The document describes the typical curriculum for a MD-PhD program at the University of Pennsylvania. It involves integration of medical school and graduate school coursework and research over 7-8 years. Students typically complete the first two years of medical school, followed by graduate school coursework and thesis research in years 3-6. They then resume clinical training in years 7-8 to graduate with an MD and PhD. The curriculum is flexible and emphasizes training physician-investigators through research, mentorship, and experience in both medical and graduate education.

1. Curriculum Description of a Typical Curriculum
MD-PhD Program
FRANCES HIGH
Integration of medical and graduate YEAR 1
education is something we emphasize June – August
U N I V E R S I T Y O F P E N N S Y LVA N I A
from the beginning of the program. Research before beginning medical school (optional)
At any given time a student may spend Fall and Spring
Medical school courses
most of his or her time in medical school One graduate school course per term (Topics in Molecular Medicine
or graduate school, but at all times in the Fall and another course or directed reading in the Spring)
there are courses or other experiences Summer
Research
organized by the program that emphasize
the integration of the two parts of the
YEAR 2
training.
Fall
Medical school course work
One graduate seminar (Case Studies in Translational Research)
Students typically start the program with
Spring and Summer
the first two years of medical school, Six months of clinical course work
which includes all of the pre-clinical Boards (Step 1)
curriculum and six months of full time Another scholarly activity
clinics. There is time for research in the
summer between years 1 and 2, and we YEAR 3
expect everyone to do a graduate course Full-time graduate school course work
Research
in the fall and spring of year 1 and the
Selection of thesis mentor Vascular cast of a mouse aortic arch
fall of year 2. Course options include
Preliminary exam
two that are organized by the MD-PhD
program: Topics in Molecular Medicine MD-PhD Program School of Medicine
YEARS 4-6 www.med.upenn.edu/mstp www.med.upenn.edu
and Case Studies in Translational Research.
Thesis research
Beginning in the third year, our students Combined Degree Biomedical Graduate Studies
Clinical Connections
focus on graduate studies, but they get to and Physician Scholar Programs www.med.upenn.edu/bgs
Cover: Mouse eye infected with a herpes simplex virus deleted in glycoprotein I (Helen McGraw)
experience the life of a physician-scientist www.med.upenn.edu/educ_combdeg
YEAR 7 University of Pennsylvania
through the Clinical Connections program, www.upenn.edu
Thesis defense (typically in Fall semester)
which is also run by the combined degree
Clinical warm-up course
program. Throughout this time students
Resume clinical clerkships and electives
also participate in our monthly event
series and our advising program. Students
YEAR 8 Combined Degree
have abundant access to physician-
Clinical course work and Physician Scholar Programs Office
investigator role models and mentorship.
Boards (Step 2) University of Pennsylvania
Apply and interview for Residency Suite 100 Annex, Stemmler Hall
Additional research (optional) Philadelphia, PA 19104-6087
215 898.8025
Flexibility
The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.
While the above schedule is optimal for most biomedical science PhD The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
students, there are some for whom other alternatives would be better. religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam Era Veteran or disabled veteran in the
administration of educational policies, programs or activities; admissions policies; scholarship and loan awards;
Students in graduate programs other than the laboratory sciences usually athletic, or other University administered programs or employment. Questions or complaints regarding this policy
follow a different curriculum. The program is flexible and works with should be directed to: Executive Director, Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs, Sansom Place
students individually to develop the most appropriate curriculum plan. East, 3600 Chestnut Street, Suite 228, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6106 or by phone at (215) 898-6993 (Voice)
or (215) 898-7803 (TDD).

2. Application and
Financial Information
Medical School
We are looking for candidates who show outstanding
The University of Pennsyslvania is home
potential as future physician-investigators, as
to one of the top medical schools in the
CHAMP peptides are demonstrated by:
computationally country, widely renowned for our long-
designed soluble ■ Academic excellence – including, but not limited to,
standing commitment to education,
peptides that target strong grades and MCAT scores; successful applicants
the transmembrane research, and patient care. The innovative
in the past few years have had an average GPA of 3.8
regions of membrane MD curriculum is composed of three
BEN KLEAVELAND
protein (Lab of William DeGrado) (3.6-4.0) and MCAT scores of 37 (31-44)
semesters of basic science training, twelve
FRANCES HIGH
Penn has one of the oldest and largest Medical Scientist Training Programs in the ■ Sustained research experience and passion for
months of core clinical clerkships, and investigation and medicine
country, with over 150 students currently enrolled. We typically accept 20 or more new
additional time for the sub-internship and
students each year. Penn receives substantial support from the NIH through our Medical ■ Outstanding letters of recommendation, particularly
advanced clinical electives.
Scientist Training Program (MSTP) grant. from the faculty with whom you did research
Each graduate is prepared to enter ■ Well-articulated goals that are a good match for our
The program’s long standing mission is to provide integrated training in both medicine and
post-graduate training programs having program goals
research to students who want to become physician-investigators engaged in medically
competencies in the science of medicine,
related research. After completing post-graduate training, many of our graduates become The preliminary application must be submitted via
technology and practice of medicine, and
faculty members at medical schools, universities, and research institutes such as the NIH. In situ hybridization of Heart of AMCAS. Eligible applicants will then complete the
bioethics and humanism. Glass mRNA in mouse embryo
Regardless of where they eventually end up, our students are being prepared for careers in secondary application online for Penn.
Primary vascular smooth muscle cell
which they will spend most of their time doing research, often in combination with patient
MD-PhD students with guest speaker Nobel Laureate Dr. Michael Brown (center front) Offers of admission normally come with a full funding
care, teaching, and administration. It is a busy, challenging, and hugely rewarding career that
at our annual retreat package that includes tuition, health insurance, most
COLLIN BLAKELY
offers opportunities to do good for many people by advancing knowledge, developing new
fees, and a stipend. This support remains in effect for the
treatments for diseases, and pushing back the boundaries of the unknown.
duration of the program, as long as the student remains
We pride ourselves on being a well-integrated training program that combines the best in good standing.
medical training with outstanding graduate training leading to PhDs in traditional areas of Research Opportunities and Environment
biomedical laboratory research, as well as in fields such as biomedical engineering, health
Biomedical Graduate Studies 500 scientists and educators representing more than 30 academic
care economics, and history & sociology of science. Our goal is to help our students fuse the
different parts of their training together in ways that will bring a physician’s perspective to
Penn is a leader in biomedical research and research training. We
are consistently in the very top of the national rankings in research
departments.
Campus and City
the questions they ask as investigators. Highlights of the curriculum include early exposure Other programs
funding and training grant funding from the National Institutes of Penn is located in the heart of Philadelphia, one of
to graduate school as well as medical school and the completion of six months of full time The University of Pennsylvania is located on one, closely-connected
Health. America’s most historic and livable cities. The Penn
clinical training before beginning thesis research. campus. Penn prides itself on being a well-integrated University
Most MD-PhD students are members of one of the Biomedical that values and encourages interdisciplinary scholarship. The School campus provides students with easy access via
Graduate Studies (BGS) programs. BGS serves as the academic of Medicine, the School of Arts and Sciences, the Wharton School public transportation to a great variety of attractions:
Five essential features of our program: home for approximately 700 graduate students, including MD- of Business, and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences numerous museums, art galleries, music venues,
1. Training: Helping you learn the skills needed to be a successful physician-investigator PhD and VMD-PhD students. The program is organized into seven are all located within a few minutes walk. Our multidisciplinary film houses, professional sports arenas, renowned
graduate groups: Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Cell philosophy, this geographical proximity, and the outstanding gourmet and ethnic restaurants and food galleries,
2. Faculty access: Helping you take optimal advantage of the huge depth and breadth
Identification of a gene expression signature that the world’s largest city park system, and a wealth of
predicts protection against breast cancer of research opportunities at Penn and Molecular Biology, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Genomics scholarship taking place in each of Penn’s Schools allow the MD-PhD
and Computational Biology, Immunology, Neuroscience, and program to offer dual degree opportunities across a wide range historic and architectural landmarks.
3. Integration: Making Medical School and Graduate School work together for you
Pharmacological Sciences. These graduate groups consist of faculty of disciplines. Currently, approximately 10% of our students are
4. Guidance: Providing the advice, role models, and mentoring that will help you prepare with shared interest in training PhD students. Graduate groups are engaged in graduate work outside of the BGS groups in programs
for your future career
not founded on any one academic department but are composed of such as bioengineering, health economics and policy, and history &
5. Community: Building a community to share life along the way faculty from multiple departments to provide flexible, broad-based, sociology of science.
interdisciplinary training. The BGS faculty currently includes over
www.med.upenn.edu/mstp www.med.upenn.edu/mstp www.med.upenn.edu/mstp