Medical Scientist Training Program

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

CU Anschutz Medical Scientist Training Program

Dear CU MSTP Students,

The ultimate mission of MSTP Student Council is to represent, organize, advocate, and care for each other. At this moment, that mission compels MSTP SC to promote anti-racism, both by implementing changes within our own organization as well as advocating at a broader level.

Our mission directs us to look inward. We all know that black people, and people of color in general, are discriminated against and underrepresented in our council, programs, schools, and campuses. We are committed to acknowledging and addressing our shortcomings; that means listening intently to what our black colleagues are saying. But it also means all of us, especially those who don’t directly experience racism, have a responsibility to advocate for racial equity.

Our mission forces us to look outward as well, to our community. As our city, state, and country confront the horrific outcomes of explicit and structural racism, we must acknowledge the unequivocal statistical and narrative evidence depicting systemic oppression and mistreatment of black people, and respond deliberately to combat it. George Floyd died from police brutality, and he also tested positive for Covid-19, a reminder of how institutional racism permeates throughout our society, including our own profession of health care.

Throughout all of this, we want you to know that we are here for you. And we hope that every MSTP student can commit to supporting each other over the coming months, building a stronger and more inclusive CU MSTP family.

Black Lives Matter.

MSTP Student Council Executive Board
Hans Anderson, Matt Becker, Elijah Christensen, Lily Nguyen, Taylor Soderborg (emeritus), Sarah Zych

Actions express priorities. Therefore, detailed below are concrete steps that MSTP Student Council is taking, and that you can take, to support anti-racism. At the same time, we recognize the continuous need for feedback and growth in service of this mission, and thus encourage you to contribute your thoughts, concerns, and ideas. We want MSTP SC to be a forum for open discussion about topics including race and discrimination, as well as a channel for feedback to the MSTP Administration.

Student Council:

• New position: MSTP Student Council Diversity Officer. We envision this role to include data-driven internal audits of MSTP Student Council and program-level policies and incidents of discrimination. We are also considering advocating to the administration that this elected member serve on the MSTP Admissions Committee. Another role could be to establish an MSTP SC community engagement initiative, with the explicit goals of (1) increasing student interaction with diverse communities and (2) recruiting black students and URM students into STEM career pathways including MSTP. The specifics are a work-in-progress; we appreciate any and all feedback about the title and functional role of this position. 

• Anonymous Feedback: We hope that every single MSTP student feels open to utilize MSTP Student Council as a resource and platform to express their views, concerns, critiques, and emotions. Let us know what’s up. Feel free to remain anonymous or leave your contact info for a response. You can also use this link to provide anonymous feedback to the administration (please indicate if desired). 

• Open Call for Perspectives: We want to hear about your experience. If you have a perspective, thought, argument, or criticism about our world right now, that you would like to share with the MST Program, please send it to us at mstpstudentcouncil@ucdenver.edu for collation and distribution at your discretion. 

MSTP / University of Colorado:

• Community Outreach about the MSTP training path to local and national groups: Opportunities to travel to local high schools, colleges, universities, as well as meetings, e.g. SACNAS, ABRCMS. 

• Study policies for improving URM recruitment: 
1. Identifying Best Practices for STEM Intervention Programs for URMs  
2. Cost-Effective Recruitment Strategies That Attract Underrepresented Minority Undergraduates Who Persist to STEM Doctorates  
3. Populations Underrepresented in the Extramural Scientific Workforce. 

• Support local programs aimed at creating pathways for URM students in science: 
1. SMART Program (Boulder) 
2. RNA Bioscience Summer Internship (Anschutz) 

• Create a database of fellowship opportunities specifically for URM: Examples include NIH Diversity supplements, Diversity NRSAs, Ford, and Gilliam Fellowships. 

• Gather and Promote Resources for Inclusive Teaching / Research / Lab Environments: Example. 

National:

• Chaney and Robertson 2013. Racism and Police Brutality in America. 

• Fiscella and Sanders 2016. Racial and Ethic Disparities in the Quality of Health Care. 

• Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. 

• White Coats for Black Lives: Medical-student led advocacy group, local chapter here. 

• Black Lives Matter: National Advocacy Group. 

• More Resources

MSTP Messenger Archive

MSTP 2021 Fall Messenger (pdf)
Download MSTP 2021 Fall Messenger (5073 KB)

Welcome to the MST Program

The Medical Scientist Training Program provides rigorous training for students interested in a career in clinical medicine and basic science research.

The MST Program's mission is to provide students with the breadth and depth of training necessary to excel as clinician scientists.

Colorado has strengths in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Immunology, Epidemiology, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Virology, Neuroscience, Endocrinology, Pharmacology, and Cancer Biology, which provides an exciting spectrum of research opporunities for MSTP students.

History of CU MSTP

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus MD/PhD Program was established in 1983 and obtained NIH/MSTP funding in 1993. The goal of this Program is to train a diverse cadre of dual-degree students to become outstanding physician-scientists and future leaders in biomedical research. To accomplish this goal, we select students from an increasing national applicant pool, seeking out those candidates whose record of research, academic, and leadership achievements are exemplary. Our pool size has increased significantly, from 154 in 2007 to >500 in 2020, and we matriculate 10 students annually. Our current roster of 80 students (44% female; 16% URM; 5% disability; 19% disadvantaged; and 5% 1st generation college) come from across the nation, from elite universities, and with ~30 months of prior research experience and ~60% with prior publication(s). Since 1983, 214 students have matriculated, 28 are URMs, 20 left the program, 146 graduated with both degrees in 8.2 years, and 85 completed all of their training with 50 pursuing research in academics, the NIH/CDC, or industry, 32 in private practice.

The selected MSTP students enter a flexible, yet highly rigorous training program that interdigitates graduate and medical school courses in the first two years, by substituting graduate for medical school courses, and vice-versa, followed by one required MSIII clinical clerkship, with an option for a second. They then complete ~4 years of thesis work, followed by 16-24 months of MSIII/IV clinical work. A MSTP-specific Molecules to Medicine course, Reading with the Professor elective, weekly Seminar Series, and a Longitudinal Clinical experience during the thesis years have been specifically developed for our students. For thesis research, students choose from >200 MSTP faculty in 15 graduate training programs. MSTPs train at three sites: the Anschutz Medical Campus, National Jewish Health, and the University of Colorado- Boulder, which have a combined grant income of ~$1B. To enhance the success of our MSTP students, we provide career guidance beyond the PhD thesis years, and we work diligently to place our graduates in elite residencies and fellowships.

The relatively new Anschutz Medical Campus provides state-of-the-art education, research and clinical facilities, and enjoys significant momentum with ~$480M in grants, $450M in philanthropy and ~$100M in clinical income to fund research and programs. The SOM Dean John Reilly has funded 5 new basic/clinical collaborative Translational Research initiatives that have resulted in the recruitment of ~15 new faculty. In sum, the leadership and the continuous improvement of the Program, applicant pool, recruited students, training faculty and plan, student out-comes, institutional support, and research funding and environment underscores the elite character of this MST Program.

Concern Reporting Form (via Maxient)

What is it?

Maxient is a software program utilized by U.S. higher education institutions to track and record trainee behaviors (i.e. student discipline, academic integrity, care and concern records, Title IX matters, or just an “FYI”).

Why is it useful?

Maxient has centralized reporting and record keeping that will help us connect the dots and prevent students from falling through the cracks by helping us identify students in distress and coordinate the efforts of various departments to provide follow-up.

How will ORE Use Maxient?

We have created an ORE Maxient Form for students, faculty, and staff to share any concern or report any type of issue or concern about oneself or others. Once submitted, the form will be routed to the corresponding Program Director and Program Administrator for follow up. If an individual prefers NOT to notify the program, they may select "ORE" from the Program list and the form will instead be routed to the ORE Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.