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MD/PhD program directors give quarterly update for winter 2018-2019

Penn State College of Medicine’s MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program is led by co-directors Leslie Parent, MD and Robert “Bob” Levenson, PhD.

The directors recently updated the program about several highlights for the past quarter.

Updates on the program

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Penn State’s MD/PhD program, which has grown considerably in size since the original cohort of four students started in the program to the current level of 58 students.

In July 2018, the program was awarded supplemental funding for the T32 MSTP grant, and has used the funds primarily to develop and implement an enhanced set of curricular and training activities aimed at fostering essential professional skills to help students become successful physician scientists and learn to identify and cope with problems such as burnout and career dissatisfaction.

The new training sessions are specifically designed to promote resilience, grit, wellness, leadership, teamwork and a stronger sense of community among the trainees. To help accomplish these goals, the program has so far held two full-day retreats, one in October and a second in December, that included all students, several training program faculty and invited speakers with unique expertise in these areas. Additional professional skills activities are also planned for the annual MSTP retreat to be held at the Penn Stater hotel in State College the weekend of March 30, 2019.

Penn State College of Medicine MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program students are seen in a group in front of a large fireplace and holiday tree during the 2018 Winter Retreat.

Penn State College of Medicine MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program students during the 2018 Winter Retreat

The program has also utilized supplemental funds to send four students to the national MD/PhD student meeting in Keystone, Colo., and six students to the national American Physician Scientist Association meeting in Chicago. The plan going forward is to extend, enhance and sustain the menu of professional development activities offered that are aimed at providing College of Medicine MD/PhD students with the professional skills required to become successful physician-scientists.

Dr. Levenson, Dr. Parent and program coordinator Alison Smolinski attended the 2018 GREAT Group Annual Professional Development Meeting held Sept. 27 to 29, 2018, in Atlanta. This meeting provided an opportunity for MD/PhD program directors and administrative staff to network with peers to share experiences and learn about programmatic innovations. At the meeting, the College of Medicine team presented a poster detailing the plan for enhanced professional skills development, which drew a considerable amount of interest from other MD/PhD directors. There was also considerable discussion about the changes NIH is planning to incorporate into the new Medical Scientist Training Program T32 application that will begin with the May 2019 cycle, as well as the development of PSTP umbrella programs, similar to the Penn State Physician-Scientist Training Program, which will provide research opportunities in a variety of subspecialties for MD/PhD graduates during residency.

Dr. Levenson, Dr. Parent and Dr. Sheldon Holder, along with MD/PhD student Carson Wills, have been working with the Office of Medical Education to implement new curricular initiatives regarding clinical clerkships as well as the MD/PhD Clinical Exposure Program. MD/PhD students will now be able to satisfy part of the family and community medicine requirement in a single block module scheduled for February in Hershey during their M3 year.

The Curriculum Committee is also considering a proposal to allow MD/PhD students to complete the required M3 longitudinal clerkship in a subspecialty of their choice rather than in family and community medicine, as well as a proposal to make the Clinical Exposure Program a required clinical elective during the G2 through G4 years. Details will be forthcoming once the committee has given final approval to the proposals.

People

The MD/PhD program would like to welcome several new additions to the training faculty:

The program has also announced several new members of the MD/PhD Steering Committee:

Dr. Browning has also been named Associate Director for the MD/PhD program.

A photo shows newborn baby Eliza Diana Ren, daughter of MD/PhD students Heather and Jerry Ren, laying on a blanket wearing a baby onesie.

Eliza Ren

MD/PhD students Heather (Class of 2022) and Jerry (Class of 2021) Ren welcomed a daughter, Eliza Diana, on Sept. 27, 2018.

Scott Tucker (Class of 2021) and Mallory Peterson (Class of 2024) were named CHOT Scholars for 2018-2019. Tucker is finishing up his thesis project in Greg Lewis’ lab, and Peterson is a G1 student in Steve Schiff’s lab.

Also, renovations to the MD/PhD office (Room C6802) are complete, and as of Jan 2, 2019, Dr. Levenson is spending the majority of his time at the College with office hours every afternoon (Fridays by appointment). Students should free to drop by to chat, problem-solve or just hang out.

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