Duke University 2008-2009 - Office of the Registrar - Duke University

participate in exercises on extemporaneous speaking, formal research presentations, and
question and answer sessions. Consent of instructor required. Instructor: Saunders. 1 unit.
361. Biostatistics for Medical Physics. The course covers topics in bio-statistics
foundational to all sub-specialties of medical physics. Consent of instructor required.
Instructor: Tourassi. 3 units.
Medical Scientist Training Program
Dona Chikaraishi, PhD, Interim Director
The Medical Scientist Training Program, conducted under the auspices of the Graduate
School and the School of Medicine, is designed for students with strong backgrounds in
science who are interested in careers in the medical sciences and academic medicine. The
program combines graduate education in the sciences basic to medicine with the clinical
curriculum of the School of Medicine. It typically requires seven to eight years of study and
leads to both the MD and PhD degrees. The combination of basic science and clinical
training affords a remarkable range of career opportunities for program graduates, who
generally follow one of two broad paths: Some pursue careers in teaching and research in
one of the basic medical sciences; others enter residency programs and then go on to
investigative and teaching careers in clinical medicine.
Eligibility. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both the Graduate
School as candidates for the PhD degree and the School of Medicine as candidates for the
MD degree. Most candidates apply for admission to the first year of the program, but a few
students are admitted each year after completing the second or third year of Duke University
School of Medicine. In addition to the minimum requirements for acceptance into the
Graduate School and the School of Medicine, advanced course work in science and
mathematics as well as prior research experience count heavily in the selection of
candidates. Due to restrictions on fellowship funding, program participants must be United
States citizens or official permanent residents of the US.
The Training Program. Duke University School of Medicine’s unique third-year
research curriculum fits nicely with a dual degree program. The third year of medical school
is essentially the first year of the PhD program, an arrangement that shortens the time-todegree
for the dual-degree student by a year. The typical student spends the first two years
in medical school, followed by about four years in a PhD program (which serve as the third
medical school year) and, finally, returns to a fourth year of medical school. The coursework
in the first medical school year provides a solid foundation in the basic medical sciences. The
second year is devoted to a clinical sciences curriculum. Following completion of the second
year, the trainee enters a graduate program to complete the requirements for the PhD degree.
A final academic year of elective clinical study completes the requirements for the MD
degree.
The typical student follows the plan outlined above, but students whose research
interests are well developed early in the first year may opt to begin the PhD at the beginning
of their second year and then complete the clinical sciences curriculum after finishing the
PhD. While this is not the typical sequence, considerable latitude is granted to students
interested in early research experiences.
Financial Support. All students admitted to the program receive a full fellowship
award: tuition, fees, health insurance, and a stipend to cover living expenses. The stipend for
2008-2009 is $26,000 per year. The full first-year award for 2008-2009 totals $71,494. The
award increases each year to match increases in fees, tuition, and living expenses. The
program provides these fellowship funds for the medical school years and the early portion
of the PhD study. The student’s PhD mentor provides financial support for the student in the
upper-level PhD years. The third year of School of Medicine tuition (the research year) is
waived for MSTP students who complete the PhD degree. Any student who drops from the
program without completing the PhD must pay this year of School of Medicine tuition.
Courses of Instruction 214