Program Overview

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Introduction to the Medicine, Doctor of (M.D.)/Microbiology and Immunology, Doctor of (Ph.D.) Dual Degree Program

The dual degree program in Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in both medicine and microbiology, preparing them for careers as physician-scientists. This program is highly individualized, with each student's program tailored to meet their particular interests and goals.

Program Goals

The objectives of this dual degree program are:

• To acquire the foundational skills to become independent physician-scientists after further clinical specialty and postdoctoral research training.
• To gain a progressive mastery of concepts in microbiology and immunology and related disciplines.
• 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 of participating in the dual-degree program are:

• The foundation and training to conduct basic and translational research.
• The opportunity to participate in clinical research during the M4 year.
• Competitiveness for 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 for the microbiology and immunology 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.

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. The program requires a minimum of 58 credit hours for the Ph.D., including directed research.

Curriculum Requirements for the M.D.

The M.D. curriculum includes a comprehensive set of courses and clinical rotations, with opportunities for research experience beginning prior to entering the graduate phase.

Curriculum Requirements for the Ph.D.

The Ph.D. component of training in microbiology and immunology for M.D.-Ph.D. students normally takes a minimum of three years to complete. Courses taken during the M1 and M2 years of medical school satisfy a number of core course requirements, and additional elective courses are completed in the G1 year.

Required Core Courses

• IBMS 600: Laboratory Safety
• MICR 505: Immunobiology (satisfied by M1/M2 study)
• MICR 515: Principles of Molecular Microbiology (satisfied by M1/M2 study)
• MICR 690: Microbiology Research Seminar
• Additional required courses include IBMS 624, IBMS 651, IBMS 652, IBMS 653, and IBMS 697.

Elective Courses

Students select a minimum of two credits from a list of elective courses, including BIOS 543, BNFO 653, MICR 607, and MICR 684.

Plan of Study Timeline

The dual-degree program 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, research rotations, and M.D.-Ph.D. Journal Club and Seminar.
• Year 2 (M2): Preclinical medical courses, research rotations, preparation for USMLE Step 1, and required M3 clinical rotation(s).
• Year 3 (G1): Graduate program course work, M.D.-Ph.D. Seminar, directed research, and opportunities for clinical experience.
• Years 4-5 (G2-G3) and additional year if needed: Primarily research, with Ph.D. Qualifying Examination, admission to candidacy, submission of NIH F30 fellowship application, and directed research.
• 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.)/Microbiology and Immunology, Doctor of (Ph.D.) dual degree program at Virginia Commonwealth University provides a comprehensive education in both medicine and microbiology, preparing students for careers as physician-scientists. The program is highly individualized, with a focus on developing research skills and the capacity for independent scholarship.