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LIFE SCIENCES - SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
www.biomed.miami.edu
The MD/PhD program provides a unique training environment for exceptionally
qualified individuals who want to pursue careers in academic medicine
and research and is built around the basic science doctoral programs
at the UM School of Medicine.
The central tenet of the MD/PhD Program at the University of Miami
is that the future intellectual leadership of medicine can best be
provided by individuals trained in both basic science research and
clinical medicine.
Curriculum
The curriculum comprises the School’s outstanding clinical
training, a rigorous basic science graduate program, and MD/PhD activities
and informal seminars. Graduate basic science training at the University
of Miami School of Medicine provides a rigorous foundation in modern
biomedical science and aims to develop critical thinking abilities.
A variety of seminars, meetings, and clinical case reviews organized
specifically for the MD/PhD students throughout the year provides
opportunities to integrate the sometimes divergent perspectives of
clinic and laboratory.
The Basic Science Graduate Programs
The following doctoral programs, described elsewhere in this bulletin,
participate in the MD/PhD Program. Note that some of these are departmental
and some are interdisciplinary. The MD/PhD Program office can provide
you with further information about these programs and the research
interests of their faculty.
• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Epidemiology
• Microbiology and Immunology
• Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology
• Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology
• Neuroscience
• Physiology and Biophysics
Program Sequence
Students are advised to begin the program in July to enable an early
start on their research laboratory rotations as the basic science
courses begin in mid-August. Some students choose to continue their
laboratory work during the first two years of medical school. It is
recommended that students select and apply to a graduate program by
February of their second year in the program and identify a research
mentor no later than the beginning of the third year. The summers
before the second and third year will be spent in laboratory, although
some students opt to enroll in summer courses at the Marine Biological
Laboratory in Woods Hole, or at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
The third year is spent both in class to fulfill the final graduate
course requirements and in the mentor's laboratory. Students should
plan to take their qualifying exam by the end of the third year. The
following two or more years are spent carrying out original research
for their dissertation. All Ph.D. requirements must be completed before
entry into the third year of medical school. The on-going program
activities include clinical case reviews to provide opportunities
for integration of clinical problems with basic science advances,
chalk talks to foster discussion of the students' own research results
in an interdisciplinary, rigorous, but informal setting, and grand
rounds where successful physician scientist come to share their experience
with the students.
Admissions
Admission to the M.D./Ph.D. Program is highly competitive, and interested
applicants are advised to apply early in the fall. AMCAS applications
must be received by the Medical Admissions Office no later than December
15. There is no additional application fee for the M.D./Ph.D. Program
Application To apply go to: http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/. Florida
residency is not required for admission to the M.D./Ph.D. Program.
All applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a US accredited
institution; have a cumulative undergraduate science G.P.A. of at
least 3.4 and a composite score of at least 30 on the MCAT exam. Preference
will be given to candidates who can provide tangible evidence of a
commitment to biomedical research, substantial laboratory experience
and scientific talent. Applications from under-represented minorities
and women are encouraged. Application should contain a research narrative
and two letters of recommendation from scientists with whom the student
has worked and must specifically address his/her research activities
and potential. Composite evaluations from a premedical advisory committee
cannot be substituted for either of these letters. The Graduate Record
Examination (GRE) is not required for matriculation into the M.D./Ph.D.
Program. However, should you apply for any external fellowships during
the Ph.D. years, keep in mind that many fellowship-granting institutions
require GRE scores on their applications.
Contact Information
M.D./Ph.D. Program (M-833)
University of Miami School of Medicine
PO Box 016189
Miami, FL 33101-6189
Phone: 305-243-6278
Fax: 305-243-3593
E-mail: mdphd@miami.edu
Director, Richard J. Bookman, PhD
Coordinator, Claudia Ochatt, PhD, (305) 243-6278
Web: chroma.med.miami.edu/mdphd
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