Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)

The M.D./Ph.D. program at MUSC is an NIH-funded Medical Scientist Training Program with the goal of training future leaders in academic medicine.

Mission: Train the future generation of physician-scientists and leaders in academic medicine.

Funding: The MUSC MSTP is funded in part by a training grant from the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences, the Colleges of Medicine and Graduate Studies and numerous scholarships. As of July 1st 2024, trainees receive a stipend of $37,000 a year and tuition, fees and health insurance are paid for. The College of Graduate Studies provides a $2,000 bonus for each year that a trainee receives a NIH NRSA fellowship. The MUSC MSTP was ranked third in the nation, per capita for obtaining the highly competitive NIH NRSA individual fellowships.

Commitment to the trainees: We are committed to maintaining the highest standards for both the PhD and MD degrees. Our program provides a collegial and nurturing environment in which each student’s intellectual and personal potential is nurtured, encouraged and challenged. This ensures that our trainees achieve their full potential. Upon completion of their training, our students go on to the highest quality internships, residency training programs and post-doctoral research fellowships, followed by outstanding career positions.

Program of study: The MSTP offers maximum flexibility and guidance for the student to select a mentor and training experience. There are also several mechanisms available that allow the trainee to get significant exposure to clinical and translational research during the graduate years in addition to time in medical school. They include but are not limited to the Translational Sciences Clinic (during graduate years), Translational Medicine Seminar Series, a Month in the Research Nexus (during senior year) and the CARES Clinic, an evening clinic serving the medically indigent. Our students publish their research in top-tier journals and receive numerous honors and awards for their research. 

Contact Us

Medical Scientist Training Program
68 President St., BE 101
MSC 501
Charleston, SC 29425
Phone: (843) 876-2405
Fax: (843) 876-2416

Nancy Klauber DeMore, M.D., FACS
Director of M.D./Ph.D. program
843-876-2405

DJ Lester
Graduate Program Coordinator
843-876-2405