MD/PhD

Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Philosophy

If you are interested in a career in academic medicine as a physician scientist, this program may be ideal for you. It will prepare you to become a medical practitioner and faculty member at a university medical center where you will teach medical and graduate students, and, as a scientist, will be involved with biomedical research. After completion of the program, you will receive both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees.

Application Procedures

Prospective students apply through the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Services (TMDSAS).  Once you have completed the primary application please complete the required Secondary Application.  If you are ready to apply, please visit this page for more details.  

After a student has applied, the selection committees from both schools invite selected applicants for interviews. The M.D./Ph.D. interviews are coordinated through the School of Medicine Admissions Office. The interview is tailored to match the interests of the applicant and will include one or more faculty members from the M.D./Ph.D. operating committee and the GSBS Senior Associate Dean. Additional details of the review process are described in the program guidelines below. Previous research experience, publications and motivation will be key features in the evaluation.

Applicants to the M.D./Ph.D. program must meet both School of Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences admissions requirements, including the School of Medicine requirement to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. More information regarding School of Medicine admission requirements is available on their website.

M.D./Ph.D. Admission 

Students who have been admitted to the M.D./Ph.D. program begin graduate studies during the summer session preceding their first year of admission into the medical school curriculum. During the summer session, major emphasis is placed on introduction to research with the goal of selecting an advisor and a research problem to be developed as the student's Ph.D. dissertation research.

Enrollment pattern after acceptance into the program

 At the end of the second year curriculum in the School of Medicine, students in this program defer continuation in the medical school curriculum and devote full-time enrollment toward completion of requirements for the Ph.D. degree. Approximately three years is necessary to complete these requirements depending on the nature of the research problem.