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MSTP Milestones

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MSTP Milestones

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Summer before MD1

  • Identify first laboratory rotation before arrival (Director’s approval required) and complete laboratory rotation agreement. Deadline: June 15 (before matriculation)
  • Laboratory Rotation Presentation; complete lab rotation evaluation with summer mentor. Deadline: Early Aug (date varies)
  • Meet with MTA director. Deadline: August 1
  • Meet with Faculty Advisor. Deadline: September
  • Identify first laboratory rotation before arrival (Director’s approval required) and complete laboratory rotation agreement. Deadline: June 15 (before matriculation)
  • NOTE: Vacation is taken before starting in program

Required Courses and Events

  • Problem Solving in Biomedical Science (PSBS) course (summer)
  • First laboratory rotation (summer)

MD1

  • InFocus 1 First Year MD/PhD summer rotation planning meeting. Deadline: October (date varies)
  • Meet with Director to discuss progress and rotation choices for upcoming summer (Dec 1 – Jan 31). Deadline: Feb 1
  • Identify second/third rotations (Director’s approval required) and complete laboratory rotation agreement. Deadline: March 1
  • Complete Individual Development Plan (MSTP IDP). Deadline: Feb 15

Required Courses and Events

  • Annual MSTP Retreat
  • Medical school courses
  • Biomedical Sciences (BMS) for MD/PhD Fall/Spring Courses
  • Medical Scientist Grand Rounds (MSGR) ~8 sessions per year

MD2

  • Complete 2nd and 3rd Laboratory Rotations / Laboratory Rotation Presentation. Deadline: Early Aug (date varies)
  • Dinner meeting with Director and PhD phase students to discuss transition to PhD phase. Deadline: Mid Feb (date varies)
  • Get approval of Director regarding your selection of PhD mentor (Sept – Feb). Deadline: Feb 15
  • Complete Individual Development Plan for MD/PhDs (IDP for MD/PhD). Deadline: Feb 15
  • Submit form to Declare MTA / mentor (Director’s approval required). Deadline: March 1
  • Take USMLE Step 1. Deadline: June 30

Required Courses and Events

  • Complete second/third rotations (summer between first and second year)
  • Summer vacation: 2 weeks after Rotation Presentation day (end of rotations)
  • Medical school courses
  • Annual MSTP Retreat
  • MSGR ~ 8 sessions per year

MP1

  • Start in lab. Deadline: July 15
  • With PhD mentor, identify and invite Advisory Committee members (check with MTA Directors for guidelines) and fill out this form. Deadline: August 30
  • Annual MSTP Retreat – abstract, poster presentation encouraged. Deadline: Sept (date varies)
  • Lab Coat Ceremony for those entering the lab. Deadline: Sept (date varies)
  • Organize and meet with thesis committee at least once prior to thesis proposal exam. Deadline: Oct-Mar
  • Review and Revise MSTP IDP. Deadline: Feb 15
  • Thesis Proposal Exam. Complete the Thesis Proposal Voting form and submit the signed form to Bianca Taylor, Program Manager. Deadline: June 30

Required Courses and Events

  • Summer vacation: 2 weeks following USMLE Step 1 (mentor begins to pay stipend after the 2 week vacation)
  • Graduate School course registration deadline is June 30 for the fall semester
  • With MTA director, identify and register for MTA-specific coursework
  • MSGR ~8 sessions per year
  • Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) [might have been taken in MD1]
  • Rigor and Reproducibility (R&R) [might have been taken in MD1]
  • Biostatistics; waiver Exam optional (grade 85 or above = pass).
    • MPH0300 or a higher level course, BIO6400 or BSR1026. Eligibility for BIO6400 is based on satisfying one of the following criteria: (1) satisfactory grade on a placement exam or demonstrating a grade of B+ or better in a college calculus course. MPH0300 does not have a prerequisite. Qualified students who wish to be exempted from the Biostatistics requirement take a waiver exam upon request (Dr. Emilia Bagiella). BSR1026 is intended for students with proficiency in R, Python, or MATLAB. For eligibility questions, please contact Dr. Emma Benn.
  • Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting (twice per year), complete Advisory Committee Meeting form
  • Thesis Proposal Registration (at least 4 weeks prior to Thesis Proposal Exam)
  • Thesis Proposal Exam by June 30 (extension requires MSTP Director approval)
  • If applying for F30/F31: request Program Description letter from MSTP Director (form)
  • Submission of F30/F31 application (strongly recommended)

MP2

  • Annual MSTP Retreat – abstract, poster presentation required. Deadline: Sept 1 (abstract due in mid Aug)
  • Lab Coat Ceremony. Deadline: Sept (date varies)
  • Review and Revise MSTP IDP. Deadline: Feb 15
  • Thesis Proposal Exam. Complete the Thesis Proposal Voting form and submit the signed form to Bianca Taylor, Program Manager. Deadline: Fall-Spring

Required Courses and Events

  • Advanced MTA coursework
  • Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting (twice per year)
  • MSGR ~8 sessions per year
  • If applying for or resubmitting F30/F31: request Program Description letter from MSTP Director
  • Submit F30/F31 application (new or resubmission, strongly recommended)
  • 2 weeks of vacation to be arranged with mentor

MP3

  • MD3 Re-entry Planning Meeting (for all MP3+ students and mentors). Deadline: Sept 1 (date varies)
  • Annual MSTP Retreat – abstract, poster presentation required. Deadline: Sept 1 (abstract due in mid Aug)
  • Review and Revise MSTP IDP. Deadline: Feb 15
  • Thesis Advisory Committee Meetings every six months. Complete the Progress Report/Advisory Committee Meeting form. Deadline: Fall-Spring

Required Courses and Events

  • Clinical Refresher is required for all students planning to return to MD3 (April – May)
  • Advanced MTA coursework
  • Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting (twice per year)
  • MSGR ~8 sessions per year
  • Possible early PhD Thesis defense (if so, refer to MP4 instructions)
  • 2 weeks of vacation to be arranged with mentor

MP4+ (MP4 and above)

  • Annual MSTP Retreat – abstract, poster presentation required. Deadline: Sept (abstract due in mid Aug)
  • MD3 Re-entry Planning Meeting (for all MP3+ students and mentors). Deadline: Sept 1 (date varies)
  • Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting to discuss defense plans. Deadline: Fall, before December 15
  • January Re-entry Planning Meeting. Deadline: End of Jan (date varies)
  • Meeting Faculty Advisor for Re-entry planning. Deadline: During month of Feb
  • Lottery. Deadline: End of Feb (date varies)
  • Register for Clinical Refresher Course. Deadline: End of Feb (date varies)
  • Review and Revise MSTP IDP. Deadline: Feb 15
  • Schedule PhD Thesis defense (strongly encouraged that the defense take place prior to April 1). Deadline: April 15, suggested for May Commencement
  • Defend and deposit dissertation, required to return to MD3. Deadline: April 15, suggested for May Commencement
  • Dissertation must be both defended and deposited in order to return to MD3 year (by June 15). Deadline: April 15, suggested for May Commencement
  • Defend and deposit dissertation, required to return to MD3. Deadline: April 15, suggested for May Commencement
  • InFocus5 - full time re-entry into MD3. Deadline: Last week of June (date varies)

Required Courses and Events

  • Advanced MTA coursework
  • Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting (twice per year). Complete the Progress Report/Advisory Committee Meeting form
  • MSGR ~8 sessions per year
  • Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Refresher course (mandated by NIH every 4 years)
  • Prepare for reentry to medical school
  • PhD Thesis defense
  • Clinical Refresher Course (April through first week of June, dates vary)
  • Note: please schedule 2 weeks of vacation mid-June (between end of Clinical Refresher and start of InFocus5)

MD3

  • Review and Revise MSTP IDP. Deadline: Feb 15

Required Courses and Events

  • MD3 clerkships
  • Collect letters for Residency Applications
  • Spring: meet with Faculty Advisor re: MSPE and MD4 planning
  • Compile materials for MSTP Director letter meeting (CV/biosketch, IDP, description of research, optional: mentor letter)
  • MD4 Schedule Planning
  • Elective planning and registration
  • Registration for USMLE Step 2CK and CS

MD4

  • Meet with MSTP Director for Research letter component of MSPE (May-July). Deadline: July 15
  • Review and Revise MSTP IDP / Exit Survey. Deadline: Feb 15

Required Courses and Events

  • USMLE Step 2 CS and CK (summer between year 7 and 8)
  • Meet with Faculty Advisor re: MSPE (Spring)
  • Collect letters for Residency applications (if applying)
  • Meet with MSTP Director to discuss content of MSTP Research letter for MSPE
  • Write personal statement for Residency applications
  • Assemble and submit residency applications
  • MD4 clerkships and electives
  • Residency Interviews
  • Match (March)
  • Convocation for graduating MSTP students
  • Participate in panel discussion "Residency and Beyond" at MSGR (April)
  • Commencement (mid-May)
  • Effective May 15 (date may vary depending upon the year), your stipend will be reduced to 2% and subsequently terminated on July 1. This small stipend makes it possible for you to retain your health care coverage through June 30.