Alumni Review 2007
How can you know whether a training program is doing what it should to meet its goals? One important way of measuring a program's success is by finding out what has happened to its alumni. Have they chosen careers that are compatible with the program's goals? Are they successful in their careers?
Graduating from Penn's MD-PhD program means never having to worry that we have forgotten you - or at least so our alums tell us when we write to them for follow-up information. Our last extensive survey of our graduates was conducted for the January 2007 renewal of our MSTP grant. At the time of the survey there were 354 graduates of the program. We were successful in obtaining follow-up information on 98% of them. The information that they sent us was gratifying, to say the least. Essentially all of them were making good use of their training.
Of the 354 graduates, many are still in training as residents or postdoctoral fellows. Those who have completed training (225) hold a variety of positions. The largest group (60%) are at academic medical centers and universities doing basic, translational and patient-oriented research as well as clinical care and holding administrative positions. A large majority of these list research as their primary activity. Most list clinical departments as their primary appointment, but 14 listed basic science departments. Of the 144 alumni who hold faculty appointments, there are 40 Professors, 39 Associate Professors, 57 Assistant Professors and 8 instructors. There are also 2 deans, 1 university president, 7 institute directors or deputy directors, 5 department chairs, 5 current or past directors or associate directors of MD-PhD training programs, one senior pharmaceutical company executive, numerous division chiefs, and at least 4 founders of biotech companies. Two of our graduates have been elected to the National Academy and the Institute of Medicine. We also have alumni engaged in research in other settings. We have large groups working in industry (10%) and at research institutes or government agencies (9%) such as the NIH, Scripps, the Burnham Institute or the FDA. The rest (21%) have gone on to private practice or other fields, such as consulting.
We are extremely proud of our alumni and of our program's track record for training successful, independent physician-investigators.