Phase 1: The First Two Years

Arrival

Between May 15th (when students must confirm matriculation) and the first week of June, incoming M.D.-Ph.D. students will be assigned a Class Program Advisor (see Mentoring). Students are expected to arrive on campus on June 16 (or shortly thereafter), and select and complete a summer laboratory rotation, prior to starting Dartmouth Medical School year 1 which begins in mid-August. The Class Program Advisor, with help from the Assistant Director and M.D.-Ph.D. students in their fourth year of study, will provide guidance to the incoming group and assist and advise in living, administrative, and academic issues. Of particular importance will be the choice for the first lab rotation. Once students have selected their first laboratory rotation, they need to advise the M.D.-Ph.D. Program Office no later than June 2nd. The following graduate programs require rotations:

  • Molecular and Cellular Graduate Program
    • Biochemistry
    • Biological Sciences
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology and Immunology
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology (See PEMM)
  • Physiology (See PEMM)
  • Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine (PEMM)

Accepted applicants should begin the process of selecting their first rotation prior to arriving on campus. During applicant interviews students have the opportunity to meet faculty within their area of interest. Additional sources are the Dartmouth Graduate Programs Faculty Research brochure that is distributed prior to interviews as well as the Graduate Studies in the Arts and Sciences brochure that is included with applicant packets when they arrive on campus. Copies may be obtained in the M.D.-Ph.D. Program office. Reviewing our web sites offers more information: www.dartmouth.edu/~gradstdy/.

Accepted applicants are also invited back to campus for a second visit in early May to Dartmouth's Visiting Days which offers them an additional opportunity to meet with faculty. Students should contact the M.D.-Ph.D. Program office at least two weeks in advance of the visit so that we may coordinate your schedule to include meetings with faculty. Students should also feel free to contact individual faculty members in their areas of interest to inquire about research rotations. It is important to note that selected faculty must be formally affiliated with a graduate program within Dartmouth College or Dartmouth Medical School.

DMS Years 1 and 2 for the M.D.-Ph.D. Student

In most instances, students will need to complete their first summer rotation prior to beginning the first year of medical school in mid-August. You can access information about the medical school curriculum at: http://dms.dartmouth.edu/ ed_programs/mdprog.shtml. The second year of medical school needs to be completed before students enter their graduate Ph.D. thesis phase.

Graduate Program Selection

Most students enter the M.D.-Ph.D. Program undeclared as to graduate program. This permits the incoming M.D.-Ph.D. student full flexibility and ample time to explore research

options on campus. Exceptions are made for students who expect to get their Ph.D. in a graduate program in Alternative Options for Doctoral Programs; for these students it may be necessary to declare the graduate program very early. These Alternative Options are graduate programs that do not fall within the biological sciences.

Research Rotations

During the first two years, all students must complete two rotations each approximately eight weeks in length, the first to take place in the summer prior to DMS year 1, and the second to take place in the summer between DMS years 1 and 2. If a third rotation is required, this rotation would take place in the summer after completing DMS year 2. In cases where students have definite plans to matriculate into a graduate program that does not require rotations, this time may be used to complete other program requirements (i.e. coursework). The primary purpose of these rotations is to select an appropriate thesis laboratory. Since most students remain undeclared as to graduate program until they have selected their research laboratory, they may request almost any doctoral program at Dartmouth College or Dartmouth Medical School to perform a research rotation. Indeed, students may choose to do their second or third rotations within a different graduate program than their first rotation. Both the Class Program Advisor and the graduate program for the research laboratory must approve research rotation choices. Students must inform the M.D.-Ph.D. Program Office once the research rotation has been selected.

When it comes time to selecting a thesis laboratory, it is important that M.D.-Ph.D. students consult with the M.D.-Ph.D. program director prior to making a final decision.

Important Note: While students do remain "undeclared" as to graduate program, they are approved for admission into the M.D.-Ph.D. Program and within up to three graduate programs. If a student elects a thesis laboratory in which there has been no prior approval, then that student will need to apply and follow all rules and regulations established by that program.

It is expected that the process of the selection of a thesis laboratory will begin in January of the second year of medicial school in order to provide ample time for the graduate program to tend to the logistics of matriculation.

Transition to the Ph.D. Thesis

As noted above, prior to entering the Ph.D. thesis phase of the program, all requirements for the first two years of Dartmouth Medical School, and up to three research rotations must be completed. In addition, students should plan to take USMLE part 1. Students are urged to pass USMLE part 1 before proceeding with their research. In the unlikely event that a student fails USMLE part 1, the M.D.-Ph.D. Program Director will meet with the student and their Individual Advisory Committee to plan appropriate actions. It will be expected that the student will re-take the USMLE part 1 at the next available date. Failure to pass USMLE part 1 in two tries is grounds for dismissal from the M.D.-Ph.D. Program.