In the U.S., MD–PhD training during medical school is extensive and lengthy, lasting eight or more years Traditional PhD training involves combining course content knowledge and research skills to produce original research, culminating in a doctoral dissertation.
[7][8] Approximately 80% of graduates were employed full-time in academic centers (1,625, or 67%), research institutes such as the NIH (105, or 4%), or in industry (189, or 8%), aligning with the goals of MD–PhD training.
For instance, the average attrition rate for students who entered programs between 1998 and 2007 was 10%, comparable to the 12% reported for MSTP-funded trainees who matriculated in the 1980s.
Notably, attrition rates varied significantly among different schools, warranting closer scrutiny to establish cause.
[9][10] According to a 2014 study by Jeffe et al., among those MD–PhD program enrollees who either graduated with MD–PhD degrees or withdrew/were dismissed from medical school, certain factors were associated with attrition.