M.D.-Ph.D. Program

The profession of medicine has entered an especially challenging and exciting period as the health care system undergoes revolutionary refocus and reorganization. There is an increased need for leaders who can use powerful, newly developed technical and conceptual tools to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness. One of the most effective ways to provide leadership on these issues and to advance our knowledge of health care and the human condition is through an educational program such as the M.D.-Ph.D. This program combines systematic and rigorous research preparation, the Ph.D. degree, with an excellent clinical education emphasizing the societal aspects of medicine, the M.D. degree.

The M.D.-Ph.D. Program at Dartmouth permits students to achieve the full potential of both degrees in an efficient and effective manner while gaining an understanding of the health care system as a whole.

The key to developing outstanding physician-scientists is a program that explicitly provides the support and guidance needed by students who pursue these two rigorous curricula. The Dartmouth program provides flexibility and options to allow each student to meet her/his individual needs and take advantage of the strengths of an institution with a long history of academic excellence.

The program functions within the collegial and supportive environment of Dartmouth Medical School and Dartmouth College. Most students will begin their training with the first year of medical school. Once completing DMS year 1, the student will begin his or her first summer rotation. The second summer rotation follows DMS year 2. Following the completion of the first two years of medical school, students undertake the Ph.D. phase of the program. Upon completion of the Ph.D. curriculum, students must write and defend their thesis prior to entering the third year of medical school. The final phase of training for the M.D.-Ph.D. student consists of years three and four of medical school. While this academic career path works well for most students, we recognize the importance of maintaining flexibility to meet the special needs of individual students who may pursue their Ph.D. outside of the biological sciences. The M.D.-Ph.D. Program provides academic career planning for each individual student. The time to complete both degrees is typically seven to eight years.

The M.D.-Ph.D. Program at Dartmouth is unique in that it encompasses the entire campus and thus offers our students doctoral programs in a wide variety of disciplines:

  • Biochemistry (MCB)
  • Biology (MCB)
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Earth Sciences
  • Engineering Sciences
  • Genetics (MCB)
  • Health Policy and Clinical Practice
  • Mathematics
  • Microbiology and Immunology (MCB)
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine (PEMM)
    • Cancer Biology & Molecular Therapeutics
    • Molecular Pharmacology, Toxicology and Experimental Therapeutics
    • Neuroscience
    • Systems Biology (Physiology)
    • Vascular Biology
  • Psychological and Brain Sciences

MCB = Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program

Dual degree candidates receive financial assistance to support flexible programming. The academic departments offer students a full scholarship to cover the cost of their tuition and stipends during their graduate work. The Medical School offers tuition and fee deferment (which upon satisfactory completion of the dual degree program, will become a full waiver) for every student in the program. Students also receive stipend support for living expenses while enrolled in the medical curriculum.

If you think this may be an appropriate option for you:

As soon as possible and no later than January 4, 2010, complete both the AMCAS Combined Medical Degree/Ph.D Application along with the M.D.-Ph.D. Statement of Interest Form and the DMS secondary application. Your file will be held until both applications are completed. M.D.-Ph.D. candidates with completed applications will be given full consideration for both the dual degree and M.D.-only programs. Early completion of your application materials is strongly encouraged.

This is a highly competitive program and interviews are only extended to a select group. Interviews are conducted from October to February, and admissions decisions are made at several points during that period. If you have questions about the program and/or its suitability for you, contact the M.D.-Ph.D. Program at:

Dartmouth Medical School
Office of Admissions
3 Rope Ferry Road
Hanover, NH 03755-1404
(603) 650-1505