Medicine (MD)/PhD

Major: Medicine (MD) / PhD
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Calendar Type: Semester
Minimum Required Credits: 60.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 26.0102

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 

About the Program

The MD/PhD program allows students to integrate their medical education with intense research training by selecting a training mentor from one of the PhD programs. Once a research training mentor is selected, the student will be enrolled in the mentor's academically affiliated PhD program. MD/PhD students learn the fundamental clinical aspects of medicine and receive advanced training in a specific field of research. Physicians with extensive research training are uniquely positioned to advance medical care and to teach at the cutting edge of medical discovery.

For more information, please visit the MD/PhD web page.

Admission Requirements 

MD/PhD Program Application Procedure

Applications are submitted to the medical college through AMCAS. Please select the MD/PhD option in the AMCAS application. After the verified application is received, Drexel University College of Medicine will send the secondary application. If the MD/PhD option was not initially selected in the AMCAS application, applicants may indicate their interest in the program by selecting the MD/PhD option in the secondary application.

Both options place the application in a separate review group specific to the MD/PhD dual degree program. Please ensure that at least one of the recommendation letters is from an individual who is able to assess the applicant's research capabilities and potential.

Required Application Materials

1. AMCAS application
2. Medical school supplemental application (sent via email after AMCAS application is verified in our system)
3. AMCAS letters of recommendation (make sure all of your recommenders have submitted their letters to AMCAS)
4. Photo (submitted with medical school supplemental application)

Eligibility

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. If the applicant is a permanent resident of the U.S., a copy of the applicant's green card is required when applying.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete all MD requirements, which also substitute for Year One PhD requirements. The remaining PhD requirements per program are listed below.

MD/PhD in Biochemistry of Health & Disease

Required Courses
BIOC 506SBiochemistry Journal Club *5.0
BIOC 507SBiochemistry Seminar Series *5.0
BIOC 508SExperimental Approaches to Biochemical Problems3.0
BIOC 511SCommunication for Researchers2.0
BIOC 521SIntroduction to Biochemical Data2.0
BIOC 600SBiochemistry Thesis Research *45.0
IDPT 500SResponsible Conduct of Research2.0
IDPT 600SThesis Defense9.0
Advanced Electives6.0
Select at least two Advanced Electives for a minimum of 6.0 credits:
Macromolecular Structure & Function
Biochemistry of Drug Discovery & Design
Advanced Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Cancer Biology
Advanced Cancer Biology
Advanced Cell Biology
Molecular Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis
Special Topics in Virology
Advanced Molecular Biology
Graduate Neuroscience II
Graduate Physiology
Graduate Pharmacology
Drug Discovery and Development I
General Electives
Biochemistry 1st Lab Rotation
Biochemistry 2nd Lab Rotation
Biochemistry 3rd Lab Rotation
Biostatistics I
Teaching Practicum I
Teaching Practicum II
Teaching Practicum III
Total Credits79.0
*

Taken each semester until the last, when only Thesis Defense is taken 


MD/PhD in Microbiology & Immunology

Required Courses
IDPT 500SResponsible Conduct of Research2.0
IDPT 600SThesis Defense9.0
MIIM 502SMicrobiology and Immunology Journal Club *5.0
MIIM 514SGrant Building2.0
MIIM 600SMicrobiology and Immunology Thesis Research *45.0
MIIM 606SMicrobiology and Immunology Seminar *5.0
Advanced Electives4.0
Select at least two Advanced Electives for a minimum of 4.0 credits:
Structural Bioinformatics
Molecular Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis
Immunology II
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Experimental Therapeutics
Advanced Molecular Virology
Advanced Molecular Biology
General Electives
Biostatistics I
Teaching Practicum I
Teaching Practicum II
Teaching Practicum III
Microbiology and Immunology 1st Rotation
Microbiology and Immunology 2nd Rotation
Microbiology and Immunology 3rd Rotation
Total Credits72.0
*

Taken each semester until the last, when only Thesis Defense is taken 


MD/PhD in Molecular & Cell Biology & Genetics

Required Courses
IDPT 500SResponsible Conduct of Research2.0
IDPT 600SThesis Defense9.0
MCBG 506SAdvanced Cell Biology2.0
MCBG 512SMCBG Journal Club *5.0
MCBG 513SMolec & Cell Biology Seminar *5.0
MCBG 600SMCBG Thesis Research *45.0
Advanced Electives7.0
Select at least three Advanced Electives for a minimum of 7.0 credits:
Experimental Approaches to Biochemical Problems
Communication for Researchers
Introduction to Biochemical Data
Advanced Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Cancer Biology
Advanced Cancer Biology
Cell Cycle and Apoptosis
Immunology I
Molecular Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis
Immunology II
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Experimental Therapeutics
Advanced Molecular Biology
Graduate Neuroscience I
Advanced Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience
Advanced Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience
Prin of Neuropharmacology
Graduate Pharmacology
Drug Discovery and Development I
Drug Discovery and Development II
Research Methods in Pharmacology
General Electives
MCBG 1st Lab Rotation
MCBG 2nd Lab Rotation
MCBG 3rd Lab Rotation
Biostatistics I
Teaching Practicum I
Teaching Practicum II
Teaching Practicum III
Total Credits75.0
*

Taken each semester until the last, when only Thesis Defense is taken 


MD/PhD in Neuroscience

Required Courses
IDPT 500SResponsible Conduct of Research2.0
IDPT 600SThesis Defense9.0
NEUR 500SStatistics for Neuro/Pharm Research2.0
NEUR 520SNeurobiology Topics I *6.0
NEUR 521SNeurobiology Topics II *4.0
NEUR 600SNeuroscience Thesis Research *45.0
NEUR 609SGraduate Neuroscience II4.0
Advanced Electives1.0-4.0
Select at least one of the following Advanced Electives:
Advanced Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience
Advanced Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience
Motor Systems
General Electives
Teaching Practicum I
Teaching Practicum II
Teaching Practicum III
Advanced Cell Biology
Neuroscience 1st Lab Rotation
Neuroscience 2nd Lab Rotation
Neuroscience 3rd Lab Rotation
Graduate Neuroscience I
Prin of Neuropharmacology
Total Credits73.0-76.0
*

Taken each semester until the last, when only Thesis Defense is taken 


MD/PhD in Pharmacology & Physiology

Required Courses
IDPT 500SResponsible Conduct of Research2.0
IDPT 600SThesis Defense9.0
PHRM 502SCurrent Topics in Pharmacology & Physiology *5.0
PHRM 507SPrin of Neuropharmacology3.0
PHRM 516SAdvanced Topics in Physiology1.0
PHRM 517SAdvanced Topics in Pharmacology1.0
PHRM 600SPharmacology Thesis Research *45.0
Advanced Electives4.0
Select at least two Advanced Electives for a minimum of 4.0 credits:
Macromolecular Structure & Function
Cancer Biology
Immunology I
Biotechniques I: Molecular and Genomic Methods
New Frontiers in Therapy
Methods in Biomedical Research
Drug Discovery and Development I
Drug Discovery and Development II
Animal Models for Biomedical Research
General Electives
Epidemiology
Business Processes and Contemporary Concerns in Pharmaceutical R & D
World Wide Regulatory Submissions
Intro to Clinical Trials
Applications of Clinical Research Biostatistics
Scientific Writing and Medical Literature
Current Federal Regulatory Issues in Biomedical Research
Pharmaceutical Law
Leadership Skills
Compliance & Monitoring Issues
Principles and Practice of Pharmacovigilance
Designing the Clinical Trial
Innovative Product Development
Fundamentals of Compliance
Introduction to Clinical Pharmacology
Informatics in Pharm Res & Development
Regulatory, Scientific and Social Issues Affecting Biotech Research
Health Policy and Economics
Strategic Planning
Biostatistics I
Teaching Practicum I
Teaching Practicum II
Teaching Practicum III
Statistics for Neuro/Pharm Research
Pharm & Phys 1st Lab Rotation
Pharm & Phys 2nd Lab Rotation
Pharm & Phys 3rd Lab Rotation
Total Credits70.0
*

Taken each semester until the last, when only Thesis Defense is taken 

 
 

Sample Plan of Study  

MD/PhD in Biochemistry of Health & Disease

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
First Year MD CurriculumFirst Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Second Year MD CurriculumSecond Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Third Year MD CurriculumThird Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOC 506S1.0BIOC 506S1.0
BIOC 507S1.0BIOC 507S1.0
BIOC 508S3.0BIOC 511S2.0
BIOC 600S9.0BIOC 521S2.0
IDPT 500S2.0BIOC 600S9.0
 16 15
Fifth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOC 506S1.0BIOC 506S1.0
BIOC 507S1.0BIOC 507S1.0
BIOC 600S9.0BIOC 600S9.0
Advanced Elective3.0Advanced Elective3.0
 14 14
Sixth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOC 506S1.0IDPT 600S9.0
BIOC 507S1.0 
BIOC 600S9.0 
 11 9
Seventh Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Fourth Year MD CurriculumFourth Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Total Credits 79

MD/PhD in Microbiology & Immunology

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
First Year MD CurriculumFirst Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Second Year MD CurriculumSecond Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Third Year MD CurriculumThird Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
IDPT 500S2.0MIIM 502S1.0
MIIM 502S1.0MIIM 514S2.0
MIIM 600S9.0MIIM 600S9.0
MIIM 606S1.0MIIM 606S1.0
Advanced Elective2.0Advanced Elective2.0
 15 15
Fifth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MIIM 502S1.0MIIM 502S1.0
MIIM 600S9.0MIIM 600S9.0
MIIM 606S1.0MIIM 606S1.0
 11 11
Sixth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MIIM 502S1.0IDPT 600S9.0
MIIM 600S9.0 
MIIM 606S1.0 
 11 9
Seventh Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Fourth Year MD CurriculumFourth Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Total Credits 72

MD/PhD in Molecular & Cell Biology & Genetics 

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
First Year MD CurriculumFirst Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Second Year MD CurriculumSecond Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Third Year MD CurriculumThird Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
IDPT 500S2.0MCBG 506S2.0
MCBG 512S1.0MCBG 512S1.0
MCBG 513S1.0MCBG 513S1.0
MCBG 600S9.0MCBG 600S9.0
Advanced Elective3.0Advanced Elective2.0
 16 15
Fifth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MCBG 512S1.0MCBG 512S1.0
MCBG 513S1.0MCBG 513S1.0
MCBG 600S9.0MCBG 600S9.0
Advanced Elective2.0 
 13 11
Sixth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MCBG 512S1.0IDPT 600S9.0
MCBG 513S1.0 
MCBG 600S9.0 
 11 9
Seventh Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Fourth Year MD CurriculumFourth Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Total Credits 75

MD/PhD in Neuroscience

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
First Year MD CurriculumFirst Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Second Year MD CurriculumSecond Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Third Year MD CurriculumThird Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
IDPT 500S2.0NEUR 500S2.0
NEUR 520S2.0NEUR 521S2.0
NEUR 600S9.0NEUR 600S9.0
NEUR 609S4.0Advanced Elective1.0-4.0
 17 14-17
Fifth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
NEUR 520S2.0NEUR 521S2.0
NEUR 600S9.0NEUR 600S9.0
 11 11
Sixth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
NEUR 520S2.0IDPT 600S9.0
NEUR 600S9.0 
 11 9
Seventh Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Fourth Year MD CurriculumFourth Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Total Credits 73-76

MD/PhD in Pharmacology & Physiology

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
First Year MD CurriculumFirst Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Second Year MD CurriculumSecond Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Third Year MD CurriculumThird Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
IDPT 500S2.0PHRM 502S1.0
PHRM 502S1.0PHRM 517S1.0
PHRM 516S1.0PHRM 600S9.0
PHRM 600S9.0Advanced Elective2.0
 13 13
Fifth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHRM 502S1.0PHRM 502S1.0
PHRM 507S3.0PHRM 600S9.0
PHRM 600S9.0 
Advanced Elective2.0 
 15 10
Sixth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHRM 502S1.0IDPT 600S9.0
PHRM 600S9.0 
 10 9
Seventh Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Fourth Year MD CurriculumFourth Year MD Curriculum
 0 0
Total Credits 70

Program Level Outcomes

MD/PhD students must meet the program level outcomes of their selected PhD program, as well as those of the MD program, which include:

  • Be able to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health in all patients across the lifespan.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological and social-behavioral sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care.
  • Demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluate their care of patients, to appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and to improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and lifelong learning.
  • Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families and other health professionals.
  • Demonstrate adherence to ethical principles, development of physician attributes and commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care, as well as the ability to call effectively on other resources in the system to provide optimal health care.