Program Quick Facts
The School of Medicine offers a combined training program leading to both MD and PhD degrees. The purpose of this program is to provide research training for highly motivated medical students planning careers in academic medicine.
To accomplish this, our program integrates the studies and requirements for both the MD and PhD degrees, providing students with many opportunities to relate their study of clinical medicine with basic biomedical science. Such training produces medical scientists with unique insights into human disease processes.
The MD/PhD program typically requires seven to nine years to complete the combined degree requirements. The program is flexible in many ways and is designed to meet the individual educational needs of the student. Students entering the program are enrolled in the summer semester five weeks prior to medical school orientation. During this semester, students complete six credit hours of graduate research and, in consultation with the Program Director, a self-selected five-week rotation in a research lab. This rotation introduces students to the laboratories and potential research advisors.
Throughout the training, all MD/PhD students are required to participate in MSCI 620/920 (The Scientific Basis of Medicine). This course, which grew out of the MD/PhD Journal Club, reviews recent papers in the medical literature and utilizes a group setting to further develop critical analysis skills as well as facilitate interaction and dialogue between peers and MD/PhD trained faculty. In addition, students are encouraged to attend at least one research seminar per week to assist in identifying a major discipline area for graduate training.
Lastly, this program is dedicated to developing outstanding physician-scientists who excel in their field and are competitive at the national level. The curriculum is designed to meet the individual educational needs of students while promoting excellence. To this end, MD/PhD students have two options for completing their training:
To accomplish this, our program integrates the studies and requirements for both the MD and PhD degrees, providing students with many opportunities to relate their study of clinical medicine with basic biomedical science. Such training produces medical scientists with unique insights into human disease processes.
The MD/PhD program typically requires seven to nine years to complete the combined degree requirements. The program is flexible in many ways and is designed to meet the individual educational needs of the student. Students entering the program are enrolled in the summer semester five weeks prior to medical school orientation. During this semester, students complete six credit hours of graduate research and, in consultation with the Program Director, a self-selected five-week rotation in a research lab. This rotation introduces students to the laboratories and potential research advisors.
Throughout the training, all MD/PhD students are required to participate in MSCI 620/920 (The Scientific Basis of Medicine). This course, which grew out of the MD/PhD Journal Club, reviews recent papers in the medical literature and utilizes a group setting to further develop critical analysis skills as well as facilitate interaction and dialogue between peers and MD/PhD trained faculty. In addition, students are encouraged to attend at least one research seminar per week to assist in identifying a major discipline area for graduate training.
Lastly, this program is dedicated to developing outstanding physician-scientists who excel in their field and are competitive at the national level. The curriculum is designed to meet the individual educational needs of students while promoting excellence. To this end, MD/PhD students have two options for completing their training:
Option 1
Students follow the medical school curriculum and cover the basic medical sciences during their pre-clinical training period which extends through December of their second year. Next, students begin their PhD training. During this period, students:
- Complete a second research rotation;
- Select a PhD advisor;
- Finish required coursework, including electives in their specialized discipline area; and
- Finalize a meritorious research project and publish their work as well as write, and defend their dissertation.
After completing the PhD requirements, students finish their clinical clerkships and the fourth year of medical school.
Option 2
Students complete medical school basic sciences courses and clinical clerkships prior to their PhD training. After completing their clinical clerkships, students complete a second research rotation and begin their formal PhD training:
- Select a PhD advisor;
- Complete coursework requirements including electives in their specialized discipline area; and
- Finalize a meritorious research project and publish their work as well as write and defend their dissertation.
Following their dissertation defense, students complete their fourth year of medical school.
For both options the PhD and MD degrees are awarded after the requirements for both degrees have been fulfilled.