|
M.D./Ph.D Program
Program Information
Emory University School
of Medicine provides the opportunity for exceptionally bright and dedicated
students to acquire both clinical and basic research training in order
to pursue careers in academic medicine. Solving the mysteries of health
and disease requires leaders trained in both the methods of basic biomedical
science and the methods of clinical medicine. We seek individuals who are
not content to learn what is already known by others but who are committed
to addressing what is not yet known. These physician/scientists will contribute
to expanding the definition of the art of medicine.
Recent advances in biomedical knowledge require new patterns of training
for physician/scientists. To meet this challenge, the Emory M.D./Ph.D. Program
combines the advantages of rigorous preparation in clinical medicine with
interdisciplinary training in basic science. The program design allows students
considerable flexibility in arranging both the graduate and medical school
phases of study.
The Emory M.D./Ph.D. Program provides the research training necessary to
work at the forefront of a scientific field while concurrently developing
outstanding clinical skills. Upon completion of the program, students receive
appointments to the nation's top residency training and post-doctoral training
programs, generally receiving their first choice of appointments.
Competition for research funding is keen. It is particularly difficult for
academic physicians without formal research training to compete against the
large number of Ph.D.s who devote their full attention to laboratory investigation.
Researchers with both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees have successfully competed
for funds to perform cutting-edge research and for faculty appointments in
medical schools. The profession looks to these individuals as leaders in
delivering the latest discoveries to the bedside.
The Emory M.D./Ph.D. Program is sponsored in part through the National Institutes
of Health Medical
Scientist Training Program. Additionally, funds from the Emory
University School of Medicine, the Emory
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the Georgia
Institute of Technology support the program. Students accepted into the
program receive full tuition and a competitive annual stipend.
Our program is designed to provide students with the in-depth, high caliber
research training and medical education required of future academicians.
Students are enrolled in both the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (or
Georgia Tech) and the School of Medicine during the six to eight years required
to complete the program, which is typically structured as follows:
M1-M2 years
Basic medical education comprises the first two years of the M.D./Ph.D.
program. This includes courses in the basic medical sciences and the pathophysiology
of disease, as well as patient-based clinical courses such as physical
examination of patients and problem-based learning. M.D./Ph.D. students
in these years are also required to attend special journal clubs to strengthen
their understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying disease and
to develop scientific reasoning. During the summers, students conduct basic
research rotations under the direction of at least three faculty advisors.
Graduate years
Following the second year of medical school and after passing
Step 1 of the U. S. Medical Licensing Examination, students are admitted
in advanced
standing into a graduate training program where they begin working
on the Ph.D. under the direction of a thesis advisor. Students in the graduate
years present cases and journal articles at the clinical research conference
as well as satisfy all the academic requirements of their chosen program
of graduate study.
M3-M4 years
Emory's clinical curriculum is consolidated into 14-20 months of required
clerkships and elective courses for M.D./Ph.D. students. In consultation
with the deans responsible for medical education and student affairs, the
clinical program is individually tailored to match each student's academic
needs and career goals. In order to facilitate the transition between graduate
and clinical training, clinical conferences and a one month rotation refreshing
clinical skills are provided.
The goal of the M.D./Ph.D. program is to provide strong clinical and graduate
training. The program structure is flexible and may be modified in consultation
with the programdirector to best suit the needs of each student.
Options for Graduate Study
Students may choose to pursue the Ph.D. from one of the following graduate
programs.
The division is composed of eight interdepartmental training programs, each
of which focuses on a major area of biology or medicine. The programs include:
Emory University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Ph.D. studies also may be pursued in the graduate school within the following
physical or social science departments:
Emory University/Georgia Institute of Technology Joint Department of Biomedical
Engineering
In 1997, the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University established
a new combined Department of Biomedical
Engineering staffed by faculty from both institutions. This Department
represents the strong commitment that both Emory and Georgia Tech have toward
enhancing research in the biomedical and bioengineering sciences, and will
significantly enhance research and education opportunities in these areas.
Admission Requirements
Applicants desiring admission to the program should have an outstanding
academic background in science or mathematics but are not required to major
in the sciences. Evidence of strong research experience and a commitment
to independent scholarship is essential in addition to the standard medical
school requirements.
Applicants to the M.D./Ph.D. Program should apply directly to Emory University
School of Medicine through AMCAS. Applications
may be received between June 1st to October 15. Applicants are encouraged
to submit their applications early, preferably in the summer. AMCAS application
packets may be obtained either from the health care professions advisor or
the appropriate office at the applicant's school, or from:
American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)
Association of American
Medical Colleges Section for Student Services
2501 M Street NW, LBBY 26
Washington
D.C., 20037-1300
(202) 828-0600
Upon receipt of the AMCAS application, an Emory Supplemental Application
Form, including an application to the M.D./Ph.D. Program, will be mailed
to each applicant. Additional information can be obtained by writing to:
M.D./Ph.D. Program
c/o/ Mary E. Kollmer Horton, Administrative Director
Emory University School of Medicine
WMB, Suite 6000, P.O. Drawer V
Atlanta, GA 30322-4510
email: mdphd@emory.edu
http://www.gen.emory.edu/mdphd/mdphd.html
M.D./Ph.D. applicants are required to submit their scores on the Medical
College Admission Test (MCAT) in accordance with the admissions policies
of the School of Medicine. Applicants to the M.D./Ph.D. Program may choose
(but are not required) to submit scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
Applicants selected to interview attend a two-day session which includes
both the medical school and graduate school interviews. This interview session
takes on the Emory campus from November thru February in a rolling admission
process.
|
