general applicant info

Advice:

• Advice for Applicants - Frequently Asked Questions answered by Dr. Skip Brass
• Is an MD/PhD program right for me? Advice on becoming a physician-scientist - article in Molecular Biology of the Cell by Dr. Skip Brass
• Advice for UIM applicants to MD-PhD programs
• Perspective: Three Crucial Questions When Applying to MD-PhD Programs - article in Science Careers by Dr. Skip Brass
• Finding Nirvana: Paths to Becoming a Physician Scientist - article in Science Careers by Dr. Aimee Payne and Dr. Skip Brass
• MD-PhD in the Social Sciences or Humanities: Is it Right for Me?
• MD-PhD Training Overview (AAMC guide) – includes lots of resources for those interested in pursuing MD-PhD training (Tips for Applying, Common Career Paths, Reasons to pursue an MD-PhD, helpful tools & more)
• 60 Years of Building the Physician-Scientists of Tomorrow: A Q&A with Penn MSTP Director Skip Brass — article in Pulse with Dr. Skip Brass (2018)

 

Journal Articles & Outcomes:

- Gaps between college and starting an MD-PhD program are adding years to physician-scientist training time - article in JCI Insight by Dr. Skip Brass, Dr. Reiko Fitzsimonds and Dr. Myles Akabas. Read FAQ guidance on gap years HERE

- The National MD-PhD Program Outcomes Study: Relationships between medical specialty, training duration, research effort, and career paths — article in JCI Insight by Dr. Skip Brass and Dr. Myles Akabas

-  The National MD-PhD Program Outcomes Study: Outcomes variation by sex, race, and ethnicity — article in JCI Insight by Dr. Myles Akabas and Dr. Skip Brass

 

Panel Recordings and Presentations:

• Everything you wanted to know about applying to MD/PhD programs - featuring Dr. Skip Brass and a Penn MSTP student panel (2024)
• Exploring an MD-PhD Career Path with Student Panel- National Pre-Health Conference program led by Dr. Skip Brass (2022)
• Demystifying the MD-PhD: What is the Truth?- an SNMA and Penn MSTP information session (Spring 2021)
• APSA MD-PhD and VMD-PhD Admissions Panel (Spring 2021)

 

MD-PhD Podcast Episodes:

• Behind the Microscope – Setting the Bar for Physician Scientist Training – podcast episode featuring Penn MSTP Director Skip Brass
• Behind the Microscope – There is Always a Way – podcast episode featuring Penn faculty member Taku Kambayashi
• Dual Degrees in Medicine podcast with Dr. Skip Brass

 

Relevant Associations & Resources:

• American Physician Scientist Association (APSA) – MD-PhD Applicant Interactive Series (and other resources)
• National Association of MD-PhD Programs
• MD-PhD Training Overview (AAMC guide)
• Virtual Interviews: Tips for Medical School Applicants
• Project SHORT - free, student-led mentoring for the admissions process
• AMCAS - The American Medical College Application Service^® (AMCAS^®) is the AAMC's centralized medical school application processing service. Most U.S. medical schools use AMCAS as the primary application method for their first-year entering classes.