Program Timeline

First Year

Summer prior: 6 week Lab Rotation (optional)

Trainees are encouraged (but not required) to spend 6 weeks of the summer prior to their first year completing a laboratory rotation at UCSF, which can later be applied toward the two-rotation requirement for graduate school. The MSTP office can provide advice and assistance in arranging your rotation, and stipend support from the MSTP grant is available beginning June 15.

• MSTP Faculty Advisor Assignments are made in the first year.
• First-year SOM curriculum allows trainees time during the Essential Core to take graduate courses
• MSTP Big Sib Assignment

* Required

Second Year

Summer prior: 8-10 week Lab Rotation*

• Communication with mentors, including letter from the MSTP Director when trainee joins a lab and status report at 2.5 years
• Earlier choice of thesis labs (80% choose at end of 2nd year)
• MSTP Little Sib Assignment

* Required

Summer After Second Year

Lab Rotation or Join Thesis Lab

Third Year

• Join Thesis Lab by the start of third year.
• Complete Qualifying Examinations by end of third year (encouraged)
• Form Thesis Committee, advance to candidacy (one member must be from the MSTP Council)
• Thesis Committee Meetings - MSTPS are required to meet with their Thesis Committee every six months.
• Apply for F30/31 Fellowship* (some time during PhD years)
• Clinical Preceptorship: MED 160.04 (1-3 Quarters)
• Clinical Case Reviews (Optional)
• Attend MSTP Annual Retreat*

Fourth Year

• Complete Qualifying Examinations (required by end of 4th year).
• Form Thesis Committee (one member must be from the MSTP Council)
• Thesis Committee Meeting every 6 months.*
• Apply for F30/31 Fellowship* (some time during PhD years)
• Clinical Preceptorship: MED 160.04 (1-3 Quarters)
• Clinical Case Reviews (Optional)
• Apply for F30/31 Fellowship* (some time during PhD years)
• Attend MSTP Annual Retreat*

Fifth and Sixth Years

• Thesis Project, Complete PhD Requirements
• Thesis Committee Meeting every 6 months.*
• Projected PhD Completion every January
• Clinical Preceptorship: MED 160.04 (1-3 Quarters)
• Clinical Case Reviews (Optional)
• PhD Completion by end of 6th Year (Encouraged)    
• Attend MSTP Annual Retreat*                

Sixth through Eighth Years

• Complete PhD
• Late March/Early April - "Into the Clinic" Course: MED 170.36 (Taught by MSTP Med 3/4s*)
• Return to School of Medicine
• Complete MD Requirements
• National Board Examination: USMLE Step 2
• Apply for Residencies
• Attend MTP Annual Retreat*
• Graduation!

Year-Round MSTP Events

• Weekly MSTP Basic Science Faculty Seminar
• MSTP socials hosted by each class
• MSTP Vertical Mentoring Groups organized by research interest
• MSTP Community of Underrepresented Physician Scientists (CUPS) Quarterly Events
• MSTP Women's Physician Scientists Committee Quarterly Events 
• MSTP Trefethen Visiting Professor Seminar and MSTP Banquet
• Clinical Advisors Program for MSTP's returning to SOM