Welcome from the Directors
We are delighted to welcome you to the MD/PhD program at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine! We are honored to assume leadership of this exceptional program from Drs. Vickery Trinkaus-Randall and Steve Borkan, whose vision and dedication have shaped a training environment of which we are incredibly proud. Through their leadership, the program has secured federal funding and now offers full support to all students throughout their entire training, a significant achievement that reflects the program’s excellence and the value placed on developing the next generation of medical scientists.
As your co-directors, we share a deep commitment to the program’s core mission: developing medical scientists who can seamlessly integrate rigorous research training with clinical excellence. We believe that the synergy between medicine and science is not just valuable, it is essential, and we are dedicated to helping each of you cultivate a strong identity as a physician-scientist.
Drawing on the foundation established by our predecessors, we place a high priority on personalized advising and mentorship as you navigate the distinct phases of your education. We understand that successful training requires both intellectual stimulation and genuine support. This includes helping you develop strong grant writing skills and securing independent funding, we have a proven track record of supporting students in these endeavors. We work closely with our faculty and student body to foster an intellectually vibrant and collegial environment, and we are committed to preparing you for transitions between your scientific and clinical years.
The Boston University community offers unparalleled opportunities for discovery—from our extensive basic science and clinical departments to our collaborative research programs throughout the city. Our mentorship and support extend beyond your time as students; we are proud of our track record of matching graduates into exceptional residencies, including many prestigious Physician-Scientist Training Programs that will allow you to continue developing your dual identity.
Our most important resource is you, our students, and our most important commitment is to your growth as physician-scientists who will make a meaningful difference in the world.
We look forward to collaborating with you and to supporting your journey here at BU.
Neil Ganem, PhD and Katrina Traber, MD/PhD
Co-Directors, MD/PhD Program
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About the Directors
An associate professor of pharmacology, physiology & biophysics, Dr. Ganem directs the Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology. Dr. Ganem’s NIH-funded research is focused on mechanistically defining the causes and consequences of chromosome instability in human cancer. He earned his PhD in biochemistry from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and completed his postdoctoral training at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
An assistant professor of medicine/pulmonary, allergy, sleep and critical care, Dr. Traber’s NIH-funded research focuses on innate immune responses in pneumonia, with a long-term goal of developing host-directed therapies. Board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary and critical care medicine, Dr. Traber divides her clinical time between pulmonary medicine, medical intensive care and tuberculosis care. She earned her MD-PhD from NYU and completed her training at Boston Medical Center.