Program Details

In the Penn State College of Medicine MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program, you’ll explore the ways in which medicine and basic research can be combined through translational research.

Integration of the medical and graduate curricula is emphasized from the beginning, and this is sustained even during your predominantly medical or graduate years of training.

Students typically complete the program in eight years.

Program of Study

Accepted applicants have the opportunity to complete an optional pre-matriculation laboratory rotation for the month of June. You can arrange for the rotation by contacting the MD/PhD office at mstp@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

You’ll then start the program, doing your first two years of medical school while taking a limited number of graduate courses.

First Two Years

During your first year (M1), faculty members in the program present their research to students at a weekly luncheon. You’ll then select two faculty members to do rotations with during the summer between your M1 and M2 years. Students typically choose a lab for their thesis research after these rotations. You may choose advisors/labs from either the Hershey or University Park Campus.

While you’re in medical school, you’ll take Biological Basis of Human Health and Disease (BMS 506A/B). This course is typically taken during M2 and is organized and run by the dual-degree program specifically for MD/PhD students.

At the end of M2, you’ll take Step 1 of the USMLE licensing examination.

Graduate Studies

After successfully completing Phase I of medical education, you'll focus on graduate studies and begin your thesis project. Students typically finish their thesis research in four to five years.

During the graduate years, you’ll also get to experience the life of a physician-scientist through the clinical exposure program, through which you choose a clinical mentor and work with that mentor in his or her clinic.

Upon completion of your PhD dissertation, you’ll return to medical school (M3 and M4 years) to complete your clinical rotations and choose a residency program.