Kuehnle Katrin, Winkler David T, Meier-Abt Peter J
Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences, Basel, Switzerland.
Swiss Med Wkly. 2009 Sep 19;139(37-38):540-6. doi: 10.4414/smw.2009.12790.
This study aims at a first evaluation of the outcome of the Swiss national MD-PhD program during the last 16 years.
One hundred and twenty six former and current students in the Swiss national MD-PhD program were surveyed via a Web-based questionnaire in September 2007. Twenty-four questions assessed information regarding participant demographics, information on the PhD thesis and publication activity, current positions and research activity, as well as participant's opinions, attitudes and career goals.
Eighty questionnaires were received from 126 MD-PhD students and graduates (63.5% response rate). The responders consisted of present students (36%), former graduates (56%), and dropouts (8%). The percentage of women in the program was 23%, and the average duration of the program was 4.2 +/- 1.4 years. Research interests were predominantly in the fields of neuroscience, immunology, molecular biology and cancer research. A considerable portion of the MD-PhD graduates had an excellent publication record stemming from their PhD research work, and 89% were planning to continue a research-orientated career. Over 50% of those MD-PhD graduates completing their thesis before 2002 had already reached an assistant or full professor position at the time of the survey. Nearly all participants considered the MD-PhD training helpful to their career and high quality standards were assigned to the acquired practical and intellectual skills. However, criticism was expressed concerning the general mentoring and the career related mentoring. Moreover, general mentoring and career related mentoring were significantly less well perceived in research groups employing more than seven PhD students at the same time.
The MD-PhD students and graduates surveyed were satisfied with their education and most of them continued a research-orientated career. Regarding the overall positive evaluation, this study supports the view that MD-PhD graduates are well qualified for a successful career in academic medicine.
本研究旨在对瑞士国家医学博士项目在过去16年的成果进行首次评估。
2007年9月，通过网络问卷对126名瑞士国家医学博士项目的往届和应届学生进行了调查。24个问题评估了有关参与者人口统计学信息、博士论文和发表活动信息、当前职位和研究活动，以及参与者的意见、态度和职业目标。
从126名医学博士学生和毕业生中收到了80份问卷（回复率63.5%）。回复者包括在读学生（36%）、往届毕业生（56%）和辍学者（8%）。该项目中女性的比例为23%，项目的平均时长为4.2±1.4年。研究兴趣主要集中在神经科学、免疫学、分子生物学和癌症研究领域。相当一部分医学博士毕业生因其博士研究工作有出色的发表记录，并且89%的人计划继续从事以研究为导向的职业。在2002年之前完成论文的医学博士毕业生中，超过50%在调查时已获得助理教授或正教授职位。几乎所有参与者都认为医学博士培训对其职业有帮助，并且所获得的实践和智力技能具有很高的质量标准。然而，对于一般指导和职业相关指导存在批评意见。此外，在同时聘用超过7名博士生的研究组中，对一般指导和职业相关指导的评价明显较低。
接受调查的医学博士学生和毕业生对他们的教育感到满意，并且他们中的大多数人继续从事以研究为导向的职业。鉴于总体的积极评价，本研究支持以下观点：医学博士毕业生完全有资格在学术医学领域成功发展事业。
