M.D./Ph.D. Program

Overview

The M.D/Ph.D program prepares students to become research physicians by providing training in both research and medicine. The goal is to align the students with appropriate professional, educational, and financial resources to ensure success in meeting their future career aspirations.

Students are supported financially during the years of medical school by the medical school tuition scholarship or by personal funds and loans. All M.D./Ph.D. students receive a living stipend and tuition waiver while in the Ph.D. portion of the program.

Upon completing the second year of medical school, M.D./Ph.D. students spend several weeks preparing for and taking Step I of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Following completion of this exam, students enter the graduate school to begin their dissertation studies.

M.D./Ph.D. students are allowed to apply 26 credits of their medical school coursework towards the requirements for the Ph.D. which minimizes the number of graduate courses M.D./Ph.D. students must take and frees up time for dissertation research. Students are strongly encouraged to complete and defend their Ph.D. dissertation prior to returning to medical school for the final two years of clinical training. 

Tracks

For their graduate studies and dissertation research, M.D./Ph.D. students will belong to one of five "tracks" or majors. These interdisciplinary programs are aligned with disease processes. Each track is affiliated with university department as follows:


Sections: Rotations and Mentors | Coursework | Step 1 | Requirements
Qualifying Exam | Dissertation | Clinical Training | Re-Entry into Medical School | AHEC


Laboratory Rotations and Identifying a Ph.D. Mentor

During year 1 and year 2 of medical school student complete two lab rotations.  The purposes of the rotations are for students to “try out” a laboratory and potential Ph.D. mentor as well as for the faculty mentor to consider the potential student.  During the rotations, the student should design and perform laboratory experiments under the guidance of the potential mentor and participate in lab meetings and other laboratory activities in the same manner as if the student was an official member of the lab. The student should strive to work hard and contribute to the research program of the laboratory since this is the opportunity for the student to impress the potential mentor. 

Upon completion of the two rotations, the student typically will join one of the two labs s/he rotated in.  Occasionally a "good fit" is not found and additional rotations are necessary.  Upon joining a lab, however, the student will complete the graduate school and track course requirements as well as undertake research towards the dissertation.


Preclinical Medical School Coursework

M.D./Ph.D. students take all of the same preclinical medical school courses and electives during medical school years 1 and 2 as other medical students. The medical school curriculum and course structure is a systems based approach to learning medicine. UTCOMLS is committed to developing physicians with a broad range of knowledge, skills, attitudes and understanding, allowing them to pursue careers in primary care or any medical or surgical specialty.

The first two years of medical school include an emphasis on competency-based curriculum with early clinical experience and seamless integration of foundational and clinical sciences. Learn more about UToledo's M.D. curriculum.


USMLE Examination, Step 1

After completion of the second year of medical school, students generally take several weeks to prepare for “Step I” of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).  This is a comprehensive examination covering all of the material presented in the first two years of medical school.  Students should schedule the examination to allow sufficient time for lab rotation(s) during the remainder of the summer if rotation(s) are necessary.  Students must achieve a Pass score on Step 1 in order to transition into Graduate School.  The Pass score is defined by the USMLE each year.  If a failure is achieved, the student must plan to re-take the exam.  Find more information regarding the examination and scheduling.

After taking Step 1 of the USMLE, students will enter graduate school to take graduate school courses, additional laboratory rotations, if needed, and move on to undertake their dissertation research.


Graduate School Requirements

Students must meet all of the requirements for both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees, i.e., ten semesters/terms of medical education and a minimum of 90 graduate semester credits. The time limitation for completion of both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees is 10 years.  The additional specific requirements for the Ph.D. degree can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook for the year in which the student entered the M.D./Ph.D. program.  Find more information on the specific medical school requirements for graduation.

The Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program has a common first-year core curriculum for Ph.D. students (listed below), but much of this curriculum is covered in medical school.  Therefore, M.D./Ph.D. students are allowed to apply medical school course credit towards their Ph.D. degree and are excused from most of the core curriculum requirements.  This also accelerates the entering of the student into the lab and the completion of their dissertation research.

Of the Ph.D. core curriculum, M.D./Ph.D. students are required to take only the following:

  • On Being a Scientist (INDI 6020) - an ethics and professionalism course for developing scientists
  • Two lab rotations (SOMN 745) - discussed above
  • Methods in Biomedical Science (BMSP 6380) - an introduction to many of the methodologies used in modern biomedical science research
  • Statistical Methods (BMSP 7320) – an introduction to basic statistical analyses; this course can be waived if the student has had an equivalent course
  • Individual training plan-specific course work – selected based on trainee's needs
  • Required track-specific courses and journal clubs – students should consult with their Major Advisor, Track Director, and track websites:

M.D./Ph.D. students are strongly recommended to also take the following courses since the courses will help them in their research endeavors:

  • Public Health Epidemiology (PUBH 6010)
  • Grant Writing Workshop (BMSP 6250/8250)

Qualifying Examination

M.D./Ph.D. students are also required to pass a Qualifying Examination (QE) during their first full year in graduate school. The purpose of the QE is to evaluate the student's knowledge and ability to analyze information in her/his area of concentration and to apply that to the solution of a research problem.  The QE consists of the student writing an NIH R21 style grant proposal on a subject determined by the student's faculty Dissertation Committee then orally presenting and defending the proposal to the committee.  The oral portion of the exam includes questions that probe the breadth and depth of basic knowledge and critical thinking skills of the student.  Upon successful passage of the QE, the student is eligible to register for Dissertation Research credit and will continue working intensively on their dissertation research project.


Writing and Defending the Dissertation

Typically after three-four years of intensive research activity, the M.D./Ph.D. student has accumulated enough data to write the dissertation in preparation of its defense and completion of the Ph.D. side of the program.  The go-ahead to write and defend the dissertation is determined by the Dissertation Committee.  Upon completion of writing the dissertation, the student will present and defend it by an oral presentation open to the university community.


Clinical Training during Graduate School 

During the years of graduate training, students will also participate in required clinical electives to reinforce their preclinical education in pathophysiology, pharmacology, and other areas while beginning to develop the clinical skills they will need as third year clinical clerks. Prior to taking these electives, students are required to attend the one-week Bridge Course in April. The Bridge Course introduces pre-clinical students to life in the hospital and clinics and expectations for students participating in clinical rotations (see below, “Re-entry into Medical School”). It should be noted that the student will participate in the Bridge Course two times.  The first time will be immediately following the second year of medical school, prior to entering graduate school.  The second time the student participates in the Bridge Course will be when they re-enter medical school as a third year student.  


Re-entry into Medical School

Planning for the third-year clerkships begins more than 6 months prior to the start of the third year.  Students are expected to finish their Ph.D. course requirements, qualifying exam, dissertation, and oral dissertation defense before reentering medical school for the third and fourth year clerkships.

The third year represents a continuation of the integrated curriculum during the first two years of medical school. After completing these required rotations, students will take Step 2 of the USMLE. Following this, the fourth year includes 32 weeks of electives and 8 weeks of FLEX time to allow for additional professional development and research opportunities specific to the student's training plan.


Area Health Education Centers (AHEC)

During the third and fourth years of medical school, each student is required to complete eight weeks of clinical experience in the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) of The University of Toledo. These clerkships are at outlying hospitals or clinical practices, and provide students with unique practical experiences in smaller communities in a one-on-one structured relationship with physicians in the community. 

Last Updated: 1/11/23