Medical Scientist Training Program

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. 

Program Leadership

Nancy Klauber DeMore, M.D., FACS

Director, Medical Scientist Training Program
Professor of Surgery
BMW Endowed Chair in Cancer Research
Co-leader, Developmental Cancer Therapeutics, Hollings Cancer Center

Donald Menick, Ph.D.

Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program
Professor, Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Eligibility Criteria

We are particularly interested in why you want to come to MUSC for the MSTP and what research you would like to pursue in graduate school. The committee takes a holistic approach in the evaluation of the applications. GPA and MCAT scores are a large factor in obtaining an interview, at which point we are looking for the other traits essential to becoming great physicians. These include:

• Not currently or previously enrolled in M.D. or Ph.D. program outside of MUSC
• Evidence of serious and enthusiastic commitment to the program
• Minimum GPA of 3.5
• Minimum MCAT considered 504, taken within 3 years from date of matriculation, July 1.
• Receipt of a bachelor's degree prior to matriculation into the program
• Record of advanced courses in the physical and/or biological sciences
• Demonstrable evidence of a commitment to research
  • Clinical shadowing experience
  • Volunteer Work
• Outstanding recommendations from faculty at the applicant's undergraduate institution and research mentor(s)

Application Requirements

• Application to the MSTP at MUSC involves the completion of the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) Online Application and the MUSC supplemental application.
• Instruct AMCAS to forward your AMCAS application to MUSC. You must select the MD/PhD Program type on your application. This application will permit you to submit essays describing your interest in the combined MD/PhD program.
• You should submit three to five letters of recommendation. These letters should come from previous or current research mentors, instructors, physicians or employers. References should come from individuals who know you well enough to comment on your education and research potential. We also will accept a committee packet with three separate letters from your college pre-med advisory committee. Non-traditional students who have been away from college for a number of years can substitute an employer for one of the faculty letters. All letters should be submitted through AMCAS. We do not accept paper recommendations. Deadline for submission of the AMCAS application is November 1.

Application Deadlines

Scholarship Eligibility

MUSC offers scholarships for which you may be eligible. Some are awarded based on academic achievement; others are awarded based on community service, for example. However, the majority of scholarships awarded at MUSC are based on financial need. This means those scholarships are only awarded to students who need some financial assistance to cover the cost of tuition and fees. If you would like to be considered for a financial need-based scholarship, you must have an up-to-date Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file. Make sure you list Medical University of South Carolina on your FAFSA form, along with MUSC's code: 003438. We encourage you to submit the FAFSA as early as possible. It is recommended to submit the FAFSA in January if you plan to enroll in the Fall.

Use of Marijuana and/or CBD Products

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug and is illegal to purchase in South Carolina. Apart from a narrow and limited scope of codified/documented medical exceptions, it is illegal for individuals to use marijuana/tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in South Carolina, even if purchased legally in another state. Although cannabidiol (CBD) products may be purchased and used in South Carolina, please be aware that CBD products may contain higher levels of THC than represented on packaging and use of CBD products can result in a positive drug screen for THC/marijuana. Be aware that current drug testing methods cannot accurately ascertain the origins of THC metabolites (i.e., whether from marijuana or CBD products). Your academic program has the authority to conduct random and/or scheduled drug testing; if your test result is reported as positive for THC metabolites (even if you only used a CBD product), your ability to be accepted into the program, progress in the program, and/or successfully complete the program may be negatively impacted.