Overview
Beginning in 2007, the CMB Program and the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) created a partnership that combines clinical medicine with graduate training in scientific research. The goal of the MD/PhD Program is to create a combined physician and scientist who will make major contributions to human health. At the completion of the MD/PhD Program, students leave with an MD/PhD degree. MD/PhD students complete 2.5 years of Medical School and then begin their PhD training in the CMB Program. MD/PhD students must intend to conduct research in the lab of a current CMB faculty trainer in order to begin graduate training in the CMB Program. If CMB is not the right graduate program for a student, they may exercise the option to transfer out of CMB, into another UW-Madison graduate program.
Program Structure
MD/PhD students follow the timeline for progress towards the PhD as outlined for all other CMB students (with some adjustments in the first two years; see below). MD/PhD students are only required to take 3 credits of coursework from the CMB Core Curriculum or Elective Courses list, instead of the required 10 credits for PhD students. The table below outlines the specific details for MD/PhD students in regards to the CMB Graduate Program. For more information about the MSTP Program structure, see the Medical Scientist Training Program website.
Timeline for Progress towards the PhD
As mentioned above, MD/PhD students typically follow the timeline for progress towards the PhD as outlined for all other CMB students. However, during the first and second years of the PhD program, the timeline has been adjusted due to the spring entry time of MD/PhD students. In addition, MD/PhD students are required to include one MSTP co-director as a member on their Thesis Committees. The timeline for MD/PhD students is as follows:
1st year:
- Establish thesis committee by September 15
- Complete Curriculum Certification meeting by December 31
2nd year:
- Schedule Preliminary Exam by May 17
- Complete Preliminary Exam by August 31
- Dates are flexible
- Seminar/Journal Club requirement
3rd, 4th, 5th year:
- Schedule yearly Progress Report meeting by May 17
- Complete yearly Progress Report meeting by August 31
- Seminar/Journal Club requirement
Paperwork must be turned in for yearly meetings and seminars.
Application Process into the CMB Graduate Program
- MD/PhD students apply to the CMB Program once they have decided that they are attending MSTP at UW-Madison
- To apply to CMB, students must submit an online Graduate School application
- All MD/PhD students are automatically admitted to CMB when starting the MD/PhD Program
- After the completion of the first two years of Medical School, students choose to stay in CMB or transfer into a different PhD graduate program at UW-Madison
- The first year of the PhD graduate school begins during the spring semester after two and a half years of Medical School
- During this semester, students will enroll in research credits only while they complete their USMLE Step 1 and 2 board exams. They will begin working in their chosen labs around March 1
- Payroll is switched over to the Thesis Advisor’s home department effective July 1
Choosing a Graduate Program
Option 1: Remain in the CMB Graduate Program
- In order to begin training within the CMB Program, students must plan to conduct research in the lab of a current CMB faculty trainer
- If the intended faculty member is not currently a CMB faculty trainer, the faculty member must apply to become a CMB faculty trainer
- During the spring semester of the year students intend to enter graduate school, students should contact the MSTP Administrators (mstp@med.wisc.edu) and the CMB Program Managers (cmb@bocklabs.wisc.edu), to inform them of the intention to remain in the CMB Program
- In early August, all MD/PhD students entering the CMB Program will be required to attend the MD/PhD orientation
- Upon beginning the CMB Program, MD/PhD students will be considered Direct Admit students since they directly enter a thesis lab and do not complete lab rotations in CMB
- MD/PhD students are only required to take 3 credits of coursework from the CMB Core Curriculum or Elective Courses list. No ethics course required.
Option 2: Choose a Graduate Program other than CMB
- Change of a PhD program must be completed by the end of Phase 2 in Medical School and before the beginning of fall semester in year one of Graduate School (it is preferred that this is completed during spring semester)
- Students should research UW-Madison Graduate Programs based on suggestions from the Thesis Advisor
- Contact the PhD program of interest to become informed of their transfer policy
- Contact the MSTP Administrators (mstp@med.wisc.edu) and the CMB Program Managers (cmb@bocklabs.wisc.edu) to inform them of the plans to change programs
- Submit transfer application materials and a Change of Program form to the intended PhD program
- Once transfer is approved, the Graduate School will send an approval of the Change of Program form by email to the student, CMB, and the new PhD program