Educational Opportunities for Physicians

Millennium MD/PhD Program

The Millennium PhD Program (MPP) ensures that physicians are equipped with the tools necessary to allow patients to benefit from the remarkable advances in knowledge derived from basic biomedical research.

The MPP grants PhD degrees to people who previously earned an MD.  The students are given substantial credit for medical school classes, so that only a minimum number of additional didactic courses (as few as one) are required before the student can take a qualifying exam.

Master of Science in Clinical Investigation

The Master of Science in Clinical Investigation Program provides MD as well as PhD trainees with methodologic and content skills that will enable them to design, conduct, and analyze the results of clinical, public health, and translational research investigations.

Master in Public Health

A Master of Public Health degree is offered at the University of Massachusetts Medical School campus in Worcester.  This degree is granted though and accredited by the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  The courses are taught in Worcester by faculty from both campuses.

Clinical Scholars Program at UMass

Program Director: Dr. Gyongyi Szabo

The Vision

This new program is designed to enhance research training opportunities for development of physician-scientists in translational and clinical research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The program will provide an optimal research training environment and mentoring structure to empower the Clinical Scholars to master skills for a future independent career as a patient-oriented and translational investigator.

Program Structure:

• Clinical Scholars will spend a minimum of two years research during their residency/fellowship program. During the research project, the fellow's clinical involvement will not exceed 20% effort/time and extention of the research time to three years will be possible upon demonstrated productivity. It is expected that fellows of this program will submit publications before the conclusion of their research.
• Clinical Scholars will select a highly accomplished investigator/mentor from the MMS faculty who will work closely with the fellow to provide research and career guidance.
• Fellows will participate in all mandatory training modules required for conduct of research (CITI test, animal training, radiation safety, etc.)
• Clinical Scholars will take a class in the conduct of ethical research and in scientific writing (GSBS courses).
• Mentoring: Each fellow will be assigned a Clinical Scholars Advisory Committee (2 research faculty and the residency/fellowship training directors) who will follow the development and progress of the fellow. The fellow will be responsible to arrange meetings with the Advisory Group every six months.
• Fellows will participate in quarterly programs that will provide guidance in various aspects of career building.
• For the research years, a 50% salary support of the appropriate standard PGY level stipend will be provided by the Clinical Scholars Program (the other 50% will be provided by the research mentor).

Eligibility Criteria:

• Previous meaningful research experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to research and academic activities.
• Residents with MD/PhD degree are particularly encouraged to apply

Current 2012 APPLICATION and printable INSTRUCTIONS can be downloaded here.