Document Detail


Are MD-PhD programs meeting their goals? An analysis of career choices made by graduates of 24 MD-PhD programs.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20186033     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PURPOSE: MD-PhD training programs provide an integrated approach for training physician-scientists. The goal of this study was to characterize the career path taken by MD-PhD program alumni during the past 40 years and identify trends that affect their success.
METHOD: In 2007-early 2008, 24 programs enrolling 43% of current trainees and representing half of the National Institutes of Health-funded MD-PhD training programs submitted anonymous data on 5,969 current and former trainees.
RESULTS: The average program enrolled 90 trainees, required 8.0 years to complete, and had an attrition rate of 10%. Nearly all (95%) of those who graduated entered residencies. Most (81%) were employed in academia, research institutes, or industry; 16% were in private practice. Of those in academia, 82% were doing research and at least 61% had identifiable research funding. Whereas two-thirds devoted more than 50% effort to research, only 39% devoted more than 75% effort. Many with laboratory-based PhDs reported doing clinical, as well as basic and translational, research. Emerging trends include decreasing numbers of graduates who forego residencies or hold primary appointments in nonclinical departments, increasing time to graduation, and expanding residency choices that include disciplines historically associated with clinical practice rather than research.
CONCLUSIONS: Most MD-PhD program graduates follow career paths generally consistent with their training as physician-scientists. However, the range of their professional options is broad. Further thought should be given to designing their training to anticipate their career choices and maximize their likelihood of success as investigators.
Authors:
Lawrence F Brass; Myles H Akabas; Linda D Burnley; David M Engman; Clayton A Wiley; Olaf S Andersen
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges     Volume:  85     ISSN:  1938-808X     ISO Abbreviation:  Acad Med     Publication Date:  2010 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-03-31     Completed Date:  2010-05-25     Revised Date:  2011-03-30    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8904605     Medline TA:  Acad Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  692-701     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. brass@mail.med.upenn.edu.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Biomedical Research / education*,  manpower
Career Choice*
Education, Medical, Graduate / statistics & numerical data*
Humans
Medicine / statistics & numerical data*
Program Development*
Retrospective Studies
Specialization*
Students, Medical / statistics & numerical data*
United States
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Acad Med. 2011 Mar;86(3):277; author reply 277-8   [PMID:  21346431 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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