Medical Scientist Training Program at Tufts University

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The mission of the Tufts MD-PhD program is to foster the development of diverse and talented trainees into successful, resilient, and innovative physician-scientist leaders who will drive solutions to existing, emergent, and future critical health care challenges. Using the best evidence-based teaching practices, our objectives are to promote knowledge and skills for conducting and leading rigorous and reproducible research, the achievement of excellence in clinical medicine, and the development of competencies that promote the resilience needed to identify, adapt, and sustain efforts to meet evolving unmet healthcare needs in our society. The rationale for this approach is that ~24% of MSTP trainees nationwide pursue private practice, and that women and underrepresented minorities tend to spend longer in training and obtain less grant funding, highlighting the need for training approaches that optimize training outcomes and continued participation in research. To enhance trainee success and propel them to leadership in academic medicine, we provide trainees with new and evolving tools for recognizing and coping with the complex stressors of modern academic medicine. These include novel curricula in: Wellness and Resilience and Physician Leadership; enhanced, evidence-based mentor training; new computational biology courses; and a clinical and translational training option for those who wish to focus on patient-oriented research. We continue to provide a highly integrated approach to training with flexibility built in to accommodate dual degree students. We offer a clinical clerkship prior to entry into graduate training, and an abbreviated Family Medicine clerkship during graduate school which allows students to stay firmly connected to clinical medicine providing flexibility in re-entry to medical training when the PhD is complete. Medical training interfaces with 5 biomedical graduate programs in Cell, Molecular, & Developmental Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Molecular Microbiology, Neuroscience, and a new graduate program in Clinical and Translational Science. Our integrated curriculum also includes a Clinical Implications of Basic Research course, an annual retreat, a career-oriented dinner program, and other skill-building workshops such as Resilience and Physician Leadership. These include preparation for the transition from graduate school to clinical medical training, mentoring for NIH applications, a women physician- scientist group, and a workshop focused on choosing research-focused residencies. Finally, to enhance the diversity of thought in biomedicine, the Tufts MSTP will leverage new initiatives at TUSM and GSBS that enhance Diversity, Equity, Inclusiveness and Belonging, increase our number of URG trainees, and promote an inclusive and welcoming community. With a strong institutional commitment to the MSTP, we have expanded our enrollment through a Second Portal program for trainees already enrolled in medical school and have a target size of five entering trainees each year. Our MSTP has graduated 109 trainees, and 38 are currently enrolled. We request funding for 10 positions in this application.