Program Timeline

Upon matriculation, first-year students are assigned a MD/PHD faculty advisor who will closely follow, guide and monitor their progress throughout their years in the program. During the first two years of study, students enroll in the standard medical school curriculum, comprised of pre-clinical coursework. While enrolled in the first year of medical school, each student will participate in a seminar style research tutorial course that is led by faculty who are leaders in their chosen field. The second year medical students participate in a one-on-one research tutorial with faculty who work in a research area that is of interest to them.  The goal of the tutorials during the pre-clinical years is to expose students to different research fields and the GSBS faculty so they are best able to select a research laboratory to perform their thesis research. Students are expected to meet with their tutorial advisor on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule to learn about the laboratory and the research being conducted in it.

 In the summer following their first year of medical school, MD/PHD students engage full-time in laboratory research and also enroll in Scientific Writing, a course that represents formal preparation for completion of the writing component of their PHD qualifying examination, and future grant submission or journal publication.

 In the summer following their second year of medical school, MD/PHD students engage full-time in laboratory research and are expected to select a thesis advisor by the end of the summer. Students are able to choose from any of the faculty members affiliated with the nine PhD programs of the GSBS.

 Upon successful completion and defense of the PHD thesis, students return to the Medical School curricula with a modified program of clinical rotations, individually tailored to match each student’s academic needs and career goals.