Each year, approximately 25 talented individuals from across the globe join WashU’s Medical Scientist Training Program, making it one of the largest in the country. While our students come from diverse backgrounds and have wide-ranging interests, they share a collective goal to become the next generation of leaders in academic medicine and biomedical research.
MSTP students excel in both the medical and graduate programs, serve on various committees and are members of student groups and extramural organizations. In the lab, MSTP students are highly productive, with authorship on more than 400 journal articles over the past five years.
MSTP students’ interests are not limited to biomedical research. Over the years, MSTP students have established Sling Health, the Young Scientist Program and the Mad Scientist Network. In addition, they have collaborated with traditional medical school students to institute the Saturday Morning Clinic — the first student-run free clinic in the nation — and the Public Health Plunge — a program to expose entering students to the challenges of public health.
Beyond academics, MSTP students find work-life balance by enjoying family-style cohort dinners, taking study breaks in nearby Forest Park, and exploring all that St. Louis has to offer — from professional sporting events to the performing arts. Check out our student-run Instagram page for a behind-the-scenes look at life as an MSTP student, from M1 to graduation.
A Day in the Life
As an M2 currently in Phase 1, I usually start my day off by attending morning lectures. After classes are over for the day, I often study on campus with some classmates.
Alekhya Parvathaneni, M2
Life in St. Louis
St. Louis is an affordable and fun, vibrant city in which to live, work and learn. It offers a plethora of activities, cultural experiences, cuisines and neighborhoods to explore throughout your eight years (or more!) here. The Central West End neighborhood is next to the medical campus and where many students live. It is walkable and has almost everything you need: grocery stores, restaurants, fitness centers, access to public transit, coffee shops, public library and more. Plus, Forest Park, nestled between the Danforth and Medical campuses, has abundant green spaces, sports fields, recreation trails, and museums of art, history and science — all FREE.
Housing
On- and off-campus, St. Louis offers a wide range of affordable housing options for buyers and renters. Explore additional resources on the MD Admissions site, or visit the Dis-Orientation Guide’s Housing section to see what first-year medical students have to say about neighborhoods and housing options.
Information for current students
Students currently in the medical portion of the MSTP can find a list of shared student resources on the School of Medicine website.
Students currently in their PhD phase should download the DBBS Student Resource Center (SRC) app.