One of the first and most prestigious MD/Ph.D. programs in the country, Einstein’s NIH-funded Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) embraces a comprehensive “bench to bedside” philosophy. While similar programs at other schools provide separate MD and Ph.D. curricula, the Einstein MSTP concentrates on blending the two at every stage so that students truly learn to bridge the gap between medicine and science.
In the first two years of the program, students combine Ph.D. coursework with laboratory rotations and unique, MSTP-specific courses as well as medical school courses. The third through fifth years are dedicated to Ph.D. research, though students stay connected to patient care by participating in weekly Continuity Clinics at the nearby Jacobi and Weiller hospitals. Required clinical rotations then complete students’ medical training.