PROGRAM
OVERVIEW
 Physician-scientists
play a unique role in biomedicine by studying patients
and their diseases. They take observations from the
bedside into the laboratory, make basic discoveries
and translate their discoveries into new methods for
prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. The
University of North Dakota School of Medicine and
Health Sciences strongly believes that the training
of physician-scientists is critical to the future
of medicine.
The
M.D./Ph.D. Scholars Program is designed to prepare
a select group of outstanding students for careers
in academic medicine and research. Students admitted
to this highly competitive program pursue original
research in laboratories and/or clinical settings
with members of the graduate faculty. They also complete
the medical school curriculum. The integrated training
for both degrees allows a compression of the total
academic effort as some course work can be applied
to both degrees.
The
training program may begin during the summer prior
to the first year of medical school with participation
in a summer research program. The student may participate
in research in up to three laboratories in one or
more departments with Ph.D. granting programs. These
laboratory rotations will help the student to select
a specific research mentor and graduate program.
Prior
to the end of the first year of medical school, the
student will choose a specific graduate program and
a research advisor. During the summer between the
first and second years of medical school, the student
will begin research on a topic selected by the student
in conjunction with his/her mentor.
 Typically,
after completing the second year of the medical curriculum
and passing Step I of the USMLE, the student will
enter the selected program as a full-time graduate
student. Normally, three years will be required to
complete additional course work in the graduate program,
the departmental comprehensive exam, and independent
research leading to a Ph.D. dissertation. After completion
of the Ph.D. degree, the student will rejoin the medical
class as a third year student and complete the last
two years of clinical training. The combined M.D./Ph.D.
Scholars Program will involve, on average, a total
of seven years.
Students
interested in the M.D./Ph.D. program should first
obtain admission from the School of Medicine and Health
Sciences to the M.D. degree program, following the
normal application process and meeting the selection
criteria. A student admitted to the M.D. program may
apply to graduate school as soon as he/she has selected
a graduate program, which may occur before matriculation
in Medical School but not later than the end of the
first year of Medical School.
Final
admission requirements for the M.D./Ph.D. program
include:
- Satisfactory
performance in the first two years of the medical
education curriculum with passing scores on all
required assessment tools.
- Successful
completion of the USMLE Step 1 examination.
- Satisfactory
scores achieved on General and Subject GRE examination
or MCAT scores.
- All
other UND Graduate School admission requirements
listed in the UND Academic Catalog.
If
admission to a Ph.D. program is granted, the student
should apply to the School of Medicine and Health
Sciences Student Performance and Recognition Committee
for a "modification of original program"
which will allow the student to pursue the M.D. degree
and Ph.D. degree concurrently. The student also must
request the Office of Student Affairs to certify to
the Graduate School his/her satisfactory completion
of the first two years of the M.D. program.
Students
are expected to complete the following general requirements
for the Ph.D. degree in a medical science field:
- Performance
of original research of a quality suitable for
publication in refereed, professional journals.
- Pass
final examination which includes preparation and
oral defense of a satisfactory dissertation.
- Completion
of BIMD 513.
- A
minimum of 90 credit hours, including research
and dissertation.
- Successful
completion of a scholarly tool. (Note: May be
specified by the department.)
- Completion
of the first two years of the medical education
curriculum, transferred as 44 credits toward the
Ph.D.
- Passing
comprehensive examinations covering the course
work in the major area.
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