MD-PhD Training

Training in basic medical sciences.
Students who are accepted to either track of the MD-PhD dual program will complete their basic medical science coursework at UTMB in Galveston. UTMB, the oldest medical school in Texas, offers an innovative, progressive, and exceptionally successful curriculum. The ten pre-clinical modules of the Integrated Medical Curriculum combine lectures, small group problem-oriented sessions, and laboratory experiences to introduce students to the basic sciences in the context of clinical medicine.

The first year consists of four modules: Gross Anatomy/Radiology, Molecules/Cells/Tissue, Pathobiology, and Neurosciences and Behavior. Students are also introduced to the concepts and practice of medical evaluation and treatment through a Practice of Medicine course. Small group sessions and simulated patients are used extensively. All first year MD-PhD students at UTMB also participate in enrichment sessions that emphasize recent discoveries in medicine and how these advancements have been achieved. These sessions are keyed to the pre-clinical coursework.

Year two of medical school training consists of six organ system-based modules that use all of the teaching modalities introduced in the first year. Each module is designed to help students extend their general knowledge of human biology and pathology into one or more of the major organ systems. The last module, termed Great Systems, helps students integrate their knowledge of each system into an overall understanding of how the whole body responds to systemic disease. The final six weeks of year two are dedicated to preparation for Step 1 of the U.S. Medical Licensure Examination.

Ph.D. Training
MD-PhD students will complete all of the requirements for the Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemistry or Neurosciences at the University of Texas at Austin.

Biochemistry (BCH)

The requirements for the Ph.D. in Biochemistry includes one year of core courses in biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysical methods and enzyme kinetics. Two elective courses are taken in an area of specialization, such a structural biology, genomics or bioinformatics. Graduate students also participate in several seminar courses and journal clubs. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the Biochemistry Ph.D. program at all times and make a B or better in all core courses. In the spring of the second year, the qualifying examination takes place. The exam is a written original research proposal in the NIH or NSF style that is unrelated to the student's Ph.D. research. This proposal is defended in front of a three-member faculty committee. Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination and satisfactory coursework, the student will be admitted to candidacy. Completion of the research generally takes 3-4 years after admission to candidacy and culminates in the writing and defense of a dissertation presented to the graduate faculty of the University of Texas at Austin.

Biomedical Engineering (BME)
The requirements for the Ph.D. in BME includes five BME core courses. While students are not required to take courses beyond these five core courses, their research supervisor and dissertation committee may decide that additional courses are necessary for their research progress. Students must select their research supervisor within the first month (there are no organized research rotations in BME) of arrival in Austin or no later than October 15; however students are highly encouraged to select a supervisor at UT Austin prior to starting the formal graduate studies in Austin. Informal rotations may be done during the summers prior to starting medical school course work and between the first and second year of medical studies, if desired. Students may have a co-supervisor at UTMB if appropriate, but this is not required. Students must maintain a 3.5 overall GPA at all times in the Ph.D. program and make a B or better in BME core courses in order to continue in the BME dual degree program. Following completion of the five core courses, students are required to present an oral thesis proposal to their dissertation committee and submit a written NIH or NSF style original research proposal to the committee. This proposal should be submitted within one year of starting the BME graduate curriculum at UT Austin. Completion of the research generally takes 3-4 years after admission to candidacy and culminates in the writing and defense of a dissertation presented to the graduate faculty of the University of Texas at Austin.

Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB)
The requirements for a Ph.D. in CMB include one year of core courses in biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, and molecular biology as well as two electives in one of the six track specializations (Cell & Developmental Biology; Molecular Genetics; Biochemical Technology & Drug Discovery; Bioinformatics, Biotechnology & Biosensors; Neurobiology; Structural Biology). Graduate students will also participate in several seminar courses and journal clubs and complete three organized research rotations during the first year. At the conclusion of the first year (May) the students will join a laboratory and begin research for their Ph.D. dissertation. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the CMB Ph.D. program at all times and make a B or better in all core courses. In the spring of the second year, the two part qualifying examination takes place. Part 1 is a written original research proposal in the NIH or NSF style that is unrelated to the student's Ph.D. research. This proposal is defended in front of a three-member faculty committee. Part 2 is a written research proposal on the student's Ph.D. research and defended in front of a 5 member committee some of whom may become their Ph.D. committee. Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination and satisfactory coursework, the student will be admitted to candidacy. Completion of the research generally takes 3-4 years after admission to candidacy and culminates in the writing and defense of a dissertation presented to the graduate faculty of the University of Texas at Austin.

Chemistry (CHE)

The requirements for a Ph.D. in Chemistry include one year of core courses depending upon the specialization in chemistry, Analytical, Organic, Physical or Inorganic. Additional courses may be required depending upon the area of specialization. Graduate students will also participate in several seminar courses and journal clubs. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the Chemistry Ph.D. program at all times and make a B or better in all core courses. In the spring of the second year the qualifying examination takes place. The nature of the qualifying exam depends upon the specialization area. Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination and satisfactory coursework, the student will be admitted to candidacy. Completion of the research generally takes 3-4 years after admission to candidacy and culminates in the writing and defense of a dissertation presented to the graduate faculty of the University of Texas at Austin.

Neurosciences (NS)
The requirements for the Ph.D. in Neuroscience include core courses in cell/molecular and systems/behavioral neuroscience, current research discussion courses that accompany the core courses, statistics and ethics. Students also take four elective courses, with at least one in each of the three main areas of neuroscience: behavioral, systems and cell/molecular neuroscience. Graduate students will also participate in journal clubs and complete two or three research rotations during the first year. At the conclusion of the first year (no later than August) the students will join a laboratory and begin research for their Ph.D. dissertation. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the NS Ph.D. Program at all times and make a B or better in all core courses. In the spring of the second year the qualifying examination takes place, in which students are required to write a 10 page NIH or NSF style research proposal and defend it orally. Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination and satisfactory course work, the student will form a thesis committee and be admitted to candidacy. Completion of the research generally takes 3-4 years after admission to candidacy and culminates in the writing and defense of a dissertation presented to the graduate faculty of the University of Texas at Austin.

Training in clinical medicine
After the MD-PhD students complete their dissertation research and writing, they will be reintegrated into the medical curriculum through a series of small group meetings and practical experiences in clinical evaluation of various types of patients. For most students, this part of the program will occur in Austin. Students will then choose whether they prefer to complete their clinical clerkships in Austin, UTMB, or a combination of both locations. The eight clerkships vary in length from 4 to 12 weeks and cover all of the major clinical disciplines.

Graduation
After successfully completing the clinical rotations, students will prepare for Step 2 of the U.S. Medical Licensure Examination and for graduation. The M.D. degree will be awarded at UTMB in Galveston and the Ph.D. degree will be awarded at UT Austin. Both graduation ceremonies are scheduled in the latter part of May.