Student Handbook
Joint Programs
M.D./Ph.D. Program
Medical students who are interested in research or seriously considering a dual program are encouraged to begin research as early as possible, preferably during the summer period between first and second years. A Medical Student Research Elective Program, which is funded by the medical school, provides stipends for this purpose. Students are not formally admitted to the Ph.D. program until they have successfully completed all of the preclinical subjects and Step I USMLE.
A medical student initiates application to the Graduate School of Basic Sciences at any time during the first two years of preclinical studies. The student must direct the application to one of the six basic sciences departments (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology and Immunology, Experimental Pathology or Pharmacology); admission to the Graduate School is predicated upon acceptance to a specific program.
In a typical case, the student begins full-time graduate work in the summer following the second year. The course requirements for the Ph.D. are established by the department of concentration. An effort is made to accept credits earned from medical school subjects in lieu of certain Graduate School requirements. Comprehensive qualifying examinations for the Ph.D. are individually scheduled, and selection of a thesis advisor follows the procedures outlined by the particular department. The student’s thesis committee determines the point where the investigative work is considered complete. The Office of Student Affairs works with the student in facilitating the entry to the clinical rotations and in determining the number of months of elective time during the third and fourth years which may be devoted to preparation of the dissertation. Ideally, the degrees are awarded jointly by the medical school and the Graduate School.
Financial aid in the form of a full tuition scholarship is provided for graduate school study and the standard Ph.D. candidate stipend is paid during the period of full-time graduate work. In addition, full tuition fellowships are provided for third and fourth years of the medical curriculum after the Ph.D. requirements have been completed.
A summary of the M.D./Ph.D. program for medical students is as follows:
Two Years: Medical student applies to Ph.D. program during first or second year; opportunity for summer research between first and second year; final acceptance for Ph.D. program after completion of Part I, National Boards or Step I USMLE.
Two to Three Years: Full-time research during which student receives tuition scholarship and graduate school stipend.
Two years: Clinical rotations, electives and completion of dissertation. Application to the M.D./Ph.D. program at New York Medical College is distinct from application by Ph.D. candidates wishing to apply to the medical school. A number of students who have completed the Ph.D. at New York Medical College have been accepted to the medical school. The key characteristic of the present procedure is that the admission process for each school is independent. Thus, the admission of a medical student to one of the graduate programs requires approval of the Graduate School; likewise, acceptance of graduate students to medical studies requires approval of the medical school. The medical school has established that acceptance of a Ph.D. candidate to the medical school is conditional upon the completion of all Ph.D. requirements.
M.D./M.P.H. Program
Students thinking about public health, administration of healthcare services, or practicing preventive medicine should consider the M.D./M.P.H. program. The knowledge gained from an M.P.H. is applicable to all fields of medical practice. The M.P.H. courses are given in the late afternoon/early evening, allowing one or two courses a semester at the end of the medical school day. Fitting 14 courses and a thesis into the rest of the curriculum will mean less time to play, but classes are a change of pace from medical school. Most courses require a term paper or project and a final examination. Interested students should contact Cathey Falvo, M.D., M.P.H. (914) 594-4323.
