Students enrolled in the MSTP attend medical school for two years, and
then pursue full-time graduate study for three to four years. Upon completion
of their graduate studies, students re-enter medical school, and complete
their clinical training. However, variations in this program of study
occur frequently, and are structured based on the recommendations of
the MSTP Steering Committee in consultation with the School of Medicine
and the Graduate School.
Research
Rotations
MSTP Fellows are required to participate actively in research during
their entire time at SBU. Minimally, this entails performance of two
full-time research rotations, one of which is during the summer between
years 1 and 2 of the preclinical medical curriculum. (At least one
rotation must be in the lab of an SBU PI. Rotations' advisors have
to belong to appropriate graduate programs. Someone who does not belong
to any SBU graduate programs is unlikely to be appropriate to be a
mentor or approved to be one. Graduate programs can be joined very
quickly – so this will not hinder otherwise appropriate faculty
from taking students for rotations.
MSTP Fellows are
strongly encouraged to arrive at SBU the summer before they matriculate
in medical school to pursue a research laboratory rotation. While
not required, this can make it easier for students to choose laboratories
by the time they enter graduate school in year 3.
Year 1
- The First Year of Medical School
The first year
curriculum consists of basic science courses and introductory courses
related to patient care. MSTP Fellows are strongly encouraged to arrive
at Stony Brook the summer before medical school matriculation so that
they can pursue a research laboratory rotation during this period
as well. While not required, we feel that this can assist the student
by allowing him or her to have a final lab chosen by the time they
enter graduate school in year 3. The first year curriculum consists
of basic science courses and introductory courses related to patient
care and professionalism. The basic science courses are Molecules,
Genes and Cells; The Body (anatomical sciences and embryology); Neurosciences;
Medical Physiology; and Pathology. The other required course is Foundations
of Medical Practice, a recent integration of five previously separate
courses: Medicine in Contemporary Society (social sciences & humanities
in medicine); Introduction to Preventive Medicine; Introduction to
Human Behavior; Introduction to Clinical Medicine; and the first segments
of Nutrition. The first year Introduction to Clinical Medicine occurs
throughout the year and imparts basic skills in taking a patient history
and doing a physical examination. The year ends with an Objective
Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), a standarized patient examination,
in which students demonstrate their skills on actors in simulated
clinical scenarios.
Year
2 - The Second Year of Medical School
After a course in Microbiology, the second year emphasizes the study
of pathophysiology in organ systems. The Systems Approach to Medicine
consists of integrated elements of basic and clinical science related
to the neuroscience, blood, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal,
musculoskeletal, psychiatry, renal, reproductive, and respiratory
systems. Pharmacology is synchronized with the system segments.
Medicine in Contemporary Society and Introduction to Clinical Medicine
continue in the second year. The latter focuses on the patient interview,
examination and correlative skills as students acquire additional
knowledge in physiology, pathology, and the natural history of diseases
in the systems course. Students take Step 1 of the United States
Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and participate in a standarized
patient examination at the end of the second year. Passage of each
is a requirement for advancement into the clinical years of study.
Application
to Graduate School
For uninterrupted study, formal application to graduate school must
be made no later than the middleStudents choose their Graduate Program
of during the second year of medical school. MSTP Fellows who have
already chosen a research field and thesis project and a faculty
advisor typically apply jointo one or moreof Ph.D. Programs to which
the prospective advisor belongs. MSTP Fellows who have not yet decided
upon a projectfield/advisor, apply jointo the program(s) of greatest
academic interest (this can be changed later if needed)..
Year 3 - The First Year of Graduate school
- Selection of Thesis Advisor
- Engaged in full-time graduate coursework
- TA responsibilities
- Seminars and possible lab rotations
- Independent research project
- Mandatory clinical research experience
Many SBU graduate programs require research rotations during the
first year of graduate study; however, this requirement is waived
for MSTP Fellows who have chosen their advisor. MSTP Fellows who
have not decided upon a project/advisor by the beginning of year
3 can continue performing formal research rotations after matriculation
in graduate school.
Year 4, 5, (6)- The Second, Third, and (Fourth) Year of
Graduate school
- Preliminary exam
- Thesis Proposal Defense
- Teaching requirement
- Clinical
research experience (Y3)
- Dissertation Defense
- Simulated
patient experience (supervised history and physical) exam.
Re-entry to Medical School Students can re-enter medical school at almost any time
of the year. Fourteen months of clinical training are required to
graduate. For example, to graduate in May of 2012, a student would
need to re-enter medical school by about January of 2011. However,
this represents the minimum. Students frequently undertake more
than 14 months of clinical training to help them decide on a career
path or to increase their competitiveness for highly desirable residency
positions.
The Third Year of Medical School
The third year curriculum is patient focused and consists of eight
week clerkships in medicine, surgery , obstetrics-gynecology and
pediatrics, and four week clerkships in family medicine, ambulatory
care and psychiatry. The academic calendar contains a four week
elective block during which many students take neurology, do research
or enroll in two-week rotations in emergency medicine and radiology
. Medicine in Contemporary Society is integrated into each of the
major clerkships. All students must pass an OSCE at the end of year
3.
The Forth Year of Medical School
During the fourth year, the medical student assumes greater patient
care responsibilities and continues to acquire clinical and laboratory
skills. The curriculum includes: a one-month subinternship (medicine,
family medicine, pediatrics, or general surgery), a one-month didactic
course (emergency medicine, laboratory medicine, clinical therapeutics,
or surgical anatomy), a one-month neurology clerkship (if not taken
in year 3), a one-month experience in surgical subspecialties, a
two week block in primary care psychiatry, and additional elective
time to complete a total of 8 1/2 months. There is also a requirement
that each student complete either coursework or a project in Medicine
in Contemporary Society. All students must pass USLME Step 2 to
graduate.
