Innovations In Md-Only Physician-Scientist Training Experiences From The Burroughs Wellcome Fund Physician-Scientist Institutional Award Initiative

Introduction In the first half of the 20th century, while the value of translating scientific discovery to clinical care was clearly established, the pace of innovation was resulting in increased specialization in both medicine and science - and increased duration of their respective training paths. In the 1950s and 1960s, American doctors were drafted to serve in the Korean and Vietnam Wars (1). In 1953, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) started its Associate Training Program, which selected physicians who applied to the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to serve as clinical associates at the NIH (2). Associates were allowed to pursue mentored research training at the NIH and a unique opportunity for physician-scientist training emerged (3). In 1956, the NIH launched its Experimental Training Program to provide medical students with opportunities for summer research experiences or additional years of training focused on research (4). Such programs have produced leading scientists, including several Nobel Prize laureates, members of the National Academy of Sciences, and directors and institute directors at the NIH (1). Individual medical schools began offering combined MD-PhD training in the 1950s, and in 1964, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) launched the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) to facilitate MD-PhD dual-degree training programs (4). MSTP graduates are well represented in academia (4); yet, they comprise [...]