Inside Scoop on Life as MD/PhD at Sidney Kimmel Medical College

Today, we have the wonderful opportunity to interview a fellow Terp- alum Jeffrey Rappaport! Jeffrey was admitted to the Honors program at University of Maryland, College Park as a Banneker-Key Scholar and pursued a major in Bioengineering. It was during his senior year of undergrad when he discovered his passion for medicine! He just completed his PhD in the Cell Biology and Regenerative medicine program, and transitioned back to med school this spring. He worked with his mentor, Dr. Scott Waldman, to study colon cancer genetics. As part of the MD-PhD program, he attends Jefferson Medical College (now renamed to Sidney Kimmel Medical College). Jeffrey enthusiastically shares his journey to medicine and the inside scoop on life at college.

About the School & Environment

Founded in 1824, Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) is located in Philadelphia. It has more living graduates than any other private medical school in the US. SKMC is well-renowned for its family medicine, cancer, and neuroscience programs. In terms of the campus life, the school has one of the largest medical school classes in the country, and has traditionally focused on graduate healthcare programs, but recently merged with the local Philadelphia University to create its first undergraduate program. Growing up in the suburbs, Jeffrey says that the accessibility to the city from campus surprised him. The main campus is in the heart of downtown Philadelphia. The food and living expenses are very reasonable compared to those of other large cities.

“The friendliness is something that set Jefferson apart for me. Even though I was apprehensive about the city at first glance, I distinctly remember how Jefferson ensured that students are part of the selection process. The community is a friendly tight-knit group. That aspect made Jefferson special.”

A particularly special aspect of the school is its friendly and supportive environment focused on mental wellness and students’ contentment. Numerous workshops and free counseling sessions are emphasized for students to utilize. In addition to the mental health resources, the faculty also make themselves available to answer questions. Jeffrey mentioned that, during his years at SKMC thus far, he has observed groups of students who prioritize helping one another succeed by sharing useful resources, engaging in study or debate, and overall fastidiously dedicated to being friendly. Part of the reason for this affable student body is due to the grading scheme; students at Jefferson are assessed with typical ranges for letter grades, including 90% for A, 80% for B, etc., instead of a bell curve where students compete with one another to perform well.

About the Program

As one of the largest MD programs in the country, approximately 270 students enroll every year. The MD/PhD program recruits 4-5 students per year. For the first two years, all students take the introductory courses such as anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and pharmacology. Many professors are flexible with courses’ format, by providing both in-person classes and virtual class recordings. Like most MD/PhD programs, the timeline is structured with 2 years of MD, 4 years of PhD, and concludes with 2 years of MD.

Application Process

Jeffrey took the non-traditional route by majoring in Bioengineering and pursuing the pre-med path during his final years at UMD. He recalls that when he applied for the MD/PhD program, he dedicated a lot of time to writing and revising his primary and secondary essays. He reminisces on the interview process saying it was very enjoyable. For the MD/PhD program, there were two days of interviews, where one day is dedicated to the graduate school interview with PhDs and the next day is  an interview with the cohort of MDs, including a MD faculty member and a medical student.

“Something many students don’t realize is that, at the interview stage, the admission directors aren’t just evaluating you; they are trying to recruit you as well. A lot of time is spent on information sessions about the school. If you receive an interview, that means they really want to meet you and pitch their program!”

Jeffrey emphasizes that, although anything on your application is “fair-game” for your interview, it is important to recognize that admission officials are excited to get to know you as an individual! Jeffrey’s engineering degree and project on sustainable architecture set him apart from all other MD/PhD candidates. He said every school he interviewed with asked about his sustainability project. Many schools are interested in getting to know the candidate’s personality and hobbies. He concluded by mentioning that many individuals who were accepted to Jefferson pursued non-STEM hobbies or majors such as music, arts, and humanities.

Extracurriculars

Jeffrey talks about a student-run health clinic available at SKMC known as JeffHope, which caters wellness visits to underserved patient populations in the city. Medical school students act as residents, and residents act as attendings who oversee all operations. Jeffrey says that this is a great opportunity for first and second year medical school students to first-hand interact with patients and conduct physical exams; almost all students choose to participate at some point. He mentions how the accessibility makes it easier to volunteer, since it is available every night a week! There are also leadership opportunities for those who want to run the clinic and be part of the Board of Directors.

Advice & Tips

“For those students who are interested in research as MD students, but not necessarily the MD/PhD program, I would recommend getting involved in clinical research. Basic science laboratory research can be time-consuming and is oftentimes difficult to be productive in the lab while balancing the rigorous academic requirements of med school. I highly encourage reaching out to professors working on something that sounds interesting to you and asking if there is something you can help with!”

 “There is oftentimes a steep learning curve associated with studying in medical school. But, don’t let that overwhelm you! You may need to re-learn how to study. You may need to adjust your study techniques. But, don’t forget that there are many good resources available to help you succeed and achieve your goals!”

Editor: Supraja Kanipakam