The MSTP leadership aims to provide holistic support and enrichment in formal and informal capacity for the duration of a student’s time in the Program. Also available to students are the Physician-Scientist Career Advisors, peer networks, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Office of Well-Being and Resilience.
Physician-Scientist Career Advisors are individuals who have completed training as MDs and MD-PhDs who are engaged in physician-scientist careers and can provide trainees with guidance about the experiences as a physician-scientist. Students are invited to contact these individuals in various states during their training to seek advice or guidance in career development.
The Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a structured tool designed to help MD-PhD students reflect on their progress, clarify short- and long-term goals, and plan for their academic and professional development. It also provides MSTP leadership with insight to support tailored advising throughout each stage of the program. The IDP is an electronic form with phase-specific guidance and questions based on branched logic. Upon completion, students receive a personalized summary report that can be shared with mentors, advisors, or others involved in their development. Completion of the IDP is required annually by March 1.
Before completing the IDP, students should reflect on their current stage of training, goals for the upcoming year, and broader career aspirations. The IDP is designed to help identify skills to strengthen, mentors to engage, and strategies to support continued growth. While primarily a tool for self-assessment and planning, the IDP report can also serve as a foundation for meaningful conversations with mentors, advisors, or others supporting the student’s development. Students are encouraged to use the IDP in whatever way best supports their individual progress and planning.
The choice of a dissertation advisor and MTA is a major focus of the first two years of the Program. The second year culminates with the student being accepted into the laboratory of a Graduate Faculty member for pursuit of the dissertation work. Faculty mentors of rotation students are urged to present a realistic picture of the tone of the laboratory, the nature of the ongoing projects, how work is assigned or monitored, and any general history or policies with respect to meetings, publications/authorship, weekly journal clubs and laboratory meetings, and direct contact to be expected with the laboratory leader. A choice of dissertation advisor is usually, but not always, consonant with the MTA choice.
By March 1 in the second year/ fourth semester in the MD/PhD program, each student is encouraged to submit the Dissertation Advisor/MTA Declaration Form. However, the deadline for submission is June 30. At this time, the student must also select at least three members for an Advisory Committee. Committee members should be selected because of their ability to provide scientific and/or technical support for the dissertation project. Advisory Committee members must be members of the Graduate Faculty. Two Advisory Committee members are experts in the area of the student’s research; a third member must be from a related field but need not be expert in the student’s area of research. MD/PhD students are encouraged to add a clinical/translational (C/T) investigator, who need not be a member of the Graduate Faculty, to their Advisory Committee to provide feedback about the C/T impact of their research. The Dissertation Advisor/MTA Declaration form should be submitted to the Graduate School Office with all the required signatures as soon as possible, but no later than June 30.
Please refer to the PhD Chapter for information on changing dissertation advisors, guidelines for when an advisor relocates.
During MD Phases of Training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
The Career and Professional Development Advising Curriculum for MD-PhD students at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is tailored to the unique needs of physician-scientist trainees during their medical school years—both before and after the PhD phase. This advising is integrated into the broader structure coordinated by the Office for Medical Student Affairs (OMSA), with additional support and customization provided by MSTP leadership. The curriculum is grounded in the AAMC Careers in Medicine framework and is aligned with MSTP-specific milestones and career development priorities.
Advising is overseen by the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs, the Assistant Director for Career and Professional Development, and the Director and Associate Directors of the MSTP, who work together to ensure that MSTP students receive timely, developmental, and personalized guidance throughout both transitions into and out of the clinical curriculum.
In their first year of medical school, MSTP students begin foundational career exploration while integrating into the broader MD class. Advising during this phase emphasizes early exposure to clinical fields, professional development skills, and the cultivation of mentorship networks.
Key Elements:
Introduction to career and professional development resources
Primer on physician-scientist career paths
Guidance on summer research or clinical experiences
Early mentorship from MSTP faculty, alumni, and near-peer students
Advising Goals:
Explore the landscape of biomedical careers through a physician-scientist lens
Begin identifying clinical interests that may align with future research directions
Build foundational skills in narrative development, CV building, and goal setting
As MSTP students return to medical school after completing their dissertation, they enter a phase of active clinical immersion and career decision-making. Advising focuses on integrating their PhD experience into residency planning and preparing for reentry into the clinical learning environment.
Key Elements:
MSTP Reentry: schedule planning, career advising, academic readiness
Updated CV, personal statement support, and narrative coaching
Research Residency advising and special physician-scientist career considerations
Guidance on electives that complement research and specialty interests
Conversations with departmental advisors, MSTP alumni, and PSTP faculty
Advising Goals:
Translate research accomplishments into clinical career context
Solidify specialty interests and identify residency program characteristics of interest
Begin preparation for the MSPE and application documents
During the final year, MSTP students engage in the full residency application process. Advising is tailored to support both competitive clinical placement and long-term academic career goals, including consideration of physician-scientist training programs (PSTPs), research tracks, and departments with strong mentorship infrastructure.
Key Elements:
One-on-one residency advising with OMSA and MSTP leadership and
Mock interviews, including specialty-specific sessions
Review of personal statements and ERAS applications
Strategy for selecting and ranking programs, including PSTPs and dual-degree–friendly sites
Ongoing support in crafting a compelling physician-scientist narrative
Advising Goals:
Navigate the match process with confidence and authenticity
Position oneself for success in research-intensive residencies
Strategize around long-term goals: subspecialty training, faculty development, K awards, and protected research time
Throughout the MD phases, MSTP students are encouraged to engage in OMSA-led and MSTP-specific programming, which includes:
CV and personal statement workshops
Mock interview sessions
Career exploration panels
Narrative development and branding as a physician-scientist
Alumni panels featuring MD-PhD graduates in diverse specialties
During the PhD phase of MD-PhD training, students transition from a structured clinical curriculum to an immersive, full-time research environment. This period provides a critical opportunity for deepening scientific expertise, developing independence, and expanding professional networks. At the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, MSTP advising during the PhD phase is designed to support not only research productivity and milestones but also long-term career development as future physician-scientists.
Career and professional development advising during the PhD years is a shared responsibility between MSTP leadership, PhD mentors, and the Thesis Advisory Committee. MSTP students continue to benefit from structured guidance and mentorship as they refine their research identity and begin preparing for reintegration into clinical training and the residency application process.
As students become embedded in their research environments, advising focuses on helping them articulate their evolving scientific interests and how these intersect with their clinical goals.
Key Supports:
Regular check-ins with MSTP Directors to assess progress and goals
Mentorship from thesis advisors, TAC (Thesis Advisory Committee) members, and MSTP-affiliated faculty
Opportunities for grant writing (e.g., F30, F31), manuscript authorship, and conference presentations
Optional individualized development plans (IDPs) with a physician-scientist focus
Access to workshops on research leadership, publishing, and academic integrity
The PhD phase provides the space to explore a wide range of career options, from academia and industry to policy and innovation, with a focus on preparing for the unique path of a physician-scientist.
Key Supports:
One-on-one career advising with MSTP leadership and GSBS Career Services
Panels featuring MD-PhD alumni and physician-scientist role models
Shadowing opportunities or part-time clinical refreshers to maintain clinical identity
Encouragement to attend specialty interest group meetings and research seminars in clinical departments
Networking events with alumni and PSTP directors from other institutions
Advising in the later years of the PhD phase includes structured preparation for transitioning back into the clinical curriculum. This transition can be both exciting and challenging, and dedicated resources are in place to ensure readiness.
Key Supports:
MSTP Reentry Planning Sessions (typically 6–12 months before return)
Advising on clinical reimmersion: review of clinical skills, timeline planning, and reentry clerkships
Guidance on aligning research accomplishments with career goals
Support in developing a residency application timeline and identifying research-friendly specialties
Early review of CVs, personal statements, and mentorship needs for the match process
The physician-scientist career advisors at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai provide powerful guidance to students in the MD-PhD program. They have firsthand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities that come with pursuing a career in this field.
The advisors work closely with students, providing individualized advice on relevant topics, including career planning, work-life balance, course selection, research opportunities, and grant applications. They have extensive contacts within the physician-scientist community and offer valuable insights on navigating such environments.
The list can be found at the bottom of this page.