Program Overview

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Introduction to the Medicine, Doctor of (M.D.)/Oral Health Research, Doctor of (Ph.D.) Dual Degree Program

The Medicine, Doctor of (M.D.)/Oral Health Research, Doctor of (Ph.D.) dual degree program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in both medicine and oral health research. This program is tailored to meet the specific interests of each student, with a primary emphasis on developing research skills and the capacity for independent scholarship.

Program Goals

The objectives of this dual degree program are:

• To acquire the foundational skills necessary to become independent physician-scientists after further clinical specialty and postdoctoral research training.
• To gain a progressive mastery of concepts in oral diseases and their impact on systemic health, with a particular focus on cancer, infection and immunology, and tissue regeneration.
• To develop skills in communicating core knowledge in the field and the details of experimental design, results, and interpretation to various audiences.

Benefits of the Program

Among the benefits offered by participation in the dual-degree program are:

• The foundation and training in oral disease and its impact on overall health to conduct basic and translational research.
• The opportunity to participate in clinical research during the M4 year.
• Highly competitive positions in leading physician-scientist clinical training programs, faculty positions in academic medical centers, and leadership roles in academic medicine, industry, and government.
• Tuition, fees, and a stipend are provided throughout both the medical and graduate phases of training.

Student Learning Outcomes

The student learning outcomes described for the oral health research Ph.D. program also apply to M.D.-Ph.D. students.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for the VCU M.D.-Ph.D. program, prospective students must apply to the medical school through the American Medical College Application Service, designating "Combined Graduate/Medical Degree" on their AMCAS application. The deadline for application to the program for admission in the fall semester is listed on the AMCAS website.

Degree Requirements

The dual degree program is designed to allow students to complete the first two years of medical school and the USMLE Step 1 examination before undertaking graduate training. After successfully defending the Ph.D. dissertation, students complete the remaining clinical years of medical training. Important aspects of dual degree training are integrated across the program, including M.D.-Ph.D.-specific graduate courses taken during M1 and M2, and required M3 clinical rotations integrated into the graduate phase.

Curriculum Requirements for the M.D.

The curriculum for the M.D. component includes:

• Completion of the first two years of medical school (M1 and M2) with courses such as Transition to Medical School, Practice of Clinical Medical Bootcamp, Molecular Basis of Health and Disease, and more.
• Completion of the USMLE Step 1 examination.
• Clinical rotations in the M3 and M4 years, including Internal Medicine Clerkship, Surgery Clerkship, OB/GYN Clerkship, and others.

Curriculum Requirements for the Ph.D.

The curriculum for the Ph.D. component includes:

• Required core courses such as Oral Microbiology and Disease, Infection, Immunology and Oral Cancer, and Research Topics in Oral Biology.
• Additional required courses like Research Reproducibility and Transparency, M.D.-Ph.D. Journal Club, and M.D.-Ph.D. Science and Disease.
• Electives satisfied by M1 and M2 coursework, and a research requirement involving Oral Biology Directed Research for a minimum of 58 credits.

Plan of Study Timeline

The dual-degree program timeline blends medical and graduate training, culminating in the simultaneous awarding of the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. The timeline includes:

• Year 1 (M1): Preclinical medical courses, M.D.-Ph.D. Journal Club, and research rotations.
• Year 2 (M2): Preclinical medical courses, M.D.-Ph.D. Science and Disease, and preparation for USMLE Step 1.
• Year 3 (G1): Graduate program coursework, directed research, and opportunities for clinical experience.
• Years 4-5 (G2-G3) and additional year if needed: Primarily research, with a Ph.D. Qualifying Examination, admission to candidacy, and submission of an NIH F30 fellowship application.
• Years 6-7 (M3-M4): Completion of clinical training, clinical research experience, and preparation for USMLE Step 2.

Conclusion

The Medicine, Doctor of (M.D.)/Oral Health Research, Doctor of (Ph.D.) dual degree program at Virginia Commonwealth University offers a unique opportunity for students to pursue both medical and research careers. With its comprehensive curriculum, research opportunities, and benefits, this program is designed to produce independent physician-scientists who can make significant contributions to the field of oral health research.