md phd program structure

MD-PhD, Combined Degree

School of medicine, md - phd, combined degree program.

From its inception, the physician-scientist has been a hallmark of Johns Hopkins medicine and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Indeed, the Hopkins tri-emblem represents the three core values of the institution: teaching, patient care, and research.

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine offers a variety of opportunities for the training of medical scientists. A combined curriculum leading to both MD and PhD degrees enables students who aspire to careers in academic medicine to obtain intensive training in specialized areas of the biomedical sciences in addition to top-flight medical training. The traditional diversity and flexibility of the educational opportunities at Johns Hopkins permit the design of individualized programs to meet the needs of students with a variety of interests, educational backgrounds, and career goals.

To accomplish our training goals, we expect students to fully commit to medical training while in medical school and research training while in graduate school.  However, we also take important steps to ensure that students are exposed to the intersection of both worlds early in their training, as well as given the professional and career development advice they need to succeed.

In a word, the MD-PhD curriculum at Johns Hopkins is flexible. Most students decide to complete the first two years of medical school before they begin graduate school and finish the last two years of their medical training after completing their thesis work (see the Timeline below). However, students who want more first-hand experience in clinical medicine before beginning graduate work can elect to complete three years of medical school, followed by their graduate training, and then the last year of medical school. This can give them a better appreciation of the potential clinical relevance of their research. In making a choice, trainees consult extensively with the Program Director, the Dean of Students, members of the MD-PhD Committee, prospective research mentors, and their faculty advisors. Students in the MD-PhD Program are automatically accepted to all graduate programs, so decisions regarding graduate training programs can be made with a strong understanding of each program.  The MD-PhD Committee is responsible for program oversight, admissions, and  student mentorship .  Students complete MD-PhD training on average in eight years.

Johns Hopkins interdisciplinary organizational structure means each faculty member may be affiliated with several clinical departments, research sections, and graduate programs. 

Formal graduate programs in the School of Medicine encompass the following areas: Biochemistry; Cellular, and Molecular Biology; Biological Chemistry; Biomedical Engineering; Molecular Biophysics; Functional Anatomy and Human Evolutionary Studies; Cell Biology; Cellular and Molecular Medicine; History of Medicine; Human Genetics; Immunology; Neuroscience; Pathobiology; Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, and Cellular and Molecular Physiology. Students are also eligible to obtain their PhD in one of the 11 graduate programs at the Bloomberg School of Public Health or the School of Arts and Sciences on the Homewood Campus.  Students may select a thesis mentor from faculty in the Schools of Medicine and Public Health.

The MD-PhD Program also sponsors special seminars and lectures, It also maintains a dedicated library, the Paul Talalay MD-PhD Library, to enrich the educational opportunities of all MD-PhD students. Efforts are made to acquaint MD-PhD candidates with the major advances, concepts, and cutting-edge techniques in contemporary medicine and biomedical sciences.  We also create an environment that promotes a more intimate personal contact with successful medical scientists in this institution.

Admission Procedures.  Individuals who wish to apply for admission to the combined MD-PhD Program of the School of Medicine must submit an application through AMCAS  in which they will indicate the MD-PhD Program.  Once the AMCAS application has been verified and submitted to Hopkins, the applicant will receive an invitation to complete the Hopkins Secondary Application.  Here the applicant will submit the additional materials required for the combined degree.  Johns Hopkins does not allow applicants to apply to both the traditional MD program and the combined program during the same cycle.   

All combined-degree applications are reviewed by a separate  MD-PhD Review Committee  which is comprised of faculty from the basic sciences and clinical arena, as well as faculty from the Bloomberg School of Public Health.  A separate Graduate School application is  not necessary . The MD-PhD Committee determines whether or not an interview is indicated.  In general, the committee is looking for students with a passion for research and a commitment to medicine.  This assessment is based on the applicant’s research experience, letters of recommendation, academic performance and extracurricular activities. The Committee considers standardized test scores only in the context of the applicant’s other credentials. If an interview is granted, the applicant is notified by the MD-PhD Office and after the applicant accepts, the process for scheduling an interview begins.  Interview visits generally occur over two days. Applicants are interviewed by members of the MD-PhD Committee and other faculty members who share their research interests. Applicants have many opportunities to meet with current students and tour the campus during their visit. 

All eligible applicants who are admitted to the MD-PhD Program are funded by the NIH Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) Award.  This program, supported by the National Institutes of Health, provides full tuition, stipend, and medical and dental insurance for students. Due to federal restrictions, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for MSTP funding.  Approximately 10-12 MD-PhD students matriculate each year.

Students who matriculate to the traditional MD Program but have a clearly demonstrated interest and experience in scientific research, are eligible to apply to the combined MD-PhD Program.  These students may apply for admission during the fall of their first or second year of medical school.  These qualified applicants are evaluated and placed in the pool for the current application cycle and will be considered for MSTP funding.  

Financial Support.  The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) is supported by a training grant from the National Institutes of Health. A number of exceptional students with unusual accomplishments and commitment to a career in the medical sciences will be selected for traineeships under this program. Such fellowships provide stipend and tuition support for combined medical and graduate study. All students who are admitted to the MD-PhD Program will be considered for these awards. 

Graduates of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine MD-PhD Program have gone on to become leaders in many areas of academic medicine.

Advice on the scope and opportunities offered by these programs may be obtained from the Director or Administrative Director of the MD-PhD Program.

• Administrators
• MD-PhD Program Interview Committee
• MSTP Faculty
• MSTP Faculty by Discipline
• Current Students
• MD-PhD Advisory Committee
• Student Council
• Committee on Diversity & Inclusion
• Students Perspectives on, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at Yale (SPIDEY)
• Peer Advising by Senior Students (PASS)
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• Frequently Asked Questions
• Who we are: Goals & Committees
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• Resources for Support
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• MD-PhD Timeline
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• Clinical Activities
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• Leadership & Research Management Certificate
• Annual Program Retreat
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• Grant-writing workshops
• Teaching Requirements & Opportunities
• Thriving in the Training Environment
• Where To Go For Help
• Physician-Scientist Specialty Shadowing Opportunities
• 2019 Newsletters
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INFORMATION FOR

• Residents & Fellows
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MD-PhD Program

Our mission.

Our mission is to provide students with integrated training in clinical medicine and research that qualifies them to perform at the highest standards as rigorous clinicians and scientists; to create a diverse and inclusive physician-scientist community to support and mentor trainees along axes of personal identity, clinical discipline and research domain; to cultivate the characteristics of curiosity, creativity, compassion and service in our trainees; and to develop skills associated with success in a broad range of physician-scientist research careers through experiential learning.

Our commitment to diversity & inclusion

Director's welcome: yale md-phd program, message from the director.

Whether you are a prospective or current student, alumnus, faculty or staff member, you are here because of a shared interest in how physician-scientists can advance patient care through their unique and rigorous training in both clinical medicine and research.

Here at Yale, we have world-class scientists and clinicians engaged in basic, translational and clinical research that runs from sub-atomic bonds to the bonds that hold society together, and everything in between. Our students come from diverse backgrounds, with different scientific and clinical interests, but share the desire to make an impact through their work and practice. Our program has didactic, clinical and research opportunities within divisions, departments and schools that span the entire University. I am glad to report that the Yale System still lives and continues to promote a culture of independence of thought, creativity, mission and service among our collaborative students and faculty. I am very proud of our past and current students who do groundbreaking research that leads to advances in medicine.

I hope you take a moment to learn more about our program from these web pages, or by contacting any of our students, faculty or staff. If you are a student who is ready to accept the challenges, responsibilities and rewards of preparing for a career that makes a positive impact on human health and well-being, I invite you to apply to our MD-PhD program. We hope that you will become part of the Yale MD-PhD family, and join us in celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2020!

With warm regards,

Barbara Kazmierczak, MD PhD Professor of Medicine & Microbial Pathogenesis Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation MD-PhD Program Director

MSTP MD-PhD Program

Frequently asked questions.

• Program Structure

How long does it take to complete both degrees?

The average length of time before graduation is 7.5 years; generally students will take 6 years or 8 years depending on the nature of their graduate research. Students generally complete and defend their PhD thesis before completing their clinical rotations in the last 1 – 2 years.

Can I do one degree before the other?

As above, nearly all students will complete their PhD requirements 1 – 2 years before their MD requirements. An important advantage of combined degree training is the breadth that the first 1 – 2 years of medical school provides for graduate research.  Students must pass part I of the National Board Medical Licensing Examination before commencing full-time laboratory research. Occasionally circumstances will arise when an individual student's training is best served by deviating from this "traditional" plan; these situations require approval and monitoring by the graduate advisor and the MSTP Directors.

How will I be supported during my training?

Stanford MSTP students are fully supported through the entire program, tuition, health insurance and stipend, by a combination of funds from a National Institute of Health training grant, individual graduate programs, and School of Medicine funds.

Are there laboratory rotations?

One of the ways in which we try to make the total time of training less than the sum normally taken to complete MD and PhD degrees is by encouraging MSTP students to choose a potential thesis advisor without a yearlong set of rotations through different laboratories. During the first year of the program, students meet with departmental chairs and research faculty and participate in research seminars and group meetings, so that the summer following the first year can be spent working full-time in a laboratory whose goals, approaches, and personnel are already familiar. In most cases, MSTP students choose this laboratory as the place to carry out their thesis research.

Can I get advanced placement credit for graduate coursework?

MSTP students fulfill the same curricular requirements as "straight MD" and "straight PhD" students. Some PhD Programs may permit substitution of previous graduate course work (or MD courses) for their PhD requirements; this is individual to the program and the student.

Are MSTP students required to complete the MD Scholarly Concentration (SC) program?

The MSTP is a combined effort between the MD program and the PhD programs. All trainees are required to fulfill all requirements for both the MD and PhD degrees. The single exception is the MD program requirement for a Scholarly Concentration. For dual degree MD-PhD students, the PhD substitutes for this requirement.

Will I have special opportunities as an MSTP student?

Yes! In addition to individual regular advising meetings with the Program Directors, we hold seminars, courses, and lunches with guest speakers, covering important topics of professional development and translational medicine.  The MSTP community also meets annually for the MSTP Scientific Conference, to present research, and to share clinical experiences, advice and above all support.

Will I have special responsibilities as an MSTP student?

Of course! Besides the challenge of balancing graduate and medical training, we ask all MSTP students to play an integral role in the recruitment, education, and evaluation of incoming MSTP applicants.

Graduate Programs

Can I get a PhD outside the Medical School?

Yes.  One of the unique aspects of the Stanford MSTP is its close affiliation with departments in other Schools, including Engineering (Bioengineering, Chemical, Computer Science, Electrical) and Humanities and Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics).

Can I get a PhD in a clinical department?

The PhD must be conferred by a degree-granting department or program, and most clinical departments do not grant PhD degrees. However, most scientists in clinical departments either have joint appointments with basic science departments or are members of interdepartmental programs such as Cancer Biology, Neurosciences, or Immunology, and the only restriction regarding thesis advisors is that they must be members of the Academic Council.

Can I apply to the MSTP and get a PhD in a social science?

If you are a current Stanford MD student and have previously been admitted to a social science PhD program, you may apply to the MSTP for funding.  Admitted PhD candidates may apply through the MSTP internal admissions process.

Are there teaching requirements?

The MSTP itself has no specific teaching requirements, but some PhD programs do.

How will my training differ from other "straight PhD" students?

The short answer is, "It won't." PhD training for MSTP students is just as rigorous and intensive as for students outside the MSTP. However, MSTP students don't spend their first year rotating through different laboratories, and most MSTP students complete their preclinical medical school curriculum before starting full-time laboratory research.

• Admissions Process

How many applicants do you interview and admit?

On average, we invite about 60 students for interviews or about 1 in 9 of those students who submit a secondary application. About 8 - 10 students begin the MSTP every year.

Can I apply to the MSTP after starting medical school?

Yes! One of the unique aspects of the Stanford School of Medicine is its strong emphasis on research, and the MSTP invites current Stanford medical students in their preclinical years, who have made a commitment and contribution to a research-based career, to submit an application for the MSTP.  We refer to this as the “internal” application process . Typically, the MSTP admits 1 – 2 internal applicants every year.

Is there an early decision program?

No. We think making a decision about combined medical school and graduate training is challenging enough! Finding a program that best matches an individual student's interests and goals is facilitated by visiting several universities and meeting with a variety of potential research advisors.

How do I find out about the status of my application?

Just ask (we don't mind).

Can I schedule my interview for a different day?

There are 5 – 6 interview days per season; once invited, interviews are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.  We will try to accommodate requests for other dates if necessary.

I don't know whether to apply for Med School or MSTP?

You should only apply to the MSTP if you are committed to a career in biomedical research; such a commitment should be based, in part, on previous sustained and productive research experience as an undergraduate. If you're not sure, consider working full-time in a laboratory after undergraduate school before deciding whether an MSTP is right for you, or, alternatively, starting as a "straight MD" student, participating in a research project in your 2nd or 3rd year, and possibly applying to the MSTP as an internal applicant (see above).

What does the MSTP Admissions Committee look for?

Besides qualification for admission to the medical school itself, the single most important component of an MSTP application is a previous sustained and productive research experience.

When can I expect to hear about the outcome of my application and/or interview?

Interview season is October – February; interview invitations will be issued 3 – 6 weeks before the scheduled interview date. MSTP admission decisions are made on a modified rolling basis.

Are MSTP applicants considered independently for medical school admission?

The MSTP Admissions Committee is separate from, but closely integrated with, the Medical School Admissions Committee.  All applicants to the MSTP are also considered for MD-only admission.  If you are not chosen for an MSTP interview, your application is automatically routed for MD-only consideration.  If you are chosen for an MSTP interview, you will also be required to participate in the MD admission interview process.  These interviews will be scheduled the day before, or day after, your MSTP interviews.  If you are not offered admission to the MSTP, you will be considered for MD-only admission.

• Student Life

Can I afford to live in Palo Alto?

Housing costs in the Bay Area are more than other cities. However, every new graduate student is guaranteed housing on campus or at University associated off-campus sites.  Almost anyone can afford to live comfortably as a Stanford graduate student solely on stipend support.

Will the program pay for health insurance? What about the rest of my family?

We consider health insurance an essential component of all graduate training programs. The program covers the entire cost for individual students and offers a mechanism for subsidizing dependents.

Isn't there more to do in San Francisco than in Palo Alto?

It depends whether you would rather watch street vendors in Union Square or go hiking in the Los Altos foothills. Seriously, downtown San Francisco is a short train ride away from Stanford, but the two environments offer different (and complementary) experiences. Downtown Palo Alto doesn't have skyscrapers but it does have a thriving economy, a diverse population, and an environment that attracts many students to stay here for postgraduate training and career opportunities. Come see for yourself!

• Graduate Program

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School of Medicine

Medical Education

M.d./ph.d. program.

• Applying to the M.D./Ph.D. Program
• M.D./Ph.D. Program Blog
• M.D./Ph.D. Student Profiles
• M Delta Curriculum for M.D./Ph.D. Students
• M.D./Ph.D. Student Publications
• M.D./Ph.D. Student Government

UConn’s M.D./Ph.D. program provides students with an intellectually stimulating and highly integrated educational experience leading to completion of both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. With many alumni matched to highly competitive residencies, the UConn M.D./Ph.D. program prepares its graduates for successful careers in both medicine and science.

The mission of our M.D./Ph.D. program is to prepare individuals of outstanding potential for productive careers as physician-scientists. The program emphasizes the development of skills necessary to become a highly competent and caring physician and to perform, evaluate, and communicate the results of independent research in the biomedical sciences.

Furthermore, we strongly believe in the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in science and medicine. Essential to this is our giving opportunities for students of all backgrounds including underrepresented minority groups, disadvantaged backgrounds, and those with disabilities. We are committed to provide individualized support for students from underrepresented or underprivileged backgrounds.

Our program is dedicated to high quality medical and graduate education tailored to the needs of the individual student. We are a close-knit community of students, faculty, and staff. Collegiality and mentorship are key aspects of the program.

Dedication to Diversity

The M.D./Ph.D. program at UConn Health is fully dedicated to making an environment that is inclusive and accepting of all of our students. To this end, we value diversity in all its forms, and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply to join our community of learning.

We believe that having a wide range of lived experiences adds value to the discussions we have with one another. As future healthcare providers and researchers, understanding differences in lifestyles and cultures help us provide the best care for our patients. The program works towards having a diverse environment to encourage dialogue and strengthen our understanding. Through this, we aim to add diverse and culturally competent physician-scientists to the work force.

We also emphasize outreach to underrepresented communities in our surrounding area through a variety of programs. These programs provide mentorship and education about the career paths in science and medicine, including physician-scientists. Through these, we aim to spread awareness and encourage diversity in the science and medical field in the future.

We welcome you to explore the many ways in which the UConn M.D./Ph.D. program, the School of Medicine, and the Graduate School work to ensure that UConn is a safe and welcoming environment for all. We also ask you to reach out to us with any questions about the M.D./Ph.D. program’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Program Structure

M.D./Ph.D. students matriculate for the first 18 months with the regular M.D. students before they pursue their graduate studies, taking four years to complete their Ph.D., and then return for clinical clerkships. During the first two years, in addition to completing the preclinical requirements of the medical school curriculum, students pursue select graduate school coursework and two to three laboratory rotations. Incoming M.D./Ph.D. students have the option to complete their first laboratory rotation the summer before matriculation.

There is an emphasis in continuity of clinical education, providing opportunity to practice clinical skills on patients from the start of medical school and throughout the graduate phase, better preparing students to excel in clinical rotations. Students remain actively involved in the program during all phases of their training via weekly research club, symposiums, leadership opportunities, and other events.

As part of the longitudinal clinical experience, students are required to continue clinical activities in community service clinics or in specialty clinics for a half day per month during the graduate phase in order to maintain their clinical skills. Following successful completion of requirements for the Ph.D. degree, students return to medical school to complete two years of clinical training.

For a full breakdown of program structure, see our page on the M Delta Curriculum for M.D./Ph.D. Students.

UConn School of Medicine is one of the nation's leading public medical schools, featuring a modern, case-based learning curriculum, early clinical experience, and state-of-the-art facilities for clinical simulation, virtual and cadaverial anatomy education

M.D./Ph.D. students engage in UConn School of Medicine’s industry-leading M Delta curriculum.

Learn more about UConn School of Medicine’s curriculum.

Graduate Education

During the graduate phase, students pursue intensive thesis research in one of seven areas of concentration (AOC) in biomedical science and complete additional coursework required by their AOC. The Biomedical Science AOCs are:

• Cell Biology
• Genetics & Developmental Biology
• Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
• Neuroscience
• Skeletal Biology and Regeneration
• Systems Biology

The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine

The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) offers collaborative research training opportunities for our students in mammalian genetics and genomic medicine on our UConn Health campus. Our students have the option to complete lab rotations and perform their Ph.D. thesis research with a JAX faculty member at the Jackson Laboratory on our Farmington, CT campus at UConn Health, if the JAX faculty member has an appointment as a faculty member of the UConn Graduate School. Learn more about the cooperative Ph.D. program and JAX-GM.

External Fellowship Awards

Although a tuition waiver and full stipend funding are guaranteed through the entire length of our program, most of our students succeed in obtaining fellowship grants such as NIH F30 and American Heart Association awards. We provide extensive support for trainee grant applications including a mock study section with senior faculty members to prepare our students for success. To read about some of our current student fellowships success stories, read our M.D./Ph.D. student blog.

Residency Placement

Our students routinely match to physician-scientist training programs (PSTPs) and other competitive residencies in a broad range of specialties all over the country. For more details, check out our M.D./Ph.D. Program fact sheet and M.D./Ph.D. student blog .

To learn more about the success of our our past and current students, see our M.D./Ph.D. student blog , Student Profile page, and M.D./Ph.D. Program fact sheet.

Applications

Applicants should have substantive research experience, a strong academic record, and prior clinical exposures. Applicants must complete the online AMCAS application, indicate on their application that they are applying to the UConn M.D./Ph.D. program, and complete the M.D./Ph.D. essay. Learn more about applying to the UConn PhD Program.

Contact Information

M.d./ph.d. program news & blog.

• Congratulations Keaven Caro on F30 Award
• Congratulations to MD-PhD M4 students on their Match!
• Congratulations to Justin and Cullen on T90/T32 appointments!
• MD/PhD Program Director’s Innovative Approach to Heart Disease
• MD/PhD Candidate Rachel Cohn Awarded F30 Fellowship from NIA
• Congratulations to our new MD-PhD Graduates!

• Medical School Application

MD-PhD Programs: The Definitive Guide

Including a list of md-phd programs in the us and canada.

Featured Expert: Dr. Jacquelyn Paquet, MD

An MD-PhD program might be the right choice for you if the question “ Why do you want to be a doctor? ” leaves you feeling excited but a little unsure. Are you inspired to work in medicine but not interested in concentrating exclusively on clinical work? MD-PhD programs accept applicants who want to become physician-scientists, a career path that focuses on scientific innovation and research. 

In this definitive guide to MD-PhD programs, you will learn everything you need to know about applying, medical schools in North America that offer this program, admission requirements, funding for MD-PhD programs, and tips to help you get accepted!

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 1 min read

List of md-phd programs.

Many schools offer the MD-PhD program in Canada and the United States, and the number of available programs is growing. Here is an up-to-date list, which is also available on the AAMC website. Schools funded through MTSP are starred.

·       University of Alabama School of Medicine*

·       University of Arizona College of Medicine *

·       University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix

·       University of Arkansas College of Medicine

·       Loma Linda University School of Medicine

·       Stanford University School of Medicine*

·       University of California, Davis School of Medicine *

·       University of California, Irvine School of Medicine*

·       University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine*

·       University of California, San Diego School of Medicine*

·       University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine*

·       Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine

·       Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

·       University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

·       University of Colorado Denver*

·       Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences*

·       University of Connecticut School of Medicine

·       Yale University School of Medicine*

·       Georgetown University School of Medicine

·       Howard University College of Medicine

·       University of Florida College of Medicine

·       University of Miami Miller School of Medicine*

·       University of South Florida College of Medicine

·       University of Central Florida College of Medicine

·       Emory University School of Medicine*

·       Morehouse School of Medicine

·       Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

·       Loyola University of Chicago - Stritch School of Medicine

·       Northwestern University Medical School *

·       Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science - Chicago Medical School

·       University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (MTSP) *

·       University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine *

·       Carle Illinois College of Medicine

·       Indiana University School of Medicine *

·       University of Iowa College of Medicine *

·       University of Kansas School of Medicine

·       University of Kentucky College of Medicine

·       University of Louisville School of Medicine

·       Louisiana State University, New Orleans School of Medicine

·       Louisiana State University, Shreveport School of Medicine

·       Tulane University School of Medicine

·       Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine *

·       National Institutes of Health Intramural MD-PhD Partnership

·       Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

·       University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Medicine *

·       Boston University School of Medicine

·       Harvard Medical School *

·       Tufts University School of Medicine *

·       University of Massachusetts Medical School *

·       Michigan State University College of Medicine

·       University of Michigan Medical School *

·       Wayne State University School of Medicine

·       Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine

·       Mayo Medical School *

·       University of Minnesota Medical School *

·       University of Mississippi School of Medicine

·       Saint Louis University School of Medicine

·       University of Missouri - Columbia School of Medicine

·       Washington University School of Medicine *

·       University of Nebraska College of Medicine

·       Creighton University School of Medicine

·       University of Nevada School of Medicine

·       Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

·       University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School

·       University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

·       Cooper Medical School of Rowan University

·       University of New Mexico School of Medicine

·       Albany Medical College

·       Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University *

·       Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons *

·       Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

·       Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional MD/PhD Program

·       Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai *

·       New York Medical College

·       New York University Grossman School of Medicine *

·       Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo

·       SUNY at Stony Brook Health Sciences Center *

·       SUNY Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine

·       SUNY Upstate Medical University

·       University of Rochester School of Medicine *

·       Wake Forest School of Medicine

·       Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University

·       Duke University School of Medicine *

·       University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine *

·       University of North Dakota School of Medicine

·       Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine *

·       Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine

·       Ohio State University College of Medicine *

·       University of Cincinnati College of Medicine *

·       University of Toledo College of Medicine

·       Wright State University School of Medicine

·       University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

·       Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine *

·       Drexel University College of Medicine

·       Penn State University College of Medicine *

·       Perelman School of Medicine School of Medicine *

·       Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University  

·       University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine *

·       University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine  

·       Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University Philadelphia, Pa.

·       University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine

·       Brown University School of Medicine

·       Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine *

·       University of South Carolina School of Medicine

·       University of South Dakota School of Medicine

·       Meharry Medical College School of Medicine

·       East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine

·       University of Tennessee, Memphis College of Medicine

·       Vanderbilt University School of Medicine *

·       Baylor College of Medicine *

·       Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center College of Medicine

·       Texas Tech University School of Medicine

·       University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

·       McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center *

·       University of Texas, San Antonio Medical School *

·       University of Texas, Southwestern Med Center - Dallas *

·       University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine

·       University of Utah School of Medicine

·       University of Vermont College of Medicine

·       Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

·       University of Virginia School of Medicine *

·       University of Washington School of Medicine *

·       Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

·       West Virginia University School of Medicine

·       Medical College of Wisconsin *

·       University of Wisconsin Medical School *

·       McGill University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Montreal, Quebec

·       McMaster University of Faculty of Health Sciences Hamilton, Ontario

·       Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John’s, Newfoundland

·       Queen’s University School of Medicine Kingston, Ontario

·       Universite de Montreal Faculte de Medecine  Montréal, Québec

·       Universite de Sherbrooke Faculte de Medecine  Sherbrooke, Quebec

·       Universite Laval Faculte de Medecine  Québec, Québec

·       University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Edmonton, Alberta

·       University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine Calgary, Alberta

·       University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine Vancouver, British Columbia

·       University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba

·       University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine Ottawa

·       University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine Toronto, Ontario

·       University of Western Ontario London, Ontario

MD-PhD programs allow you to obtain a dual degree in medicine and research. When deciding between MD-PhD vs MD programs, it is important to know what MD-PhD programs entail. Upon graduation, students receive a combined degree with advanced, hands-on research training and expertise in a field of their choice.

“MD-PhD … students enter their first year of medical school and complete their pre-clerkship years. During this period they are likely exploring what they are interested in, solidifying their focus in research and seeking supervisors. Then they will take approximately 5 years off of their medical training to complete their PhD. They will then re-engage in their medical training completing their clerkship training, which will complete their program. MD-PhD is a rigorous program and the committee is looking for individuals who are academically strong and possess research skills to succeed in the PhD program. Applicants should be strong clinicians, thus having a breadth of leadership, extracurricular, volunteerism and research experience.” - Dr Jacquelyn Paquet, MD

Is the md-phd program right for me.

The MD-PhD program is for exceptional students interested in a career in medical research, but you’ll still need to be a well-rounded medical school applicant.

“For the MD-PhD they are wanting individuals to possess additional research skills, however recognizing the unique leadership positions of those with doctoral degrees, they are often situated in academic centers, thus involved in administrative and teaching roles as well! They are still wanting applicants to be strong clinicians, thus having a breadth of leadership, extracurricular, volunteerism and research experience are sought.” – Dr. Jacquelyn Paquet, MD.

Keep in mind that even if you choose not to pursue a dual degree program, MDs can still earn their PhDs—and vice versa!

“I pursued a PhD during residency. I had considered doing a MD-PhD as it would provide more opportunities to focus on research prior to initiating my residency training. I opted to complete my MD first and pursue my MSc and PhD during residency as I was concerned about having 5 years off between my pre-clerkship and clerkship years would impact my clinical skills.” – Dr. Jacquelyn Paquet, MD.

Finally, ask yourself, \u201c What is your greatest weakness? \u201d If the answer is research, an MD-PhD program might not be for you. However, if you are determined to pursue medicine and research simultaneously, the MD-PhD program is perfect! ","label":"Question to Ask Yourself","title":"Question to Ask Yourself"}]" code="tab4" template="BlogArticle">

Struggling to decide between MD-PhD and MD programs? Check out our video below!

The most important admission requirements and prerequisites for MD-PhD programs are your research background and lab experience. MD-PhD programs require the completion of a four-year undergraduate degree and background in the following disciplines:

2 years of clinical training to prepare you for residency. After clerkships, you will complete the USMLE Step 2 exam and any other MD requirements of your program.  "}]">

These medical school prerequisites are the baseline. Your academic record should include a variety of science and non-science courses. Admissions committees will note your coursework’s difficulty levels and academic improvement over time.

Check with your program of choice for specific course requirements.

We’ve compiled a list of our top tips for getting accepted into an MD-PhD program, based on expert advice and experience:

GPA and MCAT

According to the latest AAMC statistics, the average GPA of MD-PhD matriculants is 3.7, while the average MCAT score is 511. If your academic record does not reflect these numbers, you need to get your grades up. Here are four ways you can start to get into medical school with a low GPA.

• Re-enroll in classes you performed poorly in and get a higher grade.
• Ask your instructors and teaching assistants for extra credit assignments.
• Find a tutor to help with areas where you struggle.
• Plan your school schedule to include subjects in which you excel.

Your MCAT score is an indicator of your academic prowess. Before you take the test, make sure you know what is a good MCAT score and when to start studying for the MCAT . Here are four strategies that can help your MCAT score.

• Give yourself ample time to prepare.
• Start by taking an MCAT practice test to determine areas for improvement.
• Create an MCAT study schedule.
• Take multiple practice tests to monitor improvement. If you consistently score at the 90% percentile in your practice tests, you can start planning to take the actual MCAT.

If you’re still wondering “ When should I take the MCAT ?”, read our blog for tips.

CASPer Test

If your schools require the completion of the Acuity Insights Suite, you will complete the Duet profile and CASPer test. Preparing for each component is challenging, but CASPer remains the most intimidating.

The CASPer test is an online situational judgment test designed to assess the suitability of students applying to professional schools. The timed format is challenging, so knowing how the CASPer test is scored is helpful. Learn how to prepare for CASPer and review these CASPer practice questions to ace your test!

“Thanks to BEMO I got a 4th quartile on my casper test!!!!! It took me long to understand the BEMO structure but practice and great coaching made the difference. Without BEMO I would of probably gotten a 2. So don’t hesitate signing up with them, if you are committed, you will also get a 4! Also, buy the BEMO casper book!” - Mike, Former BeMo Student

You will need to submit a total of three essays for the MD-PhD program:

• Your personal statement,
• The research interest statement , and
• The MD PhD essay .

Note: If you’re applying through TMDSAS, you will need to submit the Dual Degree essay along with the other essay application components.

“In your personal statement you want to highlight your breadth and skillset in research and areas of interest. You also want to highlight how completing a PhD will make you a stronger clinician and if you are aware, how you see yourself fulfilling the roles of researcher and clinician.” – Dr. Jacquelyn Paquet, MD.

While your medical school personal statement answers the question “Why do you want to be a doctor?”, the MD-PhD specific essays demonstrate your research expertise and explain why you have chosen to pursue an MD-PhD. The significant research experience essay outlines your most valuable research experiences, including the nature of the work, your role and contributions, project length, and details about the principal investigators. Your MD-PhD essay tells the story of how you became involved in scientific research and how you want to apply your research to medical practice.

“I used BeMo consulting when applying to my MD/PhD programs this year. As a first time applicant to these programs, it can be overwhelming. Luckily, BeMo’s services are helpful and easy-to-use. They have a fast response and helped me greatly in writing my essays." -- Zhinan Liu, former BeMo student.

Want to know how to write an MD-PhD essay? Check out our video below!

Research Experience

As an MD-PhD program applicant, you must have research experience to demonstrate your exposure to research methods and techniques.

Dr. Monica Taneja, BeMo expert and Psychiatry resident at Harvard South Shore, reminds students that it is important to consider your own passion when finding research opportunities, not focusing solely on what you think the admission committee is looking for.

“I definitely felt that public health gave me a lot of unique opportunities to delve into research related to the social determinants of health and health equity. I noticed that research in this area was not as common compared to basic science or clinical research.” - Dr. Monica Taneja, MD, Harvard South Shore – Psychiatry.

Make sure you can identify what you learned from your research experiences – you will have to outline valuable lessons and skills you acquired in multiple parts of your MD-PhD application and interviews. To bolster your research background, try looking for research assistant positions.

• Talk to your instructors and teaching assistants about participating in their research projects.
• Check for research position postings on your school’s website.
• Reach out to former instructors and ask about research opportunities.
• Contact physicians you volunteered with or shadowed to find out if they are involved in research projects. Even if they are not, physicians can often recommend research-oriented organizations and medical professionals.

You need a strong application, including a research assistant cover letter and CV, to apply to research positions. If academia is your passion, you might want to look into special master’s programs . These graduate degrees are designed to enhance students’ medical school applications and may improve the quality of your research background.

Clinical experience is one of the essential extracurriculars for medical school , and having no clinical background will decrease your chances of being accepted to an MD-PhD program.

You can gain clinical experience through:

• Working and volunteering in clinics, hospitals, and hospices.
• Volunteering in long-term care and retirement homes.
• Working as a health professional’s assistant.
• Volunteering as a medical scribe or a personal caretaker.

Shadowing a physician can also increase your knowledge of clinical practice. Take note of memorable lessons you learn – they may be invaluable sources for your MD-PhD essays. Make sure you know how many shadowing hours are required for medical school to fulfill the requirement and how to ask to shadow a doct or.

Dr. Neel Mistry, MD, a graduate from the University of Ottawa medical school and a BeMo admissions expert, says this about his clinical experience:

“These experiences helped solidify my passion for medicine and why I wanted to become a doctor. I was able to draw on these experiences during my medical school application and the interview process.” - Dr Neel Mistry, MD

Md-phd residency.

As an MD-PhD student, you need to find residencies developed to train physician-scientists by fully integrating research into clinical training. The number of residency programs for MD-PhDs is growing, and a wide range of clinical specialty choices exist. During your dual degree program, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore research in different medical specialties.

“By having an area of focus, it allows you to explore if you do want to indeed be a clinician-scientist in the area you have considered or if you have a different scope of the project that might lend itself better to a complimentary specialty. For instance, someone who is interested in head and neck cancers may be quite interested in pursuing otolaryngology however when they focus on their project, they recognize that they prefer the radiology or oncologic treatments and thus pursue interventional radiology, radiation oncology or oncology.” – Dr. Jacquelyn Paquet, MD.

You will use the ERAS application to apply to American residency programs and CaRMS to apply to programs in Canada.

1. WHAT ARE MY CAREER OPTIONS WITH AN MD-PHD?

Individuals with an MD-PhD have career options across academia, research institutions, healthcare organizations, and private industry. The versatility of an MD-PhD equips graduates to make significant contributions to medical practice and scientific innovation.

Career paths for MD-PhDs include:

• Academic careers, working in universities or medical schools, where time is shared between patient care, teaching, and conducting research.
• Leadership roles within healthcare organizations, directing research programs or shaping healthcare policy.
• Private industry, such as pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, or healthcare consulting.
• Government agencies, advancing medical research and public health initiatives.

2. HOW LONG ARE MOST MD-PHD PROGRAMS?

MD-PhD programs can take up to 8 years to complete. Factors influencing the duration include clinical and PhD requirements and research progress. Two common tracks are the 2-3-2 or 2-4-2, involving initial MD coursework, followed by PhD research, and concluding with clinical training.

3. IS IT HARDER TO GET INTO AN MD-PHD PROGRAM?

Getting into an MD-PhD program can be harder because you have to meet the admission requirements for both the MD and PhD programs, and have research experience. MD-PhD programs can be very selective and highly competitive.  

4. ARE THERE ANY FUNDED MD-PHD PROGRAMS?

MD-PhD program funding can include tuition waivers and a stipend to help cover the costs of living expenses. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) provides financial support to dozens of MD-PhD programs through the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). These programs are extremely competitive as the funding offers a tuition allowance and a basic stipend, with most institutions supplementing the stipend.

5. DO I STILL NEED TO GET CLINICAL AND SHADOWING EXPERIENCE IF I AM APPLYING TO THE COMBINED PROGRAM?

While research is going to be the major focus of the MD-PhD, you must still have sufficient clinical and shadowing experience to assure that medicine is also a desired component of your career.

6. SHOULD I GET A MASTER’S DEGREE BEFORE I APPLY TO MD-PHD?

Most applicants do not have master’s degrees. However, some students pursue a special master’s program to gain valuable research experience and bolster their MD-PhD applications.

7. WHAT IS A GOOD RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR MD-PHD?

You do not need to have research experience in the medical field to qualify for MD-PhD. Many research skills are transferable across disciplines. As long as you learn valuable research skills and understand the process, your research experience can come from any field you like.

8. HOW MUCH RESEARCH EXPERIENCE DO I NEED TO GET ACCEPTED?

The quality of your research experience is most important. It is not necessary to be involved in dozens of research projects or make any ground-breaking scientific discoveries to enter the MD-PhD program. In your application, focus on what you have learned and accomplished and don't be afraid to discuss your setbacks in addition to your accomplishments.

9. DO I NEED TO BE A PUBLISHED RESEARCHER TO ENTER THE MD-PHD PROGRAM?

Having published research can give you a competitive edge as not every applicant will have this experience. Keep in mind that you must have an in-depth understanding of this research because you will be asked about it during your interviews. However, many students apply directly out of undergrad and admissions committees understand that it is difficult to contribute to publication at such an early stage in your education.

10. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MD-PHD AND MSTP?

Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) is an MD-PhD program that has been awarded a training grant (T32) from the National Institute of General Medical Science that financially supports trainees in the program. There are currently about 49 MD-PhD programs that have T32 awards. Non-MSTP MD-PhD programs also provide environments where students obtain outstanding dual-degree training.

11. WHO SHOULD WRITE MY RECOMMENDATION LETTERS FOR THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM?

Ideally, at least one of your writers will be the head of a research project in which you participated. It is important to have a person who can speak to your research skills and progress. Other writers can include professors and instructors, volunteer and work supervisors, athletics coaches, or a physician you worked with or whom you shadowed.

12. CAN I CHANGE MY RESEARCH INTERESTS DURING MY STUDIES, OR WILL I HAVE TO STICK TO THE RESEARCH FIELD I IDENTIFIED IN MY PERSONAL STATEMENT AND MY MD PHD ESSAY?

It is completely normal to change direction in your research throughout your studies and many students change their research fields after they gain more research experience.

13. CAN I BECOME A PHYSICIAN-SCIENTIST WITHOUT OBTAINING AN MD-PHD DEGREE?

It is certainly possible to become a physician-scientist without obtaining an MD-PhD degree. However, the joint program is the most effective way to become a physician-scientist. You can also complete an MD and PhD separately, but this route takes much longer. Some schools will let you transfer into their MD-PhD program if you've completed a year or two in their medical program.

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MD-PhD Degree Programs by State

New section.

Combined MD-PhD degree programs provide students the opportunity to earn both the MD and the PhD in areas pertinent to medicine.

Combined MD-PhD degree programs provide students the opportunity to earn both the MD and the PhD in areas pertinent to medicine. Below is a list of schools offering a combined MD-PhD degree, with links to their web sites. Please contact the institutions directly for curriculum information and admission requirements. School administrators may contact [email protected]  with any omissions or corrections to this listing.

University of Alabama School of Medicine Birmingham, Ala.

University of South Alabama College of Medicine   Mobile, Ala.

University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson, Ariz.

University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix Phoenix, Ariz.

University of Arkansas College of Medicine Little Rock, Ark.

Loma Linda University School of Medicine   Loma Linda, Calif.

Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, Calif.

University of California, Davis School of Medicine   Davis, Calif.

University of California, Irvine School of Medicine   Irvine, Calif.

University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine   Los Angeles, Calif.

University of California, San Diego School of Medicine   La Jolla, Calif.

University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine   San Francisco, Calif.

Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California   Los Angeles, Calif.

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center   Denver, Colo.

Connecticut

University of Connecticut School of Medicine   Farmington, Conn.

Yale University School of Medicine   New Haven, Conn.

District of Columbia

Georgetown University School of Medicine   Washington, D.C.

Howard University College of Medicine   Washington, D.C.

University of Florida College of Medicine   Gainesville, Fla.

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine   Miami, Fla.

University of South Florida College of Medicine   Tampa, Fla.

Emory University School of Medicine   Atlanta, Ga.

Medical College of Georgia   Augusta, Ga.

Morehouse School of Medicine   Atlanta, Ga.

Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Augusta, Ga.

Loyola University of Chicago - Stritch School of Medicine   Maywood, Ill.

Northwestern University Medical School   Chicago, Ill.

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science - Chicago Medical School   North Chicago, Ill.

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (MTSP)  Chicago, Ill.

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (MD/PhD) Chicago, Ill.

University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine   Chicago, Ill.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Carle Illinois College of Medicine   Urbana, Ill.

Indiana University School of Medicine   Indianapolis, Ind.

University of Iowa College of Medicine   Iowa City, Iowa

University of Kansas School of Medicine   Kansas City, Kan.

University of Kentucky College of Medicine   Lexington, Ky.

University of Louisville School of Medicine   Louisville, Ky.

Louisiana State University, New Orleans School of Medicine   New Orleans, La.

Louisiana State University, Shreveport School of Medicine   Shreveport, La.

Tulane University School of Medicine   New Orleans, La.

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine   Baltimore, Md.

National Institutes of Health Intramural MD-PhD Partnership   Bethesda, Md.

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences   Bethesda, Md.

University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Medicine   Baltimore, Md.

Massachusetts

Boston University School of Medicine   Boston, Mass.

Harvard Medical School   Boston, Mass.

Tufts University School of Medicine   Boston, Mass.

University of Massachusetts Medical School   Worcester, Mass.

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine   East Lansing, Mich.

University of Michigan Medical School   Ann Arbor, Mich.

Wayne State University School of Medicine   Detroit, Mich.

Mayo Medical School  Rochester, Minn.

University of Minnesota Medical School   Minneapolis, Minn.

Mississippi

University of Mississippi School of Medicine   Jackson, Miss.

Saint Louis University School of Medicine   St. Louis, Mo.

University of Missouri - Columbia School of Medicine   Columbia, Mo.

University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine   Kansas City, Mo.

Washington University School of Medicine   St. Louis, Mo.

Creighton University School of Medicine   Omaha, Neb.

University of Nebraska College of Medicine   Omaha, Neb.

University of Nevada School of Medicine   Reno, Nev.

New Hampshire

Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth   Hanover, N.H.

Rutgers - New Jersey Medical School   Newark, N.J.

Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School   Piscataway, N.J.

University of New Mexico School of Medicine   Albuquerque, N.M.

Albany Medical College   Albany, N.Y.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University   Bronx, N.Y.

Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons   New York, N.Y.

Hofstra North Shore - LIJ School of Medicine Hempstead, N.Y.

Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional MD/PhD Program   New York, N.Y.

Mount Sinai School of Medicine   New York, N.Y.

New York Medical College   Valhalla, N.Y.

New York University School of Medicine   New York, N.Y.

SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine   Buffalo, N.Y.

SUNY at Stony Brook Health Sciences Center   Stony Brook, N.Y.

SUNY Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine   Brooklyn, N.Y.

SUNY Upstate Medical University   Syracuse, N.Y.

University of Rochester School of Medicine   Rochester, N.Y.

North Carolina

Wake Forest School of Medicine   Winston-Salem, N.C.

Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University   Greenville, N.C.

Duke University School of Medicine   Durham, N.C.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine   Chapel Hill, N.C.

North Dakota

University of North Dakota School of Medicine   Grand Forks, N.D.

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine   Cleveland, Ohio

Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine   Rootstown, Ohio

Ohio State University College of Medicine   Columbus, Ohio

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine   Cincinnati, Ohio

University of Toledo College of Medicine   Toledo, Ohio

Wright State University School of Medicine   Dayton, Ohio

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center   Oklahoma City, Okla.

Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine   Portland, Ore.

Pennsylvania

Drexel University College of Medicine   Philadelphia, Pa.

Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University   Philadelphia, Pa.

Penn State University College of Medicine   Hershey, Pa.

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine   Philadelphia, Pa.

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine   Pittsburgh, Pa.

Temple University School of Medicine   Philadelphia, Pa.

Rhode Island

Brown University School of Medicine   Providence, R.I.

South Carolina

Medical University of South Carolina  Charleston, S.C.

University of South Carolina School of Medicine   Columbia, S.C.

South Dakota

University of South Dakota School of Medicine   Vermillion, S.D.

East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine   Johnson City, Tenn.

Meharry Medical College School of Medicine   Nashville, Tenn.

University of Tennessee, Memphis College of Medicine   Memphis, Tenn.

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine   Nashville, Tenn.

Baylor College of Medicine   Houston, Texas

McGovern Medical School at UTHealth/MD Anderson Cancer Center/University of Puerto Rico Tri-Institutional Program   Houston, Texas

Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center College of Medicine College   Station, Texas

Texas Tech University School of Medicine   Lubbock, Texas

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston   Galveston, Texas

University of Texas Health San Antonio, Long School of Medicine   San Antonio, Texas

University of Texas, Southwestern Med Center - Dallas   Dallas, Texas

University of Utah School of Medicine   Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Vermont College of Medicine   Burlington, Vt.

Eastern Virginia Medical School   Norfolk, Va.

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine   Richmond, Va.

University of Virginia School of Medicine   Charlottesville, Va.

University of Washington School of Medicine   Seattle, Wash.

West Virginia

Marshall University School of Medicine   Huntington, W.Va.

West Virginia University School of Medicine   Morgantown, W.Va.

Medical College of Wisconsin   Milwaukee, Wisc.

University of Wisconsin Medical School   Madison, Wisc.

McGill University Faculty of Medicine   Montreal, Quebec

McMaster University of Faculty of Health Sciences   Hamilton, Ontario

Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty of Medicine   St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Universite de Montreal Faculte de Medecine   Montreal, Quebec

Universite de Sherbrooke Faculte de Medecine   Sherbrooke, Quebec

Universite Laval Faculte de Medecine   Quebec, Quebec

University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry   Edmonton, Alberta

University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine   Calgary, Alberta

University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine   Vancouver, British Columbia

University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine   Winnipeg, Manitoba

University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine   Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine   Toronto, Ontario

University of Western Ontario   London, Ontario

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What Is an MD/PhD?

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An MD/PhD is a combined graduate degree that involves the completion of medical school and a PhD. Completion of this program takes about 8 years and involves clinical training and a graduate dissertation. There are around 100 MD/PhD programs in the United States, and many of them are fully funded, providing a compelling financial incentive. This chapter explores the specific structure of these programs and explains how they vary between institutions. MD/PhD programs allow students to pursue a wide range of research fields and integrate the two phases of the training to provide a unique perspective that emphasizes medical and translational research beyond the individual benefits of the MD and PhD training.

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Association of American Medical Colleges. U.S. medical school MD-PhD applications and matriculants by school, in-state status, and sex, 2019–2020. In: 2019 FACTS: enrollment, graduates, and MD-PhD data. 2019. https://www.aamc.org/system/files/2019-12/2019_FACTS_Table_B-8.pdf . Accessed 20 May 2020.

National Institute of General Medical Sciences: Medical Scientist Training Program. 2020. https://www.nigms.nih.gov/training/instpredoc/pages/predocoverview-mstp.aspx . Accessed 22 Apr 2020.

National Institute of General Medical Sciences: Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) Institutions. 2020. https://www.nigms.nih.gov/training/instpredoc/pages/PredocInst-MSTP.aspx . Accessed 22 Apr 2020.

Association of American Medical Colleges. Applicants, matriculants, enrollment, and graduates of U.S. medical schools, 2010–2011 through 2019–2020. In: 2019 FACTS: enrollment, graduates, and MD-PhD Data. 2019. https://www.aamc.org/system/files/2019-11/2019_FACTS_Table_1_0.pdf . Accessed 20 May 2020.

Association of American Medical Colleges. MD-PhD matriculants to U.S. medical schools by race/ethnicity (alone) and state of legal residence, 2019–2020. In: 2019 FACTS: enrollment, graduates, and MD-PhD data. 2019. https://www.aamc.org/system/files/2019-12/2019_FACTS_Table_B-9.pdf . Accessed 20 May 2020.

Association of American Medical Colleges. MD-PhD applicants to U.S. medical schools by race/ethnicity (alone) and state of legal residence, 2019–2020. In: 2019 FACTS: enrollment, graduates, and MD-PhD Data. 2019. https://www.aamc.org/system/files/2019-12/2019_FACTS_Table_B-7.pdf . Accessed 20 May 2020.

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Sussman, J., Setayesh, J., Venapally, A. (2021). What Is an MD/PhD?. In: The Complete MD/PhD Applicant Guide. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55625-9_1

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Training Structure

The MD-PhD Program at Dartmouth is organized to permit students to achieve the full potential of both degrees in an efficient and effective manner while also developing an understanding of the health care system as a whole.

There are three major phases of training. Broadly stated, students complete M1 & M2 (Geisel School years 1 and 2), then their PhD graduate training, and finally M3 & M4 (Geisel School years 3 and 4). This is referred to here as a "2-P-2" structure.

• During the first two years, students complete M1 & M2 (Geisel School years 1 & 2 ), take up to three laboratory rotations, and choose their PhD graduate program and thesis lab.
• During the PhD thesis phase, students complete all requirements for their PhD thesis program and participate in clinical tutorials.
• Following completion of their thesis work, students complete M3 & M4 (Geisel School years 3 & 4 ).

For further details, please refer to the MD-PhD Student Handbook .

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The University of Louisville School of Medicine offers a Physician Scientist training program for the fulfillment of requirements for M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. The comprehensive program includes two years in pre-clinical medical training, followed by graduate training in one of U of L's basic research departments, and two years of medical rotations for clinical training.

The small size of the program ensures a high quality training experience providing individualized attention to its students. As a UofL MD/PhD student you'll experience great flexibility in designing a research program and have exceptional access to a wide variety of research experiences in top-flight research laboratories. You will receive hands-on experience in the patient simulation center and work with standardized patients beginning in the first year. A wide variety of clinical experiences are available through our hospital partnerships in Louisville and statewide. Applicants should have fulfilled prerequisites for admission to the School of Medicine (including the MCAT standardized examination) and have a proven commitment to biomedical research. Students in the program will receive full tuition remission, a stipend during all phases of the curriculum, and health insurance during the graduate research phase.

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The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine MD/PhD program is designed to foster the development of the next generation of physician-scientists who will make major contributions via translational medicine to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of human disease.

About our program.

The MD/PhD program is oriented towards a small group of highly qualified and motivated students and is structured to provide outstanding medical education, scientific training, and state-of-the-art clinical practice by integrating these experiences in an interdisciplinary environment. The program is uniquely tailored to meet the needs of each student, and to promote a deep sense of scientific discovery combined with the application to modern medicine. 

Students in the MD/PhD program have access to the Florida Blue Health Knowledge Exchange , an interactive and almost entirely digital hub of medical information. This innovative technology is located on the Morsani College of Medicine downtown campus. 

Read more about the MD/PhD Program here .

Students in the MD/PhD Program receive: 

• Annual stipend (currently $37,000/year)
• Waived tuition and fees
• Health insurance
• Personalized advising and support throughout the program
• Membership in the American Physician Scientists Association (ASPA)

The MD/PhD Program is designed to be completed in approximately 7-8 years. 

Students complete their first 2 years of the MD program and participate in research lab rotations during the summer semesters. Additionally, students are invited to participate in a variety of seminars and student events through the PhD program. At the end of their second year, students complete USMLE Step 1. 

Students identify a primary research lab and enroll in coursework relevant to their research concentration. They work with their mentor to prepare for and complete the Comprehensive Qualifying Examination, then begin their dissertation research. 

After successfully completing their PhD dissertation defense, students complete their final 2 years of the MD program, culminating the completion of USMLE Step 2. 

Application Process & Admissions

Requirements.

Prospective students must apply for admission via the AMCAS application; within that application, indicate interest in the MD/PhD program. Students must meet the standards and prerequisites for admission to the both MD and PhD programs in the Morsani College of Medicine and the University of South Florida. 

View the MD Academic Requirements . 

Candidates will also be evaluated based upon submission of a modified essay, the extent and level of their previous education, awards and honors, other relevant research experience, professional training, and publications and reference letters, considering both the numerical rankings and the text of the letters which will be used to assess a student’s desire and motivation to become a physician-scientist. Competitive applicants will have significant biomedical research experience. 

Effective as of the 2024-2025 cycle, anyone who chooses to apply to the MD-PhD program will ONLY be considered for the MD-PhD program.

The AMCAS application opens in June, and students must apply by November 15 to be considered for the MD/PhD Program; however, because admission is rolling, applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Details regarding the MD application and admission process can be found on the MD Admissions website .

Our Current Students

Jacob Connolly

Research Interests : The field of neuroscience with a particular focus on neurodegenerative diseases

Email : [email protected]

Derek Jacobs

Research Interest : Cardiovascular research

Email : derekjacobs @usf.edu

Vincent Lok

Lab : Czerniecki Lab (Moffitt Cancer Center)

Research Interest : Leveraging dendritic cell-based immunotherapy to break immune tolerance in breast cancer

Email : vlok @usf.edu

Natasha Ram

Lab : Dr. Gopal Thinakaran

Research Interests : Neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative disease/ TBI and health disparities. For my PhD work, my overall objective is to identify genetic markers in chronic subdural hematomas through bioinformatic and molecular biology approaches to better understand disease prognosis and recurrence. 

Email : [email protected]

For More Information

MD Admissions

(813) 974-5488

[email protected]

PhD Admissions

(813) 974-2836

[email protected]

Doctor of Medicine Program

• Social and Public Health Responsibility
• Collaboration and Communication
• Respect/ Ethical Behavior/ Professionalism
• Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability

Our Mission and Vision

The University of Maryland School of Medicine  provides an inclusive learning environment and that develops leaders in medicine who strive to improve the health and well-being of patients and communities through high-quality and equitable patient care, research, education, and engagement in a culturally relevant and socially responsible manner.

Our Vision is to create an environment where a diverse student body has the opportunity and support to achieve at the highest levels in all areas and missions of careers in medicine.

Undergraduate Medical Education Offices

The four Undergraduate Medical Education Offices work collaboratively to successfully steward our medical students from application to graduation.

Combined Degrees

MD/PhD MD/PhD Our mission is to train a diverse and creative cadre of physician- scientists who will become leaders in their chosen fields of research, develop new knowledge and translate it to enhance clinical practice. Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)

MD/Masters The MD/Masters Programs at the UMSOM provide medical students with advanced training in specific areas to complement and enhance their medical training and maximize opportunities after graduation.

Doctor of Medicine Program Resources

Undergraduate Medical Education Leadership

Donna Parker, MD Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, Professor of Medicine 410-706-7476 [email protected]

Paul Moore, BS Instructional Support Services: Director HSF-I 316 [email protected]

Kevin Brown, MS Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education Operations [email protected] 410-706-7668

Doug Clarke, MEd Associate Director: Quality, Compliance and Accreditation HSF-I 316 [email protected]

Health Equity

A New $250 Million Approach to Addressing Health Care Patients’ Food Insecurities

Penn plays a major scientific role in new initiative backed by the american heart association and rockefeller foundation-led consortium.

• Hoag Levins
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University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Professor and Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics Senior Fellow Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD , has become the Scientific Leader of a new national 10-year, $250 million research and advocacy program designed to find cost effective approaches to improving health through greater access to healthy food for patients with chronic conditions and food or nutrition insecurities (not enough food or unhealthy diets). The initiative is called Health Care by Food ™ (HCXF).

Coordinated by the American Heart Association with support from the Rockefeller Foundation and other funders, HCXF involves more than 100 researchers and members of 25 community-based organizations and food-related companies across the country.

Millions of Patients

“The vision for the Health Care by Food™ initiative is to accelerate a future in which millions of patients are receiving the benefit of healthy food to improve health,” said the Association’s Chief Science and Medical Officer Mariell Jessup, MD, FAHA . “It’s for providers to know how to target and use food is medicine programs to help prevent and manage disease, and for payers to have sufficient and objective cost and effectiveness evidence for reimbursing food is medicine programs.”

“We all know food is central to health outcomes and affects many different organ systems in the body,” said Volpp. “And yet we also know that Americans don’t have very healthy diets. This initiative is about generating evidence and tools to help the health sector design and scale programs that increase access to nutritious food, improve health and health equity, and reduce overall health care costs.”

Volpp, the Mark V. Pauly President’s Distinguished Professor at the Perelman School of Medicine and the Wharton School, and Director of the Penn Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics (CHIBE) is an internationally-renowned expert in the field of behavioral economics.

About 20 CHIBE faculty members and staffers are involved in HCXF’s various task forces.

$8 Million in Initial Research Grants

In January, the Association’s HCXF program announced its first round of $8.4 million in research grants for 21 projects. The first in-person convening of all the participants took place on April 29-30 in the Wharton School’s Huntsman Hall on the Penn campus.

The gathering brought together researchers from 20 universities including Johns Hopkins, Yale, University of Kentucky, Ohio State University, Stanford University, Tufts, Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, and the University of Texas Houston, and; a dozen major health systems, including Geisinger, the Cleveland Clinic, and UCSF; collaborators from food delivery services, including Instacart and Fresh Connect; and state and local nutrition-related institutes and community based organizations such as God’s Love We Deliver, the Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania, and Hispanic Health Council. The meeting was run as a design workshop with facilitation from Stacey Chang, MS , and Natalie Privett, PhD , who had created the Dell Institute for Design at the University of Texas at Austin’s Medical School before founding New Origin Studios .

Executive Vice President of the Rockefeller Foundation Elizabeth Yee told the audience: “The Foundation has made its mission to advance the well-being of humanity and tackle the big problems that stand in the way of this reality. One of the challenges that we see is the dichotomy that currently exists between our health care system and food systems. The U.S. currently has the lowest life expectancy among wealthy countries, while having the highest per capita health care spending. In other words, our current system is great at purchasing health care services, but not so great at buying health outcomes.”

Underserved Americans

“Initial research has shown us that food is medicine policy has the potential to address these problems and that we can greatly improve health outcomes, especially for underserved Americans, while reducing health care spending,” Yee continued. “But we need to better understand how to unlock that potential. And to do that, we need to build the evidence base to help us learn which programs work best for which patients. We need to figure out how to build the necessary infrastructure to deliver these programs across the country. And we need to ensure that we’re continually spreading awareness of the benefit of food is medicine to patients, providers, and payers.”

According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in 2022, an estimated 44.2 million people in the United States lived in food-insecure households struggling to get enough affordable, nutritious food.

Current Research Projects

A sample of some of the currently funded 21 HCXF research project titles demonstrates the initiative’s focus on the food needs of underserved populations:

• “Bringing Healthy Meals and Nutrition Education to Underserved Communities: A Randomized Pilot Implementation Trial”
• “Development of a User-Centered Approach for Screening, Referral, and Enrollment in Food is Medicine Program Among Rural and Urban Adults”
• “Impact of a Community Health Worker Strategy on Produce Prescription Program Uptake Among People with Diabetes”
• “Enhancing Food is Medicine Interventions for Food Insecure Postpartum Women in Central Texas”
• “Loss-Framed Incentives and Choice Architecture Modification to Encourage Health Food Purchasing”

White House Conference on Hunger

The idea for what became the HCXF research initiative was first publicly announced at the September 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health . Subsequently, the Association’s Journal Circulation published “ Food Is Medicine: A Presidential Advisory from the American Heart Association ,” a paper produced by a team headed by Volpp. The paper outlined the logic and blueprint for a national program to develop evidence to inform interventions that could drive nutrition-related sensitivities and solutions deeper into the daily operations of the national health system.

The advisory laid out the concept that initiative members are now implementing: “Food Is Medicine may be defined as the provision of healthy food resources to prevent, manage, or treat specific clinical conditions in coordination with the health care sector. Although the field has promise, relatively few studies have been conducted with designs that provide strong evidence of associations between Food Is Medicine interventions and health outcomes or health costs. Much work needs to be done to create a stronger body of evidence that convincingly demonstrates the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different types of Food Is Medicine interventions while prioritizing a human-centered design approach to achieve high rates of patient engagement and sustained behavior change.”

Health System Buy-In

Volpp emphasized that health systems and insurer buy-ins are crucial to the success of the project. “There is growing recognition of the impact of social determinants of health and health behaviors among health systems and health plans,” Volpp said. “Part of the American Heart Association HCXF initiative’s goals will be to design program implementation in such a way so as to minimize incremental effort for the health system in referring patients with nutrition insecurity and chronic conditions, as appropriate, to food is medicine programs. As more and better evidence is developed it will become easier to know to which programs to refer individuals to help them improve their health as cost effectively as possible.”

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Peter Passias, MD , has joined the Duke Spine Division as an associate chief, co-chair, medical director of the spine research program, and co-chair of the spine protocol review committee. Dr. Passias earned his MD at the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, performed his residency at Tufts University, and completed fellowships at the Hospital for Special Surgery and the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. Welcome, Dr. Passias!

____________________________

Q&A with Dr. Passias

Q: What brings you joy personally?  A: My family brings me the greatest joy. I have a lovely wife who is a primary care physician whom I met in medical school, and we have four unique boys who keep us busy (Georgios, Theodoros, Elias, Aristides).  I also enjoy traveling abroad worldwide to see spine care in diverse settings and our annual trip to visit my remaining family in Greece. We enjoy several sports together, including windsurfing and sailing, and, of course, a routine hike together.

Q: What brings you joy professionally?  A: I enjoy tackling complex spinal cases but also have a secondary interest in novel technologies. Most importantly, I want the academic camaraderie and relationships I have developed through educational endeavors and collaboration.

Q: Your hometown – where are you from? A: I was raised in New York City for most of my life and lived in Greece for a few years in my youth. During my education/training, I spent many years in Boston, where I met my wife. I have been operating in NY for 13 years and am very happy to work with many previous colleagues who have found a home at Duke.

Q: What excites you about this role at Duke?  A: I am honored to be welcomed to Duke's robust, diverse, and multifaceted spine division. Building on the work initiated, I look forward to expanding our academic and clinical recognition and prowess as a global center of unparalleled spine care, research, and development. Most importantly, I am thrilled to be able to work towards these goals with the individuals I already have existing relationships with and grow new ones with the talented staff that calls Duke home.