the last 10 years, as well as Miami’s diverse population and access to Latin America & the Caribbean, make UMMSM an outstanding place for MSTP training. Students are recruited from colleges and universities throughout the US and are selected through a holistic review process that focuses on research experience, character, and passion for a dual research and medicine career. South Florida’s unique demographics has been a key element in the recruitment of a diverse MSTP student body, which has 36% of trainees underrepresented in medicine (26% underrepresented minorities). The award of a MSTP T32 in 2017 has increased the number and quality of our applications and has also facilitated stronger institutional and programmatic leadership support, resulting in a 30% increase in the program size in 5 years. The Program is well integrated with the newly established UMMSM NextGenMD curriculum that highly values scholarly activities. This curriculum allows MSTP students to complete their dual degree in 7-8 years, and effectively incorporates PhD training after exposure to both preclinical coursework (14 months) and clinical clerkships (1st 6 months). Students are able to select among PhD training programs in eight interdisciplinary Programs in Biomedical Sciences, as well as Programs in Public Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering. Graduate training that confers the development of competencies needed to carry out rigorous and ethical research and MSTP support of formal training to enhance productive mentor-mentee relationships are complemented by a series of other MSTP activities enhancing skills necessary to build a solid physician scientist unique identity. These include a journal club for MSTP students in their early years of medical school, longitudinal clinical experiences during graduate training which includes exposure to clinical research related activities, and student-led activities that bring together all MSTP students, such as monthly Scientific & Professional Development Workshops, monthly Clinical Case Reviews, annual MSTP Student Research Symposium, annual Retreat and other career development and social activities. Measurable outcomes of the program include, among others, strong publication records, high success rates of NRSA fellowship applications, and excellent residency matches. Overall the MSTP provides an integrated training experience that fosters a true culture and passion for learning how to generate and translate innovative research to medicine.