An MD-PhD program is a dual degree program made for those who want to blend clinical medicine with research, and have a broad set of skills and passions that suit both disciplines.

Key takeaways

• Approximately eight years of training.
• Often awarded with significant financial support.
• Over 100 competitive Physician Scientist programs across the US
• MD-PhD Career Path

Is an MD/PhD right for you?

While medical school focuses on the learning and application of existing knowledge, graduate schools emphasize the discovery of new knowledge. MD-PhD programs are a unique combination of both, with specialized MD-PhD courses to prepare aspiring physician-scientists.

The medical school and graduate school curricula are both streamlined and integrated, thus reducing the total training time for each—MD usually takes 4 years while a PhD takes a total of 6—but maintaining the educational and experience quality of both medical and graduate schools.

Prepare to become an MD-PhD by

• Getting involved with research early in your undergraduate years.
• Obtaining extensive lab experience and participating in hypothesis-driven experiments.
• Demonstrating a deep appreciation and interest in a career in research through inquisitive scientific exploration, and noted through faculty recommendations.
• Participate in clinical activities to demonstrate clear understanding of the day-to-day of medicine.
• Obtaining a strong GPA and MCAT score due to the competitive nature of these programs.