M.D./Ph.D. Program Mission Statement

The M.D./Ph.D. Program of Thomas Jefferson University is committed to training future physician scientists who will be engaged in research and clinical care at the forefront of translational medicine. These individuals will be trained to provide excellent patient care, lead discovery in biomedical disease-oriented research, advocate for basic and translational biomedical research, and take leadership roles in biomedical research and the delivery of health care.

M.D./Ph.D. Program Overview

The M.D. / Ph.D. training sequence consists of two pre-clinical years of medical school followed by three or more years of graduate research leading to a doctoral dissertation, and then the final two years of medical school clinical clerkships. During the first two years, students complete the coursework requirements established by Jefferson Medical College for satisfactory completion of pre-clinical training. During years 3 through 5, students must satisfy curricular requirements established by the Jefferson College of Graduate Studies and the specific doctoral program in which the student is enrolled.

At the time of acceptance into the M.D./Ph.D. program, and until selection of a thesis advisor and Ph.D. degree program, students are advised by the M.D./Ph.D. Program steering committee and program directors to assist in planning and completing required laboratory rotations. During the initial two years, while trainees complete the 1st and 2nd year medical school curriculum, students spend the summer after their first (and possibly second) year of medical school in rotations through at least two laboratories in order to familiarize themselves with modern experimental approaches to research problems and to explore potential sites for their future thesis research. Trainees are strongly encouraged to begin this process early by undertaking a laboratory rotation during the summer before matriculation into the first year of Jefferson Medical College.

Throughout all phases of the M.D./Ph.D. program, an integrated approach is taken to development of both basic science and clinical knowledge and skills in order to maximize the potential for graduates to go on to successful careers in academic medicine and translational research. During the graduate school phase, trainees maintain contact with clinical affairs through established seminar and grand rounds programs in clinical departments at Thomas Jefferson University. During all program phases, activities such as the Translational Research Journal Club and Career Seminar Series expose students to important problems and opportunities at the science/medicine interface.