Opportunities by Career Stage

MD-PHD PROGRAM

Mount Sinai Academy of Physician-Scientists

Whether you're applying to an MD-PhD program, choosing a research track in residency, preparing for a K award as a fellow, or building your faculty career in independent research, MAPS connects you to the pathways, funding, and mentorship for where you are right now.

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Career Stages

The MD-PhD Program is Mount Sinai’s integrated dual-degree training for future physician-scientists. Also known as the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), it has been continuously funded by an NIH training grant since 1977 and combines four years of medical school with PhD-level research training in one of eight Multidisciplinary Training Areas.

MD-PhD students complete the Pre-Clerkship Phase of the medical curriculum before transitioning to full-time doctoral research in the PhD Phase, where they select a dissertation mentor and pursue thesis research. After defending their dissertation, they return to complete their remaining clinical clerkships and advanced training, graduating with both degrees.

Learn more about the MD-PhD Program.

Our research-intensive residency pathways connect trainees to dedicated research time, NIH-funded training mechanisms, and mentorship from established physician-investigators, guiding you to the specific track that fits your specialty and research interests. Options include:

Research fellowships and postdoctoral training prepare physician-scientists to compete for career development awards and move toward independent research. MAPS connects fellows and postdocs to the funding mechanisms, training grants, and career-development resources that support this transition.

T32-Supported Training Programs: NIH-funded research training grants across multiple disciplines, supporting fellows and postdoctoral researchers.
Subspecialty Research Fellowships: Research-focused fellowships within clinical divisions.
KL2/K-Award Preparation Resources: Structured guidance and mentorship to prepare a competitive Career Development Award application.

As physician-scientists transition to faculty roles, MAPS connects them to the institutional infrastructure and guidance designed to sustain an independent research career, from translational research support to navigating promotion and tenure.

ConduITS: Mount Sinai's NIH-funded Clinical & Translational Science Award hub, offering regulatory guidance, biostatistical support, and resources to accelerate translational research.
Appointments, Promotions and Tenure: Guidelines, track-specific criteria, and document requirements for faculty navigating appointment, promotion, and tenure at Mount Sinai.
Faculty Development Core: Development, mentorship enrichment, and career advancement programming for faculty at every stage.
Office of Career Opportunity and Support: Career advancement programs, caregiver support, and equity-focused initiatives for faculty navigating promotion and leadership.

Hear From Current MD-PhD Students

Jake Herb, MSTP Student, PhD Year 4

"This year, I presented my research at a national meeting on liver disease. Standing at the podium, I felt energized and connected to a global research community. Afterwards, I met with audience members one-on-one to discuss my work in greater depth. These conversations helped me see how my PhD research fits within the broader field of liver disease and further solidified my commitment to a physician-scientist career."

Jake Herb, MSTP Student, PhD Year 4

Rachel Geltman, MSTP Student, PhD Year 3

"This year, I observed meetings between researchers, PICU attendings, allergy/immunologists, and hepatologists coordinating care for a hospitalized child with a rare immune disorder. Findings from a study my PhD lab published this year directly informed the clinical team’s next steps. Through this process, I was struck by how dual-degree training, combined with a shared medical and research campus, can facilitate crosstalk between researchers and clinicians, genuinely improving patient outcomes in real time."

Jake Herb, MSTP Student, PhD Year 4

Rachel Geltman, MSTP Student, PhD Year 3

Samantha Brown, MSTP Student, Medical School Year 3

"Defending my PhD in neuroscience and beginning clinical clerkships in 2025 marked a pivotal transition in my training. My PhD training taught me perseverance and scientific independence, and caring for patients reminded me why scientific discovery matters. Bridging these experiences shaped my growth as a future physician-scientist committed to translating research into meaningful patient impact."