Time to Degree
The MSTP program promotes efficiencies in medical and graduate training and is structured to facilitate advanced planning by students. Over the past 5 years, these features allowed our students to complete the program in an average of 7.68 years and to graduate training in 3.91 years. Averages for the past 15 years were similar with 7.74 years for time to MD-PhD completion and 3.91years for time to PhD.
Publications
MSTP students have a high level of scholarship and publish research that is meaningful to their field of study. Graduating students for the past 5 years have had a median of 9 total papers and 3 first-authored publications. In addition, 59% of our graduates were authors on at least one impact factor 12 or greater paper.
Figure 1. Median PubMed publications for MSTP student cohort from 2011-2025. Over the past fifteen years, 98% of graduates have had a first-authored paper.
Extramural Fellowships
MSTP students are successful in obtaining F30 NIH grants as well as foundation support, travel awards and other support. As of Fall 2025, the MSTP had the highest number of active F30 grants on NIH Reporter per MSTP student compared to other similar programs at top 10 NIH-funded medical schools based on Blue Ridge ranking. The success rate for F30 grant funding for our MSTP students was 71% from 2018 to 2024.
Residency
Many of our trainees transition from the MSTP into academic residences, which continue to support professional development as physician-scientists. Over the past 15 years, 70% of our graduates have continued to pursue research during residency.
Figure 2. Residency specialty chosen by MSTP graduates 2014-2025.
Figure 3. Residency institution for MSTP graduates 2014-2025.
Careers
Over the past 15 years, many of our graduates have successfully entered careers in academic medicine upon completion of residency/fellowship.
Figure 4. Career path outcomes for surveyed MSTP graduates from the past 15 years who have completed residency/fellowships (n=66).