EEG (electroencephalogram) devices on mannequin heads

MSTP Curriculum

The University of Wisconsin Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) typically takes between seven and eight years to complete, with flexibility based on an individual’s PhD research and dissertation timeline.

The program is fully integrated with both clinical and research elements throughout the entire program, including weekly seminars, the Integrated Molecular Medicine (IMM) course series and other MSTP-specific courses and events.

Program Timeline


Medical School, Phase 1

(18 months)

Medical school curriculum begins. Integrated public health and clinical experiences include a weekly Integrated Molecular Medicine (IMM) course series led by MSTP directors focused on review of biomedical literature, bioinformatics, scientific presentations and grant writing. Research lab rotations take place during the summer after the first year.

Medical School, Phase 2

(12 months)

Integrated clinical block rotations take place in Madison and communities throughout Wisconsin. Students take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and select their thesis advisor and graduate program.

Graduate School

(3.5 to 4.5 years)

PhD coursework begins, including research and training; clinical experiences continue (with a faculty mentor in specialty area of interest). Students take MED 903: MSTP Longitudinal Clinical Experience in Graduate School course, conduct dissertation research and plan for thesis defense in spring or summer, as well as completion of a two-week intensive clinical elective prior to Phase 3.

Required: Regular attendance at weekly MSTP seminar; student research presentations; understanding of ethics and responsible conduct of research discussions; and clinical cases.

Medical School, Phase 3

(12 to 16 months)

Clinical acting internships and applications/interviews for residency begin. Students take MED 902: MSTP Clinical and Translational Research Elective (CTRE), and other electives.

Integrated Molecular Medicine (IMM) Course Series

You will participate in a weekly one-credit Integrated Molecular Medicine (IMM) course during the first three semesters of medical school.

The first semester course during Phase 1 (IMM1) focuses on evaluation of research articles in the New England Journal of Medicine’s “Clinical Implications of Basic Research” series. It serves to acquaint students with each other’s interests, initiate discussions of research opportunities at UW–Madison and pay attention to ethical and computational issues raised by research articles.

The second semester (IMM2) is led by Director Mark Burkard and concentrates on cell signaling and its relevance to human disease and cancer biology, with activities related to grant writing and a mock study section.

The second-year (IMM3)  is led by Dr. Huy Dinh and some objectives include understanding recent advances in the generation and analysis of large-scale datasets in biological and medical applications, and identifying ethical complexities involved in collecting and analyzing genomic data.

Summer Research Rotations

You will participate in at least three research rotations with research faculty of your choice. These three to four week rotations are done in the summer of Phase 1. If you have not selected a lab after three rotations, an additional rotation can be taken the summer after Phase 2.

Medicine 903

MSTP Longitudinal Clinical Experience in Graduate School (LCE)

To maintain and expand upon the clinical skills you learned during the first two and a half years of medical school, you will be required to complete four semesters of Medicine 903: MSTP Longitudinal Clinical Experience in Graduate School, during your graduate training (one credit per semester). You have the option of completing an additional one to two semesters for a total of up to six credits that fulfill Phase 3 patient care requirements.

You choose a faculty mentor and will work one-on-one in the clinic with them for a total of 40 hours throughout the course of the semester. The recommended format is 10 half-day clinic sessions, but schedules can be flexible depending on clinical scheduling and mentor availability. You will see patients like an advanced Phase 3 medical student and will also discuss several academic articles with your mentor.

Medicine 902

MSTP Clinical and Translational Research Elective (CTRE)

This course fulfills Phase 3 patient care and public health requirements. The purpose of Medicine 902 is to provide an opportunity for you to develop an understanding of how to conduct clinical research through an apprenticeship-style learning experience with a physician-scientist mentor.

Throughout the course, you will connect your research with the public health needs of the community and the state of Wisconsin. You will also learn about the regulatory process by attending Institutional Review Board and Scientific Review Committee meetings, integrating clinical experience with research, and experiencing other facets of a career as a physician-scientist.

Research and Training Student Events and Seminars Program Outcomes