The Physician Scientist Training Program is designed to train the next generation of physician scientists. This Web site provides links to the varied opportunities that await our new students. UC Davis combines a rich pre-clinical and clinical training with a strong commitment to basic and clinical research. Particular strengths include our Cancer Research Program (UC Davis has recently achieved the National Cancer Institute's prestigious designation as a Cancer Center), a world recognized Neuroscience Research Center and our Biomedical Engineering Program. The emerging Genomics Center and our strong integration with the Western Human Nutrition Research Group as well as the Shriner's Hospitals for Children and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories provide a tremendous wealth of talented investigators and infrastructure for cutting-edge research in a wide variety of fields.

Our typical student begins with participation in the summer Physician Scientist Training Program research laboratory rotations before matriculation in the first year of medical school. Students have another rotation opportunity after the first year of medical school. Most of our students will complete the first two years of medical school before officially entering in to the graduate school. In most cases, students will complete their thesis defense before returning to the medical school for their clinical rotations.

Our students are required to participate in quarterly student colloquia, a yearly poster session and a yearly retreat. The retreats are held in conjunction with the Veterinary Scientist Training Program (D.V.M./Ph.D.). Each of our students are assigned advisors to review and facilitate their progress in the program. Students are also required to enroll in the Molecular Medicine Seminar Series during their first year and participate in the Molecular Medicine Journal Club during their first four years of the program.

Physician Scientist Training Program students can choose to pursue their Ph.D in any field among the wide variety of graduate programs offered on the Davis campus. Please see information on Ph.D. programs receiving particular emphasis and the related faculty and research program pages for more details (Ph.D programs in biological sciences, Ph.D. programs in social sciences and humanities, and other graduate science programs).

For more information about the dual degree program and the admissions process contact:

Frozan Wahaj, Executive Assistant
Physician Scientist Training Program
University of California, Davis
One Shields Avenue
(530) 754-6017
E-mail: fwahaj@ucdavis.edu

Edward D. Dagang, director of admissions
Office of Admissions
UC Davis School of Medicine
One Shields Avenue
(530) 752-2717
E-mail: medadmsinfo@ucdavis.edu