The goal of the UC Davis School of Medicine Academic Research Careers for Medical Doctors (ARC-MD) program is to provide medical students with the foundational skills and professional development that promote a successful career as a physician scientist. The five-year program provides students with research and career mentorship, special experiences, a unique curriculum, and community engagement within a supportive longitudinal learning community.

Curriculum

ARC-MD is a five-year program for UC Davis medical students.

The traditional M.D. curriculum is adapted for research students enrolled in ARC-MD in order to provide an exciting student centered active learning environment that connects clinical care to research opportunities:

MS 1

  • Entry to ARC-MD three week orientation, integration, and exploration
  • Academic year includes participation in the longitudinal learning community, journal club and scholarly presentations.
  • Summer research project focus between years 1 and 2
  • ARC-MD specific doctoring lead by program faculty

MS 2

  • Academic year includes participation in the longitudinal learning community, journal club and scholarly presentations and doctoring 2 led by ARC-MD faculty
  • Presentation of research at the UCD SOM Medical Student Research Forum in March
  • Submission of research findings for peer reviewed publication

MS 3

  • Mentored research selective project (4 weeks)
  • Submit research proposal for TL-1 funding (February)
  • Research correlation with clinical rotations


Research Intensive Year

  • Mentored research project with coursework in research principles
  • Opportunity for Masters in Clinical Research (MAS)

MS 4

  • The Scholarly Project/Special Study Module allows students to engage in focused learning on a topic of their choosing over the final 12-16 weeks of medical school
  • Academic year includes participation in the longitudinal learning community, journal club and scholarly presentations.

ARC-MD Provides

  • A mentorship community of key teaching faculty who are also physician researchers
  • Research and community service opportunities
  • Professional development opportunities and advising
  • Scholarship support, contingent upon student’s continued participation in program activities
  • A stipend to undertake a research intensive year in a UC Davis faculty laboratory between year 3 and 4

ARC-MD Student Obligations

  • Commit 5 years to the program
  • Engage in research activities as outlined in the curriculum
  • Maintain good academic standing
  • Advise ARC-MD faculty if your educational goals change
  • Attend all regularly scheduled meetings, program workshops and functions

ARC-MD Team

Fred Meyers M.D., M.A.C.P.
Professor of Internal Medicine
Director ARC-MD
UC Davis School of Medicine
fjmeyers@ucdavis.edu

Saul Schaefer, M.D.
Director of Medical Student Research
UC Davis School of Medicine
Phone: (530) 752-0718
sschaefer@ucdavis.edu

Fernando Santana Ph.D.
Professor, Human Physiology
Co-Director ARC-MD
UC Davis School of Medicine
lfsantana@ucdavis.edu

Holly Ly
Program Coordinator
Office of Student Development
4610 X Street, Suite 2101A
Sacramento, CA 95817
Phone: 916-734-8494
Email: hhly@ucdavis.edu