Thank you for your interest in Oregon Health & Science University’s MD/PhD Training Program. Because of my long-standing belief in the crucial role played by investigators who understand both clinical medicine and basic research, directing the MD/PhD program has become one of the most rewarding parts of my work. When you add to this the opportunity to work with a group of truly gifted students, along with a cadre of excellent, experienced research mentors, you can easily understand my commitment to this program.

Our program offers superb training in a wide range of scientific disciplines and laboratories, and also includes a structured exposure to Clinical and Translational Research through our NIH-funded Clinical Translational Science Award. Increasing the integration of our clinical and research training activities is an ongoing goal, and one in which I cannot overemphasize the importance of student participation. Our students’ engagement in curriculum design and reform, as well as their sustained energy and enthusiasm, have allowed us to make rapid progress, and we fully anticipate that this trend will continue.

Research activities at OHSU have undergone an unprecedented expansion during the past decade. Our current research funding has grown to over $300 million, and we continue to recruit additional research faculty. The Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute, established in 2005, enhances our opportunities for expansion in a wide spectrum of medical research, from basic and clinical science to comparative effectiveness research and policy development. These facilities, in conjunction with our many outstanding and well-established departments and institutes, create an ideal environment in which young scientists can learn and develop.

Now, take our outstanding clinical and research program and add to it the chance to train in the most beautiful cities I’ve ever lived in. Portland boasts vibrant arts and theater communities, and the Portland restaurant scene is the envy of most cities. Drive one hour west and you can experience the breathtaking beauty of the Oregon Coast. And should you tire of that, one hour to the east can have you skiing on Mt. Hood or wind-surfing at Hood River. If you prefer your activities in town, Portland is an incredibly bicycle friendly city with hundreds of miles of bike lanes and over 10,000 regular bicycle commuters. And if all this makes you thirsty, you can take advantage of Portland’s many microbreweries, micro-distilleries, micro-roaster coffee shops or tour the incredible vineyards of the Willamette valley.

We offer you outstanding training, in a strong and growing university, in a beautiful city. Come visit us and see for yourself!

David B. Jacoby, MD
Director, MD/PhD Program