Program Overview

Introduction to the Health Sciences & Technology (HST) Program

The Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST) is an interdisciplinary educational program focused on translational medical science and engineering. Founded in 1970, it is one of the world’s oldest programs of its kind. HST is an inter-institutional collaboration between Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, and MIT, dedicated to fostering academic excellence, scientific rigor, and clinical expertise.

Education & Admissions

• The HST program offers two educational tracks:
  • One leading to the MD degree from Harvard Medical School
  • The other to the PhD degree in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics from MIT or Harvard University
• HST graduates are committed to leadership and innovation in academic careers across medicine, basic and translational research, and the social sciences.

Curricular Phases

Preclerkship

• The preclerkship curriculum in the MD program at HST is composed of concurrent, semester-long offerings allowing creative interactions between courses.
• There is also an interconnected clinical curriculum woven throughout the preclerkship years designed to address the specific challenges of combining a career that balances clinical medicine and research.
• Students engage in translational research projects, collaborating with Harvard and MIT faculty drawn from across departments and disciplines to develop preventative, diagnostic, and therapeutic innovations.

Principal Clinical Experience (PCE) Phase

• During the 12 months of the PCE phase, students gain comprehensive clinical training across eight core disciplines:
  • Internal medicine
  • Neurology
  • Obstetrics and gynecology
  • Pediatrics
  • Primary care
  • Psychiatry
  • Radiology
  • Surgery
• Students are placed at a single hospital site for the year, allowing them to be immersed in the clinical learning environment of that institution.

Post-PCE Phase

• After a year of clinical immersion, students take advantage of myriad opportunities across Harvard University and around the world to customize their route through Year 4, preparing optimally for whichever aspect of the profession of medicine has attracted their curiosity and passion.

More Program Details

• HST MD Research and Thesis Requirement
• Student Funding — funding for fifth year, clinical elective/travel abroad, community service, fellowships
• The curriculum is undergoing continuous review and improvement and is subject to change at any time.

Academic Calendars

• Course dates & curriculum maps

Course & Examination Requirements

• Information from the student handbook

Program Philosophy

• The program believes every class, every clinical and research experience, and every student should work toward a single goal: to use basic science, social science, and engineering to advance human health.