Berg Scholars Program - Stanford School of Medicine
The Challenge: The number of physician-scientists in the United States is decreasing dramatically. Length of training, medical school debt, and inadequate career development during medical school have been cited by the National Institutes of Health and Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) as key drivers of the decrease. Physician-scientists are essential to the advancement of modern medicine. Their scientific insights have provided the basis for hundreds of FDA-approved medications, including statins, targeted cancer therapies, and HIV protease inhibitors, to name just a few.
Stanford’s Response: Stanford University School of Medicine is uniquely positioned to promote the careers of physician-scientists. A major goal of Stanford’s Berg Scholars Program is to address the decreasing numbers of physician-scientists by shortening the training period without compromising the quality of research or medical education. The Berg Scholars Program focuses on the long-term individualized career development of our MD-only physician-scientists. We do this by placing Berg Scholars as members of outstanding research groups led by experienced faculty, where continuous mentoring guides them through the development of their research project and in the continued achievement of their goals. As graduation approaches, Berg Scholars are sponsored by members of the faculty throughout the process of applying for research residencies. The Berg Scholars Program also markedly reduces debt by providing full stipend and tuition relief beginning in fall quarter of the third year of medical school.
The 6-Year Berg Scholars Program: Foundational funding for the Berg Scholars Program is provided by a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Physician-Scientist Institutional Award (BWF PSIA), which was granted to Stanford in 2018. Stanford has named the program to honor Professor Emeritus Paul Berg’s lifelong efforts to educate physician-scientists. Berg Scholars pursue a Master of Science in Medicine in Biomedical Investigation while enrolled in the MD program at Stanford. Students can only apply for the Berg Scholars Program after matriculation, typically during the summer after their second year of medical school. Upon acceptance into the program, generous funding is provided (equivalent to internal MSTP students). We anticipate funding will be available for at least 5 trainees in the MD class entering in 2023. Acceptance into the program is competitive.
An activities timeline is provided below. Students complete the first year of medical school and begin research the summer before the second year of medical school, funded by the Medical Scholars Research Program. In year 2, students engage the “split” curriculum, thereby opening substantial amounts of time for their research., Students apply for Berg Scholars funding at the end of year 2, complete the second half of the preclinical curriculum in year 3, then continue their research full time for the fourth year. They then complete clerkships, with a goal to enter research residency training where they can continue their development as physician-scientists.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should send an email to samaraml@stanford.edu to state their interest in applying to the program. Candidates are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with the program director, Dr. Utz, to develop their applications and gain guidance in their career plans. These meetings may begin as early as the first quarter of medical school, or even the summer before matriculation. Dr. Utz will help applicants prepare and review their application prior to official submission and will assist applicants in preparing for the oral presentation to the Berg Scholars Selection Committee.
The Berg Scholars Program application period is open to Stanford MD program students who are approved for the split curriculum and who are at the end of their second year. Students must split their curriculum in order to apply to be a Berg Scholar. Application submission, reviews, interviews, oral presentation, and program acceptance will occur at the end of the Summer Quarter after the second year of medical school. Eligible students may also apply “off cycle” at any time; however, if accepted, funding will not be retroactive.
The Berg Scholars Application Deadline is Friday, August 15th, 2025, at 5pm. Please send all materials to Samara Meir-Levi at Samaraml@stanford.edu.
Timeline
Each Berg Scholar will spend 6 years on campus pursuing MS and MD degrees:
Funding:
A revised funding plan will be announced in summer 2022. Please check here in late July.
Summary of Berg Scholar Program Requirements:
Berg Scholars must complete all Stanford University requirements for the Masters in Science (MS) in Medicine in Biomedical Investigation while pursuing their MD. (Please be sure to apply for the MS as a dual degree, not as a joint degree).
Upon Berg Scholars Program Completion:
- Awarded a Master of Science in Medicine in Biomedical Investigation
- Designation at MD program graduation as a "Berg Scholar"
- Dedicated physician-scientist career development by outstanding MD-only faculty
- Sponsorship for entry into research track (short track) residencies, in partnership with other BWF programs across the country