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M.D./Ph.D.

M.D./Ph.D. Programs or Medical Scientist Training Programs (MSTP) train physician-scientists to become leaders in biomedical research. Students who pursue this option obtain both an M.D. and a Ph.D. degree with in-depth training in modern biomedical research and clinical medicine. The typical M.D./Ph.D. career combines patient care and biomedical research but leans toward research. It is an excellent choice for students who are passionate about research and are certain that research will be an important dimension of their careers.

Since they are completing two graduate degrees, M.D./Ph.D. students spend a longer period of time in graduate training. Generally, however, your tuition is paid by federal or institutional grants, and you receive a stipend. So, even though the time to degree (and practice) is longer, you may graduate debt-free. Average program length is 7 - 8 years; however, M.D./Ph.D. graduates, on average, are in a position to secure funding to direct a research lab in fewer years than M.D. graduates who pursue research fellowships after residency.

The types of Ph.D.s that can be combined vary considerably from institution to institution. Some institutions only offer Ph.D.s in scientific fields while others are more flexible. You should research each program individually to evaluate its offerings.

Most M.D./Ph.D. programs arrange for a student to take off from medical school between the second and third years (after the preclinical portion of medical school) to complete his or her PhD. The student then returns after three to seven (typically four) years to resume medical school by beginning the clinical portion. The student is normally awarded both degrees together upon graduating from medical school after a total of seven to ten years.

Exposure to the Field

Shadowing & Volunteering

Some shadowing and experience in a hospital setting is important, but since physician-scientists will spend most of their careers in a laboratory, a student’s research experience is the most important experiential dimension of the application.

The Application Process

Of the 71 MD-PhD programs, 36 do not accept non-U.S. citizens, but many top-tier research institutions (including Washington University School of Medicine) fund some MD/PhD positions through private sources and welcome international students to apply for those seats. For undergraduate students interested in biomedical research, the MD/PhD programs offer an excellent opportunity.

Undergraduates interested in an MD/PhD program will need to establish an outstanding academic record and a genuine commitment to doing research. Most successful applicants are science majors and have been in the laboratory since their sophomore summer in college and have completed a thesis. Students who are interested in this program and wish to major in the humanities or the social sciences should also plan to pursue a second major in one of the sciences.

Timeline 
Some schools require a formal PhD application to be submitted simultaneously with your application to the medical school. In this case, your application is first processed by the medical school admissions committee. If you are accepted to the medical school, the application is then forwarded to the graduate school admissions committee, which evaluates on separate grounds to determine your admission.

Some programs allow application to the PhD portion of an MD/PhD program after entering medical school.

Undergraduate Experience 
MD/PhD applicants should have significant research experience, and a science major. Grades and MCAT are important, but one’s potential as a future scientist is the most important consideration in the selection process.

At Washington University, while most of our students who apply to MD/PhD programs happen to have astonishingly good credentials, students who are passionate about their research can absolutely enter an MD/PhD program with more modest science grades and MCAT scores.

Research 
Prospective MD/PhD candidates should be especially intent on getting as much undergraduate research experience as possible prior to applying. The depth and quality of the research experience is of greater importance than the particular area of investigation. Many candidates will have already authored or co-authored research publications before their graduation.

Standardized Tests 
Many MD/PhD programs require GRE exams in your PhD area. If you don’t know explicitly that the schools to which you are applying do not require them, then you should expect to take them.

Letters of Reference
Compelling letters of recommendation from research mentors are crucial. You must obtain reference letters from all of your undergraduate research supervisors.

Professional Opportunities

An MD/PhD often leads to becoming a faculty member at a medical school, university or research institute such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  A few MD/PhD graduates opt for research careers in the private sector.

Resources

PreMD/PhD Advisor

Kristin Sobotka

Email: kristin@wustl.edu