Vanderbilt MSTP Individual Development Plan
I. STUDENT INFORMATION
Name:
Current Class Year:
MSTP College Faculty Advisor:
Department/Training Program (if applicable):
Graduate Research Mentor (if applicable):
II. STUDENT PROGRESS: Please update the following information as applicable. The purpose of
this section is to track your progress through the MSTP each year and identify benchmarks to plan for
in the coming year. As you move through the program, you will continue adding to this information.
For each applicable item, indicate what you have completed and identify what progress you intend to
make this coming year.
Academic Progress
 Laboratory Rotations – List completed rotations (mentor, dates, two-sentence project
description) and any rotations scheduled for the coming year. If you have not chosen a
research lab, list potential mentors you have met with and those you plan to meet this coming
year.
 Medical Courses/Rotations – List grades for courses and clinical rotations completed.
Identify coursework you plan to complete this coming year.
 Clinical Expertise/Skills – List any clinical expertise or skills you have developed (e.g., H&P,
patient presentation, IV placement) and any goals or plans to develop your clinical skills this
coming year.
 Graduate Courses – List grades for courses completed and identify coursework you plan to
complete this coming year. Provide a timeline for fulfilling coursework requirements.
 Qualifying Exam – List the date and outcome of your departmental qualifying exam. If not
complete, indicate whether it is scheduled or the anticipated completion date.
 Thesis Research Proposal – List the defense date for your thesis research proposal. If not
complete, indicate whether it is scheduled or the anticipated completion date.
 Thesis Committee – List your thesis committee members as well as dates and outcomes of
your committee meetings, including progress toward submitting/defending your dissertation.
 Thesis Defense – List your dissertation title, date of defense, and outcome. If not complete,
indicate your anticipated timeline for writing and defending your dissertation.
 USMLE (Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 2 CS) – List dates and scores of board exams you have
completed. Indicate if exams are scheduled or planned for the coming year.
 Awards and Honors – List any awards or honors received.
 Academic Achievements – List or briefly describe any other academic achievements.
Research Progress
 Research Projects – Identify your current research interests or list the aims of your research
project (note any changes from previous years). Identify progress made over the past year and
goals for the coming year. Post-graduate-phase students should identify any ongoing or
planned involvement in research for the coming year.
 Fellowships/Funding – List your funding sources including any grants you have applied for
and received. Indicate any grants or funding applications you plan to submit this coming year.
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Collaborations – List any intellectual or technical collaborations established or continued this
year. Indicate any anticipated collaborations to establish in the coming year.
Research Expertise/Skills – List major research accomplishments, techniques, or expertise
acquired this year (bench work, scientific writing, oral presentation, etc.). Identify any
techniques or skills you plan to develop in the coming year.
Publications/Presentations – List references for publications submitted or published and
abstracts presented (oral or poster) at meetings or retreats this year (underline your name in
the author list). Identify manuscripts you plan to submit this coming year (indicate project titles)
and meetings or workshops you plan to attend.
Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) – Briefly describe any RCR-related training you
have received and one or two RCR-related conversations you have had with your mentor,
thesis committee, or other faculty members or colleagues. List any RCR training planned for
the coming year.
Career Progress
 List any experiences or accomplishments in the following areas and identify any specific plans
you have in these areas for the coming year:
o Clinical Experiences
o Teaching Experiences
o Leadership/Mentoring Opportunities
o Community Service
o Networking (include any significant connections made)
 Clinical Specialty/Subspecialty – Identify your current clinical interests and whether you plan
to identify additional mentors involved in your clinical areas of interest.
 Job Search – Describe your immediate career plans (residency, post-doc, industry, etc.) and
when you anticipate beginning a job search. Identify any additional research activities or
training (not part of your current training program) you will need to prepare for your desired job.
III. INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
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What specific challenges did you face this year and how did they affect your progress?
Are you satisfied with your progress this year and the mentoring you have received? What
would you have done differently? What could be improved this coming year?
Identify at least two of your strengths and at least two opportunities for improvement in
each of the following areas. Include specific plans for addressing those improvements in the
coming year. Please summarize progress on goals made in each area from the preceding year.
o Academic (e.g., study habits, time management, clinical skills, team work)
o Research (e.g., grant writing, familiarity with literature, oral and written communication,
experimental/study design)
o Career (e.g., leadership, mentoring, teaching, networking)
How can the following groups or individuals help you address any challenges and achieve your
goals this coming year?
o MSTP (leadership team, college advisors, programming)
o Research mentor
o Thesis committee
List any additional faculty you plan to meet with to discuss your goals. Indicate whether you
would like assistance identifying additional faculty mentors to help you achieve your goals.
______________________________ _______
Student
Date
______________________________ _______
MSTP Faculty Advisor
Date
______________________________ _______
MSTP Leadership Team Member
Date
______________________________ _______
Research Mentor
Date
______________________________ _______
Director of Graduate Studies
Date