Curriculum
About
The Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Virginia trains students who will be outstanding physicians and scientists and who will pioneer advances in clinical practice through research. Further, the MSTP provides students with the skills, knowledge and expertise to conduct high-quality, high-impact research; and, to instill a lifelong passion for doing biomedical research and integrating this with medical practice.
The UVA MSTP curriculum is designed to foster continuous integration of clinical medicine and scientific investigation across all phases of training. Early clinical exposure helps trainees identify research interests focused on patient-centered discovery. Opportunities for longitudinal clinical engagement during the PhD training years maintain important connections to medicine and ensure a smooth transition back to medical school. A flexible curriculum structure allows trainees to tailor clinical, research, and professional development experiences to their individual interests and career goals. Together, these attributes create a personalized pathway that positions each trainee for success as a physician-scientist.
Overall Timeline
Below you will find more information about the curriculum timeline.
Phase 1 Curriculum
Summers – before & after Year 1
- BIMS 8995: Topical Research – 12CR
Fall Semester (Year 1)
- BIMS 8131: Molecular Basis of Human Disease – 2CR
- BIMS 8171: Research-in-Progress – 1CR
Spring Semester
- BIMS 8132: Molecular Basis of Human Disease – 2CR
- BIMS 8172: Research-in-Progress – 1CR
- PATH 8470: Readings in Molecular Medicine “Journal Club” – 2CR
Fall Semester (Year 2)
- BIMS 8171: Research-in-Progress – 1CR
Phase 3 Curriculum
- Electives (PhD) (32 weeks)
- Emergency Medicine (4 weeks)
- Critical Care Medicine (4 weeks)
- Advanced Clinical Elective (4 weeks)
- Internship Readiness (2 weeks)
- Bedside to Community: Integrating Clinical Medicine and Population Health (2 weeks)
- Electives (40 weeks)
- Flexible/Interviews (11 weeks)
Links to School of Medicine and Graduate Curricula
- The Cells to Society Curriculum
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (BIMS)
- Biomedical Engineering (BME)
- School of Medicine Student Affairs
The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. These publications may be found at http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/index.php.