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Medical scientist training program boosted by NIH

by Cindy A. Abole, Public Relations

They might be called the cream of the crop but these 32 students defy classification beyond that.

They are a mixture of medicine and science, of thinker and manager, of practitioner and investigator.

And on a campus where there are more than 1,000 full-time faculty and mentors, this elite group will be rigorously trained in both research and medicine when they finish their long journey towards careers as medical scientists.

Long, in this case, could mean close to a decade of study.

“I didn’t worry about the years it took for me to finish,” said Michel Makhlouf, a graduating senior who has just completed eight years of study in the Medical Scientist Training program (MSTP). “I focused on life after my residency and the prospect of facing potential research problems. Having this graduate background in basic science research will be a real advantage.”

MUSC’s Medical Scientist Training Program was established in 1984 by Rosalie K. Crouch, Ph.D., associate provost for research and dean of the College of Graduate Studies. It offers exceptionally talented individuals the opportunity to combine critical thinking abilities with research opportunities and medicine.

This spring, the program got an added boost—federal funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), a division of the National Institutes of Health. NIGMS supports basic biomedical research training in a variety of scientific disciplines.

An award of this caliber validates and elevates a program to a level attained only by 34 of the country’s elite medical and research institutions. In the southeast, MUSC joins the ranks of Emory, Duke, Vanderbilt and the University of Alabama-Birming-ham as NIH grant award recipients.

“Receiving this award is a stamp of the highest quality,” said Perry Halushka, M.D., Ph.D., professor of pharmacology and medicine and director of the program.

The grant is one of several funding mechanisms that will support the cooperative spirit of scientists and physicians who will continue to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical research.

“Being recognized for this award is much more than money,” said Maria Buse, M.D., division of endocrinology in the Department of Medicine and steering committee member for many years. “It’s good in every way, not only by recruiting quality students. It also helps to recruit talented professors and faculty. ”

Halushka, Donald Menick, Ph.D., Department of Medicine and associate program director, and a 16-member steering committee provide direction and oversight to the program’s goals. The committee is composed of faculty representing basic and clinical departments and one student representative. Organized subcommittees help support recruitment, student progress and scholarship management.

Fifth-year student Bryce Nelson was a student liaison to the steering committee during the 1998-99 academic year. Nelson’s job was to be an active voice for MSTP students, to the steering committee, social events and other program planning.

Nelson helped to track new student progress. “It takes time for students to adjust to a comfortable pace,” he said, referring to a demanding schedule, that includes two laboratory rotations, a selection of a research mentor, doctorate dissertation research and clinical training. His interaction provided new students with support as a sounding board for problems. “We supplied students with that ‘academic push’ whenever it was needed.”

Mark Horney knew he wanted to enter a medical scientist training program before graduating from Point Loma Nazerene University in San Diego, Calif. Horney, who graduated with degrees in biology and chemistry, had achieved a strong research background while working summers at his alma mater and at the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Each year, the program markets materials to more than 2,000 students from 12 states who score well on the Medical College Admission Test. Qualified applicants are invited to Charleston for an interview and a chance to discuss the program candidly with students, meet faculty and rate the university environment.

The program currently has six women and 28 men. It has also matriculated three African American students, one male and two females. Alumnae Kim Barnes graduated from the program in 1998 and is completing her medical residency at the University of Chicago.

Chris Crosby became the program’s first African American male student in 1997. He is excited about the research part of the program. Originally from Abbeville, Crosby received his undergraduate degree in biological anthropology and anatomy from Duke. He hopes to be a role model to other minority students who aspire to enter research. His motivation towards science stems from attending South Carolina’s Governor’s School for Science and Math in Hartsville.

Horney, who joined the program in 1992, was attracted to the cohesiveness and modest size, friendly social atmosphere and leadership from faculty like Halushka.

“Other MSTP programs seem so dispersed,” said Horney. “Here, there’s a unique student environment that provides many opportunities for students to interact and share their intelligence, which is a social and psychological benefit to most of us.”

Halushka and members of the steering committee recognized this need and created a friendly, interactive environment involving students, faculty members and mentors. Each year, MSTP students attend a new student reception, a monthly science seminar series, visits by role models and MSTP’s Research Day.

The program’s research day is held every August and is the year’s highpoint for students, faculty and mentors. A feature of this activity is alumni participation. Alumni talk with students and offer valuable insight as results of their experience and are role models for students as they continue through their long academic journey.

“These activities offer students a good venue to broaden their scientific horizons and gain insight on career goals,” said Halushka.

“Any student enrolled in a long program has to be continually encouraged to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Carolyn Schanen, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Human Genetics and Pediatrics at UCLA and an MSTP alumnae. “Going through the MSTP program has allowed me to pursue my research interests from bedside to bench. It has opened doors and allowed me to do what I wanted to do with my life.”

After receiving her degrees in 1991, Schanen completed her residency and fellowship at Stanford. She currently conducts research on neurogenetic diseases. In August, she will return to her alma mater as guest speaker during MTSP’s Research Day.

As students gain seniority, they assume a natural responsibility to assist junior students. This establishes solidarity among students, said Horney, describing the program’s Big Brother/Big Sister concept. “Big programs don’t do that.” Halushka’s goals for the program are to continue to improve the training opportunities for the students. He also wants to increase the funding of the program from private and public philanthropic sources.

“It’s traditional for America to have a vested interest in the education of students,” said Halushka. “So why shouldn’t corporate America support these students? Supporting these programs will be an investment in the future leaders of academic medicine.”

And how have these years of intense study affected students?

“This experience has enhanced my maturity to be able to make decisions on my feet,” said Horney. “In my five years in the lab, I feel I’m more mature. I’ve learned how to work with many people and challenge data.”

As graduates leave the program, they move into highly sought-after residency and post-graduate programs. Halushka has documented the paths of early graduates who have gone on to accept teaching and research positions in some of the country’s most distinguished academic institutions and within private industry.

“So far, I’ve had to cross some emotional hurdles,” Horney continued. “I remember jumping from completing second-year boards to clinical rounds and then back to the lab again. Next, I realized the medical class I’ve studied with has graduated, but I’m still here.”

MSTP Steering Committee College of Graduate Studies and College of Medicine

Dr. Perry V. Halushka, director, Pharmacology and Medicine; Dr. Donald R. Menick, associate director, Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Dr. Maria G. Buse, Medicine, Div of Endrocrinology, Diabetes and Medical Genetics; Dr. David J. Cole, Surgery; Dr. James A. Cook, Physiology; Dr. Roasalie K. Crouch, Ex Officio, associate provost for research, dean, College of Graduate Studies; Dr. Victor E. Del Bene, College of Medicine; Dr. Brent M. Egan, Pharmacology and Medicine; Dr. Carol Eisenberg, Cell Biology and Anatomy; Dr. Daniel J. Fernandes, Hollings Cancer Center, Experimental Oncology; Dr. James S. Norris, Microbiology; Dr. William M. Rambo, Surgery; Dr. Carrie L. Randall, Psychiatry; Dr. John Raymond, Medicine, Division of Nephrology; Dr. Bradley A. Schulte, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Bryce A. Nelson, MSTP student representative (1998-99)