Program Overview

Introduction to the MD-PhD Program

The MD-PhD Program at UConn provides students with an intellectually stimulating and highly integrated educational experience leading to completion of both the MD and Ph.D. degrees. Many of our alumni have been matched to highly competitive residencies and have become successful NIH-funded physician-scientists at leading academic institutions.

Mission

The mission of our MD-PhD Program is to prepare individuals of outstanding potential for productive careers as physician-scientists. The program emphasizes developing the skills necessary to become a highly competent and caring physician and to perform, evaluate, and communicate the results of independent research in the biomedical sciences.

Program Structure

MD-PhD students matriculate for the first 18 months with the regular MD students before they pursue their graduate studies, taking four years to complete their Ph.D. dissertation research and then return for clinical clerkships. During the first two years, in addition to completing the preclinical requirements of the medical school curriculum, students pursue select graduate school coursework and two to three laboratory rotations. Incoming MD-PhD students have the option to complete their first laboratory rotation the summer before matriculation.

Program Details

• Emphasis on continuity of clinical education, providing opportunities to practice clinical skills on patients from the start of medical school and throughout the graduate phase.
• Students remain actively involved in the program during all phases of their training via a weekly biomedical and clinical research communications club, symposiums, leadership opportunities, and other events.
• During the first year of medical school and during the graduate phase, trainees receive specialized training in conflict management and leadership.

Medical Education

UConn School of Medicine is one of the nation's leading public medical schools, featuring a modern, case-based learning curriculum, early clinical experience, and state-of-the-art facilities for clinical simulation, virtual and cadaverial anatomy education. M.D./Ph.D. students engage in UConn School of Medicine’s industry-leading M Delta curriculum.

Graduate Education

During the graduate phase, students pursue intensive thesis research in one of seven areas of concentration (AOC) in biomedical science and complete additional coursework required by their AOC. The Biomedical Science AOCs are:

• Cell Biology
• Genetics & Developmental Biology
• Immunology
• Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
• Neuroscience
• Skeletal Biology and Regeneration
• Systems Biology

Research Opportunities

• The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine offers collaborative research training opportunities for our students in mammalian genetics and genomic medicine on our UConn Health campus.
• Students have the option to complete lab rotations and perform their Ph.D. thesis research with a JAX faculty member at the Jackson Laboratory on our Farmington, CT campus at UConn Health.

Facilities and Resources

• State-of-the-art facilities for clinical simulation, virtual and cadaverial anatomy education.
• Access to The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine for research training opportunities.

Student Support

• Complete tuition waivers and full stipend funding are guaranteed throughout the entire length of our program, along with generous health insurance benefits and waivers for all student fees.
• For the academic year, the stipend is $39,100.
• Many of our students have obtained prestigious fellowship grants, such as the NIH F30 and American Heart Association fellowships.
• UConn and The Jackson Laboratory have several NIH-funded T32 and T90 institutional training programs that offer additional fellowship support for selected applicants during the graduate phase.

Residency Placement

Our students routinely match to physician-scientist training programs (PSTPs) and other competitive residencies in a broad range of specialties all over the country.

Applications

• The Admissions Committee considers a holistic approach, recognizing the value of each applicant’s unique experiences, strengths, and background in shaping the next generation of physician-scientists.
• Applicants should have substantive research experience, a strong academic record, and prior clinical exposure.
• Applicants must complete the online AMCAS application, indicate on their application that they are applying to the UConn MD-PhD program, and complete the MD-PhD essay.