The first of its kind in the United States, the program was created in 1992 to address the growing national concern over the shortage of academic clinical investigators by training clinical fellows to be more effective clinical scientists. Participants in the program will acquire the necessary skills to design and conduct clinical investigations into emerging medical treatments and technologies, new diagnostic techniques and new approaches to the study of pathophysiology. The doctor of philosophy degree (PhD) in Clinical Investigation is our flagship program and designed for those candidates who are matriculated in a Johns Hopkins clinical postdoctoral program or have a Johns Hopkins faculty appointment. The usual postdoctoral career track is a four-year program, which leads to both clinical board eligibility in a medical discipline and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Clinical Investigation. One full year of didactic instruction is ordinarily taken after an initial clinical year in a medical or surgical specialty, and provides the scientific grounding for subsequent original research. This research effort is jointly mentored by faculty from the program and a preceptor from the fellow's home division or department. PhD track candidates already enrolled in a clinical fellowship program at Johns Hopkins may apply to enter the program during their last year of clinical training. Alternatively, applications for the program also are accepted concurrently with clinical fellowship applications for those who seek an early commitment. Program fellows normally will receive, from a variety of sources, tuition and stipend support consistent with the usual level of postdoctoral support for their clinical specialties. The master of health sciences (MHS) degree in Clinical Investigation is a one-year, non-research requiring degree which is awarded to GTPCI candidates who specifically apply for this track. It is not necessary to MHS candidates to have an appointment within the Johns Hopkins Medical Institution. | 
