MD/PhD - Medical Scientist Training Program

The Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at UT Southwestern trains the next generation of leaders in academic medicine by offering a combined MD/PhD degree. Each year we enroll approximately 10 outstanding students from across the country and around the world who have substantive experience in laboratory research and a strong desire to pursue a research career related to medicine.

A highly integrated program, a dedicated and collegial faculty, and an unusually intense hands-on clinical experience await the prepared student.

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Curriculum

UT Southwestern’s MSTP recognizes the special niche the MD/PhD scientist occupies by providing a rigorous but supportive program of clinical and research training. The program can accommodate differences in individual goals by flexible scheduling of the research and clinical years.

The program consists of:

  • Two years of medical school curriculum
  • A minimum of three years of graduate study and dissertation research in an area of basic biomedical science, leading to the PhD degree
  • Clinical studies of the final two years of medical school, leading to the MD degree

During their research years, students have the same intimate exposure to a research mentor as other graduate students, where they learn techniques and thought patterns of basic scientists.

During clinical training, MD/PhD students master clinical skills and develop the same compassion and commitment as all UT Southwestern medical students.