KU School of Medicine Graduate Students Pursue Research Careers

One-third of students enrolled at the University of Kansas School of Medicine are pursuing advanced degrees as researchers, scientists, or policymakers rather than practicing physicians. While the institution maintains a total enrollment of 2,573 learners, only 846 students are currently studying for an M.D. degree.

Graduate Enrollment Breakdown Across KU Campuses

The medical school’s broader student body includes 410 individuals enrolled in graduate academic programs on the Kansas City and Wichita campuses. An additional 1,317 learners consist of residents, fellows, and visiting students completing rotations. John Stanford, professor of cell biology and physiology and associate dean for research and graduate education, stated that full-time doctoral programs typically take about five years to complete. Stanford also noted that the institution offers master’s and part-time tracks designed specifically for working people.

Students in these programs enter diverse career paths upon graduation. Beyond traditional academic positions, graduates may secure roles as pharmaceutical company scientists, medical science liaisons, government scientists at the National Institutes of Health, or program officers at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies.

Stanford Seeks Curious Candidates with Diverse Backgrounds

Stanford described the ideal candidate for these graduate tracks as anyone who is curious and wants to work in science. Stanford’s own academic trajectory shifted from an initial focus on business and accounting to psychology and the neurobiology of aging following a deeper curiosity about brain function.

Other candidates bring varied professional experience to their studies. Teresa Beacham, a Ph.D. candidate in the population health program, previously worked as a pharmacy technician, earned a Master of Business Administration in healthcare administration, and managed fellowships at Children’s Mercy before pursuing healthcare research.

Throughout my career I always avoided patient care. I prefer the social science part of things.

Teresa Beacham

Beacham currently serves as a program director in the school’s Office of Medical Education, working on research, policy, and methods for caring for underserved populations as a first-generation college student from Wyandotte County.

Medical School Environment Fosters Cross-Disciplinary Research

In the Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Ph.D. candidate Lauren Yoksh focuses on utilizing data to improve people’s health. Yoksh noted that studying within a medical school environment provides unique exposure to cross-disciplinary projects.

It has exposed me to all kinds of innovative research. There are a lot of people doing incredible, cutting-edge, novel research here and I feel so lucky to be surrounded by all this greatness.

Lauren Yoksh