Who are physician-scientists, and why do we need them? According to Varki and Rosenberg (2002), they are individuals with medical training who spend most or all of their time engaged in basic disease-oriented or patient-oriented research. When considering a career as a physician-scientist, students must weigh their interest in research against three factors: accumulated debt, a long period of training, and the uncertainty of success (Ley & Rosenberg, 2002).

One such program available to physician-scientist trainees is the Medical Scholars Program at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. The Medical Scholars Program (MSP) educates physician-scholars not only in clinical medicine but also in areas that address the scientific and socioeconomic imperatives that affect contemporary medical science. These physician-scholars will be prepared to bridge the gap between researchers and medical practitioners, as M.D./Ph.D.s are uniquely able to understand both perspectives.

According to the MSP Policies and Procedures (2001), “The Medical Scholars Program (MSP) enables students to combine the study of medicine with graduate or professional study in a relevant, recognized second discipline leading to the M.D. and a second advanced degree, usually the Ph.D. Students are admitted to pursue the joint degree program in an integrated manner, and they have an equal responsibility to fulfill the commitments to both the College of Medicine and the graduate program” (pp. 1-2).

arning either an M.D. or Ph.D. is a challenge, but pursuing both of these degrees simultaneously can be a daunting task. On the average, it takes eight years to complete both degrees. The MSP is committed to doing whatever it can to facilitate the careers of its M.D./Ph.D. students. To this end, the MSP has established a unique, collaborative advising system and has created a series of innovative programmatic initiatives designed to give students the tools that they will need to be successful physician-scientists.

Advising Mechanisms

Currently, more than 150 MSP students are enrolled in 35 different graduate programs. It is clear that such a diverse group of students would have a diverse set of academic advising concerns and issues. The MSP, therefore, offers a wide array of programs for students, starting with the application process and continuing through the completion of both degrees.

The advising process begins for MSP students before they are even accepted into the program. Applicants to the program are able to apply to up to three research departments on their MSP application. Those students who are invited to interview for admittance to the program meet with faculty researchers in their fields of interest while on campus for their interview day. These meetings give the students a preview of the research opportunities and mentors available on campus and help them to decide on a specific research project.

Once admitted to the program, the MSP hosts a “How to Pick a Graduate Adviser” dinner for all members of the entering class. MSP graduate faculty members who were selected to receive the Outstanding MSP Adviser Award speak to the entering-class students about specific qualities to look for when choosing an adviser, including their accessibility to their students, their interaction with students, and how they manage their labs. This event was initiated in 2001 because the MSP administration realized how critical the careful selection of an appropriate research mentor was to the students' success or failure in the Ph.D. program.

The students are required to spend their first year in their graduate research discipline. In consultation with the student's graduate adviser, each student in the Medical Scholars Program develops an individual course of study that integrates graduate and clinical education. Since the requirements among graduate disciplines vary widely, a student's individual graduate course requirements and research guides the scheduling of his or her entire program of study.

In order to facilitate students' progress throughout their time in the program, students and their graduate advisers are required to meet on an annual basis with the MSP associate director. The purpose of the annual advisory conference is to track student progress during the current academic year, to determine their course of study for the upcoming summer and academic years, and to aid them in finding financial support when needed. These annual conferences are an excellent means for determining whether students are following their proposed course of study, keeping in mind the ultimate goal of effectively and efficiently coordinating their research and medical study plans. These conferences also serve as a means for students to raise specific issues and concerns they may have and for the graduate adviser to learn more about the medical side of students' lives.

The MSP and the Office of Educational and Student Affairs work collaboratively to track the medical education progress of each student. If a student is determined to be at risk, these two offices work closely with the student to determine a study plan for achieving success in their medical studies. In addition, the associate dean of Educational and Student Affairs participates in the annual advisory conferences of those students who need extra guidance to be successful in the medical school curriculum.

Therefore, MSP students have a whole team of advisers, including their graduate advisers, the associate dean of Educational and Student Affairs, and the MSP staff, who all work together to facilitate students' progress towards both their medical and graduate degrees. The MSP office has an open-door policy for all students, and students are encouraged to report any significant achievements, to stop by and vent about any frustrations, or to discuss a specific issue.

Promoting Career Growth and Opportunities

In addition to its advising component, the Medical Scholars Program provides students with a wide variety of programs on career growth development and opportunities. Students have two opportunities each year to present their research results to their peers. The annual Allerton Retreat is held at the beginning of the academic year, and an annual research symposium is held in the spring. These events were established on the premise of combining both the clinical and research aspects of the college so that students, faculty, and clinicians could learn from the exciting and innovative work going on within the local medical and research communities. Each event features a renowned physician-scientist keynote speaker who presents a talk on his or her research and a career path talk on how he or she established a career. Recent keynote speakers have been representatives from the National Institutes of Health Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, the University of San Diego, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Many of the programs offered by the MSP are designed to assist students in career planning and determining their medical specialty. The Preparing Future Physician Scholars (PFPS) seminar series was started last year to provide the dual-degree students with the tools to successfully pursue careers in academic medicine. Topics covered have included grant writing skills, health care economics, and keys to successful matches in psychiatry, family practice, and neurology. Most recently, residency directors from Harvard University, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Pennsylvania were invited to campus to speak about research-intensive residency programs at their institutions. Graduates of the MSP also serve as PFPS speakers to promote the success of students currently in the program. Several alumni return to campus each year to give talks about their residency experiences and career paths.

In addition, the MSP associate director and the associate dean of Educational and Student Affairs present an annual career strategies seminar for M.D./Ph.D. students. Information is presented regarding residency opportunities and options. Other items of discussion are residency lengths and competitiveness, contents of the dean's letter, and residency options for M.D./Ph.D. students.

Another program designed by the MSP to help elucidate the connection between research and clinical practice is the Bench to Bedside seminar series. The goal is to bring the various aspects of medical education, practice, and lifestyle closer to that of the scientist. Recent seminars have included Menopause: Making Choices; Sleep & Circadian Rhythms; and Blood Clotting.

The MSP Research Grand Rounds showcases College of Medicine faculty, as well as invited faculty, whose research has important implications for the practice of clinical medicine. Recent talks in this series have included Use and Abuse of Corticosteroids and Optical Biopsy Using Optical Coherence Tomography.

A monthly MSP newsletter is also a wonderful advising tool. It features career and financial support opportunities, dissertation completion grant information, and employment opportunities. Students are notified of and encouraged to attend pertinent conferences to present their research results. This networking tool is invaluable to students for their professional development.

Summary

The MSP advising process is unique because of the diversity and complexity of the students it serves. The MSP recognizes that students' individual programs of study will vary with respect to their graduate program requirements, their funding considerations, and the nature of their research.

The success of the students in the Medical Scholars Program is clearly a result of its staff's dedication to seeing each student through to the completion of both degrees. Its team approach through collaboration with the research faculty, graduate programs, and the medical school's student affairs office helps to guarantee that each student is successful. The personal touch and special attention given to each student is irreplaceable.

The MSP has developed innovative programs and tools that seek to ensure that tomorrow's physician-scientists are well trained and prepared for the challenges that lie ahead of them. The student-centered team approach utilized to facilitate the education of these students is a unique and powerful method to ensure their future successes. This program is a role model for graduate program advisers, educators, and administrators, and also serves as a reminder that advising truly is all about the students and doing whatever it takes to empower them to be successful.