title: Educational outcomes for students enrolled in MD-PhD programs at medical school matriculation, 1995-2000: a national cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe educational outcomes for a national cohort of students who enrolled in MD-PhD programs at medical school matriculation (MD-PhD matriculants).
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors used multivariate logistic regression to identify factors independently associated with overall MD-PhD program attrition (MD-only graduation or medical school withdrawal/dismissal) compared with MD-PhD program graduation among the 1995-2000 national cohort of MD-PhD matriculants at medical schools with and without Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2,582 MD-PhD matriculants, 1,885 (73.0%) were MD-PhD graduates, 597 (23.1%) were MD-only graduates, and 100 (3.9%) withdrew/were dismissed from medical school by July 2011. MD-PhD matriculants at non-MSTP-funded schools (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60-2.41) and who had lower Medical College Admission Test scores (< 31 versus ≥ 36: AOR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.20-2.14; 31-33 versus ≥ 36: AOR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.01-1.70) were more likely to leave the MD-PhD program; matriculants who reported greater planned career involvement in research (AOR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.51-0.84) and matriculated more recently (AOR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.85-0.96) were less likely to leave the MD-PhD program. Gender, race/ethnicity, and premedical debt were not independently associated with overall MD-PhD program attrition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most MD-PhD matriculants completed the MD-PhD program; most of those who left were MD-only graduates. Findings regarding variables associated with attrition can inform efforts to recruit and support students through successful completion of MD-PhD program requirements.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Jeffe is research professor of medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, and director, Health Behavior, Communication, and Outreach Core, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Andriole is assistant dean for medical education and associate professor of surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Wathington is assistant professor, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. Dr. Tai is associate professor, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Donna B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Jeffe
authors.forename: Dorothy A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Andriole
authors.forename: Heather D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Wathington
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Tai
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004500:Education, Graduate; D004501:Education, Medical; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012577:Schools, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States