Most doctoral recipients spend three to six years following receipt of degree in postdoctoral training. The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has an active program of postdoctoral study. Currently there are 2,349 postdoctoral students enrolled, of whom 256 are in the basic medical science departments, 1,215 in clinical science departments, 878 are house officers of the Johns Hopkins Hospital. By actions of the Advisory Board of the Medical Faculty and of the Medical Board of the Hospital, primary responsibility for postdoctoral medical education is placed upon the Medical Faculty. Postdoctoral students, including house officers of the Johns Hopkins Hospital and affiliated hospitals, must register in the School of Medicine and are designated by the title of Fellow of the School of Medicine.
The following sections outline briefly some of the opportunities for postdoctoral education in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
For specific information, applicants should communicate with the director of the department in which they desire to study, the Associate Dean for Postdoctoral Programs, or the Sr. Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education.
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
733 N. Broadway, Room 137
Baltimore, MD 21205
Postgraduate Study and Fellowships
The School of Medicine offers opportunities for study to a limited number of individuals holding the M.D., Ph.D., or other equivalent doctoral degrees from accredited institutions. All departments and divisions have facilities for postdoctoral students. Candidates desiring to avail themselves of these opportunities for instruction and study must be acceptable to the head of the department in which they wish to work.
It is the policy of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to require criminal background investigations on accepted students in any professional or graduate program at the School of Medicine, interns, residents, and clinical fellows in any Graduate Medical Education program sponsored by Johns Hopkins, and other clinical and research postdoctoral fellows at the School of Medicine.
Postdoctoral/GME Offices
The Offices of Graduate Medical Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, within the Dean’s Office of the School of Medicine, are directed by Associate Deans. The offices deal with all house staff of the Johns Hopkins Hospital and all postdoctoral fellows in the School of Medicine. The offices recommend and implement institutional policies covering house staff, in conjunction with the Office of the Vice President for Medical Affairs of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and for non-house staff postdoctoral fellows. In addition, the Associate Deans and staff are available to all house officers and postdoctoral fellows for personal and career counseling. Additional information regarding the Office of Graduate Medical Education can be found at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/gme and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs can be found at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/offices/pda/.
Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
All postdoctoral fellows, their spouses, and dependent children must be covered by health insurance. All postdoctoral fellows will be automatically enrolled in the JHU Wellfleet medical, Delta dental, and EyeMed vision plan as of their appointment date. Spouses and dependent children may be enrolled in the plans offered by JHU or covered under an alternative insurance plan. Dependent enrollment must take place within 30 days of the postdoctoral fellow’s appointment date, during the annual enrollment period, or within 30 days of a qualified life event.
House Staff and Clinical Fellow insurance plans are fully subsidized by the Hospital and School of Medicine. The cost of individual medical, dental, and vision insurance is provided for all non-house staff postdoctoral fellows.
A complete description of benefit plans can be found at https://myahpcare.com/wp-content/uploads/JHU-Postdoctoral-Fellow-Benefits-Overview-2023-2024.pdf
Other Benefits
All house staff and fellows with full-time, primary appointments in the School of Medicine are covered under a long-term disability insurance program and a $100,000 term life insurance policy. These benefits are provided without cost to the trainees. A 403(b) retirement plan allows house staff and fellows to voluntarily tax-shelter a portion of their taxable income received as compensation for services. Income received in the form of fellowships (stipends) is excluded from 403(b) eligibility.
The University Health Service (UHS) provides adult ambulatory care to housestaff and postdoctoral students and spouses (if enrolled in the SHP). The fee for this service is provided by the preceptor.
Fellowships and Fees
Postdoctoral students are usually supported by stipends which accompany the awarding of fellowships. Some sources of the stipend offered to holders of these fellowships lie in the School of Medicine, others in agencies outside the school. Fellowship awards are usually made for one academic year and can be extended for those who wish additional training. Preceptors are expected to abide by the NIH minimum stipend guidelines for years of relevant experience for non-housestaff fellows paid through the Johns Hopkins University payroll system. Postdoctoral students who are not members of the house staff will be assessed tuition at the rate established by the University Board of Trustees for non-M.D. candidates, pro-rated in relation to period of enrollment (see Tuition Policies).
Internships and Residencies
Graduate physicians who are applicants for internship and residency positions at the Johns Hopkins Hospital may direct their inquiries to the director of the department in which they desire to serve, care of:
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
600 N. Wolfe St.
Baltimore, MD 21287
Postdoctoral Courses-Continuing Medical Education
Intensive brief courses are offered annually by various clinical departments. Current and future offerings can be found at https://hopkinscme.cloud-cme.com