 | CALENDAR
ADMISSIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
DEPARTMENTS
ALVIN J. SITEMAN CANCER CENTER
TEACHING AND RESEARCH DIVISIONS AND PROGRAMS
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
ADMINISTRATION
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES OF THE FACULTY
REGISTER OF STUDENTS
MAP
SCHOOLS OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
ALL FACULTY
| | |
The Washington University School of Medicine offers five programs leading to the MD degree: a regular four-year program, a five-year program, the MA/MD program, the MS program, and a combined MD/PhD program.
Doctor of Medicine (four-year program)
Doctor of Medicine (five-year program)
Master of Arts and Doctor of Medicine
Master of Science in Clinical Investigation
Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy
The Washington University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences awards a doctoral degree offered by the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Medicine
By conferring the MD degree, the University certifies that the student is competent to undertake a career as a doctor of medicine. It certifies further that, in addition to medical knowledge and skills, the graduate possesses qualities of personality — compassion, emotional stability and a responsible attitude — essential to an effective professional life.
Four-Year Program
A course of medical education for the MD degree ordinarily consists of a minimum of four years of study. Students recommended for the Doctor of Medicine degree must be of good moral character, they must have completed an entire academic course of instruction as matriculated medical students, they must have passed all required subjects or the equivalent and have received satisfactory grades in the work of the full academic course, and they must have discharged all current indebtedness to the University. The School requires that students planning to practice clinical medicine take the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 examinations. All students must take and pass the School's Comprehensive Clinical Examination (CCX) prior to graduation.
At the end of the final academic year, students who have fulfilled these requirements will be eligible for the MD degree.
Five-Year Program
In addition to the regular four-year program leading to the MD degree and the MA/MD degree program, students are permitted to spend one additional year in an academic program in a medical or medically related field. In exceptional circumstances, a further additional year may be permitted. The student may receive a stipend but may not be considered an employee of the University. The program must be arranged with an academic adviser and is subject to the approval of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. The Student Research Opportunities brochure provides additional important information about participating in this program. Students enrolled in the five-year program must maintain coverage through Student Health while in St. Louis.
BACK TO TOP
Master of Arts and Doctor of Medicine
The objective of the MA/MD program is to provide one full year of individual, full-time, in-depth research experience for medical students in preparation for a career in academic medicine. Program participants absent themselves from medical school and spend 12 months working on basic biomedical research or hypothesis-driven clinical research in the lab of a faculty member. Degree requirements include a presentation before a research advisory committee, submission of a publication-quality manuscript and participation in a research ethics seminar.
No academic credit toward the MD degree will be given, but research may be continued as senior elective for credit. Fellowship stipends and other support are available through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (basic science research), Doris Duke Foundation (clinical research), National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (GI, hepatology, endocrinology, nutrition, nephrology and hematology research), Predoctoral Interdisciplinary Clinical Research Training Program (clinical research), and the J. Max Rukes Fund (endocrine and metabolism research). Students unable to qualify for one of these awards may also apply for support from the dean of the medical school. Funding amounts may vary, and some of these sources have deadlines in early January. Please contact the MA/MD program administrator at (314) 747-6787 or visit the web site at mamd.wustl.edu for details.
BACK TO TOP
Master of Science in Clinical Investigation
Since 2006, the School of Medicine has offered a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) to young investigators committed to pursuing academic careers in clinical research. The goal is to provide high-quality, multidisciplinary courses, mentorship and research training, which would culminate in the granting of this degree. Though primarily intended for postdoctoral trainees, the MSCI is also available to a few outstanding pre-doctoral students in Medicine, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical Sciences, Social Work, Audiology, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and related disciplines in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences who have completed or are enrolled in the intensive Predoctoral Interdisciplinary Clinical Research Training (PICRT) Program, or other structured clinical research training program, and who are interested in pursuing academic careers in clinical research. As the MSCI requirements are rigorous and are performed in addition to the doctoral degree requirements, interested students should contact the program coordinator or director before beginning their structured clinical research training program to ensure that the additional training meets the needs of the individual student, and that all requirements can be completed.
BACK TO TOP
Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy
Washington University offers a combined MD/PhD degree program that uses the resources of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Engineering and the School of Medicine under the auspices of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). The purpose of the program is to train individuals in medicine and biomedical research to prepare them for careers as physician scientists. The program was inaugurated in 1969 and is one of the oldest and largest in the country. The program, normally completed in seven years, has been highly successful; more than 80 percent of those who have completed postgraduate training are actively involved in research programs at leading institutions.
All students in the program receive financial support in the form of stipends (currently $27,500 per year), health coverage, disability and life insurance, and full tuition remission for both the MD and PhD phases of training.
Only students who have spent the equivalent of at least two semesters in laboratory research should apply to the Medical Scientist Training Program. Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to both the School of Medicine and the graduate program of their choice, although the Graduate Record Examination is not required. Students planning to concentrate in disciplines related to the chemical or physical sciences should have completed mathematics through calculus, physics and physical chemistry, and advanced organic chemistry. A course in differential equations also is recommended. For those students whose major interests are in the more biological aspects of medical science, the quantitative requirements for chemistry are less extensive, but a strong background in mathematics, chemistry and physics is still important. Although most individuals enter the program as first-year students, applications will be accepted from students in their first or second year at this medical school. The program matriculates approximately 25 new students each year, which represents one-fifth of the entering medical school class.
The program consists of three parts: 1) two years of an enhanced medical curriculum, 2) at least three years of original research toward a thesis to satisfy the requirements for the PhD degree, and 3) at least 15 months of clinical training based on a student’s career goals. Both degrees are awarded concurrently at the completion of the program.
Funding support commences when the student begins the program, either in June or at the beginning of the medical school year. Students matriculating in June undertake a research rotation with a faculty member of their choosing.
While the Medical Scientist Training Program includes all medical courses required for the MD degree, it incorporates a high degree of flexibility for individuals through a wide range of electives and graduate courses, some of which may be taken during the first year of the medical curriculum. Every effort is made to individualize each student’s curriculum based on previous background and current interests. The medical and PhD curricula are integrated, which permits students to take PhD coursework in lieu of certain medical school coursework. In this way, students may substantially meet the coursework requirements of the PhD program during the first two medical school years. The MSTP directorate meets with students individually to help them decide on an individualized curriculum and appropriate laboratory rotations. Lab rotations are executed over the summer.
The MSTP Committee monitors the performance of each student, and a high scholastic standing as well as a commitment to research is expected.
Students normally spend between three and five years in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences or the School of Engineering satisfying the following requirements:
1) Completion of required graduate coursework;
2) Successful performance in qualifying examinations;
3) Execution of original research suitable for a dissertation;
4) Defense of the thesis; and
5) Completion of a one-semester teaching assistantship.
The PhD degree may be obtained in the Program in Biomedical Engineering, the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences or in other research-oriented departments such as Anthropology or Physics. The largest contingent of MSTP students are trained under the auspices of the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences. The Division, now in its 36th year, is a leader in interdisciplinary biomedical education. Member departments of the Division include all clinical and preclinical departments of the medical school, as well as the Departments of Biology and Chemistry. These departments jointly provide training in the following interdisciplinary programs:
Biochemistry
Computational and Systems Biology
Developmental Biology
Evolution, Ecology and Population Biology
Human and Statistical Genetics
Immunology
Computational and Molecular Biophysics
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Neurosciences
Plant Biology
Students may conduct research under any of the faculty affiliated with these programs or faculty in the Biomedical Engineering program. The MSTP also permits students to undertake doctoral studies in other disciplines, provided that the resulting thesis is a rigorous, hypothesis-based body of work that is medically relevant. Recent students have earned doctorates under special arrangements with the departments of Anthropology and Physics.
A series of weekly seminars featuring physician scientists is held for MD/PhD students. These seminars are aimed at stimulating student interest in clinical medicine, increasing awareness of major research problems in clinical medicine and exposing students to diverse career paths in academic medicine.
MD/PhD students attend an annual weekend retreat during which students present their research. The retreat also features discussions led by experts on topics selected by students.
To keep students in the PhD phase of training up to date on their clinical skills, monthly opportunities are offered for clinical interactions. Students are matched individually with a clinical mentor in the specialty of their choice. These interactions include going on rounds and attending conferences.
A special two-week non-graded tutorial for MD/PhD students facilitates their transition into the clinical phase of training.
MSTP students are required to complete a minimum of 15 months of clinical training. Opportunities exist to meet part of the requirement while engaged in PhD training. Students may opt to extend clinical training up to 24 months. The intensive clinical training is the last formal requirement for the MD degree. Both the PhD and MD degrees will be granted at the conclusion of clinical training.
Application Procedure: Individuals interested in applying to the Medical Scientist Training Program must complete the MD-PhD section on the AMCAS and the Washington University School of Medicine secondary application. The MSTP requires letters of recommendation from the research mentor(s) of all applicants.
Individuals wishing additional information about the program may contact:
Medical Scientist Training Program
Washington University School of Medicine
Campus Box 8226
660 S. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110-1093
(800) 852-4625
mstp@dbbs.wustl.edu
www.mstp.wustl.edu
BACK TO TOP
Doctor of Philosophy
The Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences offers doctoral programs in Biochemistry, Computational and Systems Biology, Developmental Biology, Evolution, Ecology and Population Biology, Human and Statistical Genetics, Immunology, Computational and Molecular Biophysics, Molecular Cell Biology, Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Neurosciences, and Plant Biology. These educational activities are organized on an interdepartmental basis by the faculty of all clinical and preclinical departments of the School of Medicine, as well as the departments of Biology and Chemistry in the School of Arts & Sciences. All degrees are awarded through the Washington University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Additional information about Division programs may be obtained by contacting:
Graduate Studies Office
Washington University School of Medicine
Campus Box 8226
660 S. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110-1093
(800) 852-9074
dbbs.wustl.edu
BACK TO TOP
Last Modification: 09/02/2009 | |