In 2022, the AAMC Group on Research, Education, and Training (GREAT) MD-PhD Competencies Development Working Group developed a toolkit to define key competencies for training physician-scientists at the medical school level. The GREAT MD-PhD Competencies Development Toolkit encompasses 16 competencies across four core domains, along with a milestone-based assessment tool to track progress.
It aims to align learner and mentor expectations, assess development, facilitate discussions, and identify curricular strengths and areas for improvement. This resource supports program directors, faculty mentors, and learners in collaboratively advancing scientific inquiry and addressing the evolving challenges in their field.
The GREAT Competencies Development Working Group created this document to guide the education of individuals in MD-PhD combined-degree programs. It is intended to augment, not duplicate, existing MD and/or PhD competency-based milestones. We used a systematic approach to develop the toolkit, allowing the physician-scientist training community to share their collective experience and knowledge.
Publication
Estrada L, Baca JT, Baron MH, et al. A community-informed toolkit for physician-scientist competencies and milestones: bridging the worlds of medicine and research. Acad Med. 2026; 00, 1-9. doi.org/10.1093/acamed/wvag053
Key Benefits
This toolkit is designed to augment, not duplicate, existing competency frameworks, facilitating meaningful conversations about curricular strengths and identifying opportunities for improvement across your institution.
Working Group Roster
The working group was composed of MD-PhD program leaders and included representation from the GREAT MD-PhD Section.
Lourdes Estrada, PhD (Chair)
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Wayne T. McCormack, PhD (Co-Chair)
University of Florida College of Medicine
Justin T Baca, MD, PhD
University of New Mexico
Margaret H. Baron, MD, PhD
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Lawrence F. Brass, MD, PhD
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Jose E. Cavazos, MD, PhD
University of Texas Health San Antonio
Clarissa S. Craft, PhD
Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
Kathleen Collins, MD, PhD
University of Michigan
Suzanne Dawid, MD, PhD
University of Michigan
Sumaira Hussain
AAMC
Michael S. Kay, MD, PhD
University of Utah
Aimee W. Kao, MD, PhD
University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine
Mary-Claire Roghmann, MD, MS
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Jodi Yellin, PhD
AAMC
Past Presentations
The toolkit has been presented at the:
- 2024 AAMC Biomedical Research Training Conference Hosted by GREAT
- 2023 AAMC Biomedical Research Training Conference Hosted by GREAT
- 2022 AAMC Biomedical Research Training Conference Hosted by GREAT
Webinar
Introducing the GREAT MD-PhD Competencies Development Toolkit: Competency Frameworks for MD-PhD Education
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Time: noon – 1:00 p.m. ET
Format: Virtual Webinar (Registration via email)
Overview
The GREAT Competencies Development Working Group will share an exclusive presentation of a new resource designed to advance physician-scientist training. Developed through systematic collaboration with the physician-scientist training community, this comprehensive toolkit provides evidence-based guidance for MD-PhD degree programs. The resource includes:
- 16 core competencies organized across four essential domains
- A milestone-based assessment tool to measure learner progress
- Practical frameworks to align learner and mentor expectations
- Strategic resources for curriculum evaluation and enhancement
Who should attend:
- MD-PhD program directors and coordinators
- Faculty mentors and advisors
- Education administrators in biomedical training programs
- Stakeholders committed to physician-scientist development