Phase 2: Graduate Work and the Ph.D. Thesis

Specific requirements will vary between graduate programs. Although the Ph.D. thesis advisor is a member of the student's Individual Advisory Committee, this committee by no means takes the place of the selected graduate program's thesis advisory committee, which is separately established in accordance with the requirements of each program. Students should reasonably expect to complete their research, dissertation, and defense in about four years. It is expected that students will publish their research findings in high-quality peer-reviewed journal(s).

Graduate Program-Specific Requirements

During the Ph.D. thesis phase, the M.D.-Ph.D. student will fulfill the requirements of their graduate programs for their Ph.D. These specific requirements will be pre-determined by the individual graduate programs in consultation with the M.D.-Ph.D. Program and may include participation in seminars, journal clubs, and teaching assistantships.

Graduate Courses

Requirements of M.D.-Ph.D. students to take graduate school entry-level core courses are waived, and the DMS1 and DMS2 curriculum will be accepted in lieu. To maximize research productivity M.D.-Ph.D. students are required to take usually no more than two higher level graduate school courses. Limiting courses may not be appropriate for students in graduate programs in the Alternative Options for Doctoral Programs, which may require substantial coursework not included in the Dartmouth Medical School curricula.

Clinical Tutorials

During certain portions of the research phase, students may wish to participate in Clinical Tutorials. The nature and format of these Tutorials are flexible. Examples include:

spending 2-3 hours per week with a clinician on the wards, perhaps during rounds; participating in an out-patient clinic; performing histories and physicals, under the tutelage of a clinical mentor. The purposes of these sessions are to maintain a connection to clinical work, to maintain and improve upon clinical skills acquired in DMS years 1 and 2, and to ease the transition to DMS years 3 and 4. It is advisable that the student arranges these sessions in their perceived area of clinical interest; however, this need not be related to the thesis research. These sessions can be arranged through the Individual Program Advisor or alternatively through the M.D.-Ph.D. Program Director.

Transition to Phase 3

The transition between completion of graduate training/thesis and the initiation of DMS3 training can be difficult. However, with both flexibility and foresight, this transition can be made as seamless and smooth as possible. All requirements for the Ph.D. degree, including successful defense of the dissertation, must be completed prior to entering DMS year 3. The M.D.-Ph.D. student, with input from their Individual Advisory Committee and their thesis committee, should plan nine months in advance for their return to DMS3. Students should expect to begin DMS3 at the beginning of July, in coordination with the regular DMS3 students for that year. The returning M.D.-Ph.D. student will participate in the regular lottery for 3rd year clerkship selection. It may be possible with appropriate planning to return one block early, in May. Under special circumstances, and with appropriate planning and permission of both the Medical School and the M.D.-Ph.D. Program, students may enter DMS3 as late as September. However, should the student not be able to return to DMS3 by September, s/he will have to wait a year's cycle before returning to DMS3 in May or July of the following year. The student's Individual Advisory Committee will take an active role in assisting the student in the preparations for the return to DMS3.