Objective　By investigating the actualities of career development potential of eight-year program medical students

to explore a direction of training mode innovation aiming to improve career development potential. Methods　Eight-year program medical graduates

their tutors

and di-rectors of their clinical department in a university hospital were the subjects of the current study. Questionnaire method was applied to evaluate professional competence including clinical skills

re-search capabilities and integrative ability. Anonymous questionnaires were dispensed to eight-year program medical graduates for self-evaluation. Distinct anonymous questionnaires were dispensed to tutors directors for evaluation. Traditional doctoral graduates (professional degree or academic degree) were set as standard for comparison of specific ability of eight-year program medical students. Results 74 out of 85 (87%) questionnaires for Eight-year program medical graduates were available. 53 out of 63 (84%) questionnaires for tutors were available. 21 out of 26 (81%) questionnaires for directors of clinical departments were available. In clinical capabilities

according to 43 percent (32 persons) of the eight-year MD graduates' self-assessment and the evaluation of 94% (50 persons) mentors and 81% (17 people) department directors

eight-year program medical graduates were regarded as lower-skilled clinicians compared with doctoral graduates with professional degree. Eight-year program medical graduates were also considered with worse research capabilities than doctoral graduates with profes-sional degree by themselves (76%

n=56)

their tutors (91%

n=48)

and their department directors (86%

n=18). Conclusions　The survey shows that to some extent

the current eight-year clinical doctoral graduates lack of career development potential

reflecting the current training mode cannot lead to the given training goals. We suggest that both clinical skills and research capabilities should be enhanced to make sure that eight-year program medical graduates deserve the title of academic physician or physician scientists.