MSTP students in the Sahoo lab
Medical Scientist Training Program

About the MCW Medical Scientist Training Program

There is a national shortage of physician-scientists who can care for patients and conduct state-of-the-art research. MCW-MSTP was established in 1983 with the mission to support medical and research training culminating in the receipt of both an MD and a PhD degree while assisting to reduce the cost associated with your training experience. Our community of trainees is 69 strong and our trainees have diverse backgrounds with undergraduate majors from physics to psychology. Their experiences and research interests are varied as well, but all share a common goal…to achieve excellence as physician scientists. Our Program will assist your training in a supportive environment. Take a look at the careers of our Alumni and you will see our success in action!

MCW-MSTP welcomes all trainees, including underrepresented in medicine and science, those with disabilities, and trainees from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. MCW-MSTP supports the NIGMS Diversity Statement where “diverse teams working together and capitalizing on innovative ideas and distinct perspectives outperform homogenous teams.” Our MSTP embraces trainees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences who bring different perspectives, creativity, and individual enterprise to address complex scientific problems. We believe in the benefits of a diverse scientific and medical workforce, which fosters scientific and medical innovation, contributes to robust learning environments, improves the quality of researchers and physicians, and benefits health research and patient care to enhance public trust.

MCW is one of the largest private medical schools in the United States. We are located in a suburb of Milwaukee in close proximity to both urban and suburban living. As a research center, MCW:

  • Invested $348 million in research, teaching, training and related purposes in FY 2022
  • Received $114 million in NIH funding
  • Is ranked a top 100 research university by the National Science Foundation
  • Is ranked in the top one-third among all medical schools in the US for NIH research funding
  • Is in the top 5% worldwide in publishing new knowledge

If you possess a passion for research, a love for humanity and a strong work ethic, we invite you to join us!

Sincerely,
Nita Salzman, MD, PhD

Meet Our Team

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Nita H. Salzman, MD, PhD

Professor, Pediatrics and Microbiology & Immunology; Director, Medical Scientist Training Program; Founding Director, Center for Microbiome Research

nsalzman@mcw.edu

(414) 955-4244

Antimicrobial Peptides, host-microbe interactions in the GI tract, microbiota in health and disease

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Joseph T. Barbieri, PhD

Professor, Microbiology & Immunology; Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program

jtb01@mcw.edu

(414) 955-8412

Microbial Pathogenesis

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Sridhar Rao, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology/Transplantation and Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy; Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program; Associate Investigator, Versiti Blood Research Institute

srrao@mcw.edu

(414) 937-3841

Stem Cell Biology/Hematopoiesis

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Roy Silverstein, MD

Professor and Chair Emeritus, Department of Medicine; Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program; Senior Investigator, Versiti Blood Research Institute; Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology

Molecular and cellular pathogenesis of thrombosis, atherosclerosis and angiogenesis with focus on role of the type 2 scavenger receptor CD36

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Calvin B. Williams, MD, PhD

Professor, Pediatrics and Microbiology & Immunology; Associate Dean of Research; Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program; Chief Scientific Officer, Children's Wisconsin Research Institute; Chief, Pediatric Rheumatology; Vice Chair, Research, Pediatrics

cwilliam@mcw.edu

(414) 955-8641

T cell development, Regulatory T cell biology, Mucosal tolerance

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Kim Peplinski

Education Program Coordinator III

kpeplin@mcw.edu

(414) 955-8641

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Ann Moll

Education Program Coordinator I

amoll@mcw.edu

(414) 955-4430