Bridging Science and Medicine in UCSF’s MSTP Program
MSTP students Jolade Adebekun, Kai Trepka, and Theo Michaels
In 1970, UCSF proudly marked the conclusion of the first year of its newly formalized Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), a pioneering initiative co-sponsored by the UCSF School of Medicine and the Graduate Division. As one of the early institutions to adopt this NIH-funded program, UCSF helped define what it means to train physician-investigators – clinicians whose research advances the frontiers of biomedical science.
Launched during a time of academic transformation, UCSF’s MSTP was built to modernize the integration of scientific and clinical education. From its inception, the program has aimed to equip students with the tools to tackle the most complex challenges in medicine through rigorous research, translational insight, and patient care.
Today, UCSF’s MSTP is consistently ranked among the top programs in the country, with faculty and students who push the boundaries of discovery across the biological and social sciences. What sets UCSF apart is its expansive scientific landscape and culture of mentorship, which allow students to pursue research that spans bench to bedside – and often beyond.