Last updated: June 2026
1. Our standard
MD Scholars follows the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) authorship criteria. To qualify as an author on any work that comes out of our program, an individual must meet all four of the following:
- Substantial contribution to conception, design, data acquisition, or analysis/interpretation.
- Drafting or substantively revising the work for important intellectual content.
- Final approval of the version to be published.
- Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
2. Scholar authorship
Scholars who complete the analytic and writing components of their assigned project — including running statistical analyses, generating figures, drafting manuscript sections, and incorporating feedback — earn first-author credit on the work product. We do not add names of staff or mentors who did not contribute substantively.
3. Mentor authorship
Faculty mentors typically meet ICMJE criteria 2–4 through substantive intellectual revision and accountability. Whether they meet criterion 1 depends on their role — if they conceived the project, provided data, or contributed analytic decisions, they qualify; otherwise they are listed in the Acknowledgments section.
4. Co-author ordering
For multi-scholar group projects, ordering reflects relative contribution. Scholars who did equal lead work are listed as co-first authors with the standard footnote ("These authors contributed equally"). The senior physician mentor is typically last author.
5. What does NOT qualify
- Paying tuition or enrolling in MD Scholars does not, by itself, earn authorship on any specific paper.
- Light editorial review without substantive intellectual contribution.
- Providing access to data without contributing to design or interpretation.
- General supervision of a research group without project-specific intellectual contribution.
Individuals in these categories are recognized in the Acknowledgments section, not the author list.
6. Disputes
If you believe authorship has been incorrectly assigned on a work that came out of MD Scholars, email contact@mdscholars.com with subject "Authorship Dispute." We will review the contributions of all parties against the ICMJE criteria and provide a written decision within 14 days. Decisions may be appealed once.
7. Misconduct
Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or undisclosed conflicts of interest in any work produced through MD Scholars will result in (a) retraction or withdrawal of the work, (b) removal from the program without refund, and (c) notification of relevant institutions if appropriate.
8. Acknowledgments
All papers, posters, and abstracts produced through MD Scholars should include an Acknowledgments line: "The author(s) thank the MD Scholars Research Mentorship Program for project support and mentorship."
Questions about this policy? Email contact@mdscholars.com.