MD MSCR Program Structure & Curriculum | Icahn School of Medicine

Once enrolled in the PORTAL program, you will be introduced to the thought processes used by patient-oriented clinical and translational researchers, and taught the techniques they use. We offer a specific yet flexible program structure in a collaborative environment that offers challenge and invites inquiry.

ISMMS students will begin the PORTAL program during their second year of medical school. PORTAL adds a fifth year to the traditional four-year medical school track. This additional scholarly year provides the opportunity for students to dedicate uninterrupted time to the completion of a scholarly project and thesis.

Curriculum and Research

The curriculum focuses on helping you gain critical thinking skills and offers a solid foundation for conducting independent patient-oriented research studies.

Core Competencies & Learning Objectives include the ability to:

Recognize major clinical, translational, and public health research problems
Describe observational and experimental clinical research methods and study designs
Identify measurement and methodological issues in incorporating basic science, translational, clinical, and population variables into clinical research
Implement data analysis and management
Employ written and oral scientific communication and dissemination skills
Explain, assess and employ research ethics

For your thesis research, you will pursue original scholarly research on a subject of your choice, guided by a faculty mentor and the program directors. This entails formulation of a research question, design and conduct of a research plan, analysis of the resulting data, and presentation of the findings.

You should expect to spend approximately three to four extra hours per week on PORTAL during your second year. The remaining coursework will be completed during the scholarly year. There are no additional courses required during the remaining years, which will allow you to focus on the MD curriculum during that time.

PORTAL Program Academic Calendar

PORTAL Program Curriculum

Term	Course Number	Title	Credits
Fall
Yr2	CLR0006	Spectrum of Measurements in Clinical & Translational Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 1	3
SY	MPH0300	Introduction to Biostatistics	3
SY	CLR0001	Clinical Research Masters Thesis Design and Conduct	3
**SY	-	Elective	3
SY	CLR0017	Clinical and Translational Research Journal Club and Seminar Series	1

Spring-I
Yr2	CLR0016	Spectrum of Measurements in Clinical & Translational Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 2	3
SY	MPH0812	Applied Linear Models I	3
SY	CLR0001	Clinical Research Master’s Thesis Design and Conduct	3
SY	CLR0018	Clinical and Translational Research Journal Club and Seminar Series	1

Spring-II
SY	CLR0007	Spectrum of Measurements in Clinical & Translational Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 3	3
Yr2	N/A	Preparation for USMLE step 1	0
SY	CLR0501	Computational Tools for Clinical Research	2
SY	MPH0623	Applied Linear Models II	3
SY	CLR0011	Grant Writing	1
SY	CLR0001	Clinical Research Masters Thesis Design and Conduct	3
SY	CLR0019	Clinical and Translational Research Journal Club and Seminar Series	1

		Total Credits	38
		* SY = Scholarly Year ** Elective may be taken during any term of the SY

Portal Program Standard Curriculum

Term	Course Number	Title	Credits
Fall
Yr2	CLR0006	Spectrum of Measurements in Clinical & Translational Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 1	3
Yr2	MPH0300	Introduction to Biostatistics	3
SY	CLR0001	Clinical Research Masters Thesis Design and Conduct	3
**SY	-	Elective	3
SY	CLR0501	Computational Tools for Clinical Research	3
***SY	CLR0301	Tools in Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research in Clinical and Translational Science	3
SY	CLR0017	Clinical and Translational Research Journal Club and Seminar Series	1

Spring-I
Yr2	CLR0016	Spectrum of Measurements in Clinical & Translational Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 2	3
SY	MPH0812	Applied Linear Models I	3
SY	CLR0001	Clinical Research Master’s Thesis Design and Conduct	3
SY	CLR0700	Professionalism and Ethics in Clinical Research	2
SY	CLR0018	Clinical and Translational Research Journal Club and Seminar Series	1

Spring-II
Yr2	CLR0007	Spectrum of Measurements in Clinical & Translational Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 3	3
Yr2	N/A	Preparation for USMLE step 1	0
SY	MPH0822	Applied Linear Models II	3
SY	CLR0011	Grant Writing	1
SY	CLR0001	Clinical Research Master'sThesis Design and Conduct	2
SY	CLR0019	Clinical and Translational Research Journal Club and Seminar Series	1
***SY	CLR0610	Meta-analysis, Decision Analysis and Cost Effectiveness Analysis	3

		Total Credits	38