Combined MD/PhD Program

Program

The McMaster MD/PhD Program is designed to train exceptional students who will bridge the gap between medical sciences and clinical application. The McMaster MD/PhD program combines the strength of a unique, patient‐oriented and problem based medical education at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine with a strong, internationally‐renowned healthcare research environment. MD/PhD graduates will be well prepared to participate in basic or clinical research and will have an ideal foundation to become leaders in integrated and translational research endeavours that will bring the promise of medical research to the reality of patient care. The program is uniquely structured to allow optimal integration of medical education and research training that starts on the first day and extends throughout this 7 year program.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must be successful in their application for the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and meet the entry criteria for the eligible PhD program.

Degree Requirement

The MD/PhD program has specific blocks of time provided for activities focused on either clinical or research studies, but maintains some flexibility and integration. MD/PhD candidates will start their program with 12 months focused on PhD research, followed by 15 months of the MD program (MF1 - MF5). This is followed by a block of time focused on PhD research (usually 3 years). After successfully completing the requirements for the PhD degree, the student will finish the program with 2 years of clinical MD training (clerkship). Any deviation from this outlined schedule will be requested by the student in writing. These requests will be reviewed by the MD/PhD program committee and the student’s doctoral program, before making a recommendation to the Associate Deans.

MD Program Fulfillment

The MD/PhD student is responsible for successful completion of the McMaster MD program including all aspects of the curriculum, electives, and clerkship rotations required for graduation with an MD degree.

The MD/PhD student must inform the MD/PhD Program Director by March 1 of the year the student intends to re‐enter the MD program in the clerkship rotation. This will provide sufficient time for the student to enter the clerkship match process (“lottery”) held in May before commencing clerkship in November. The Program Director will obtain confirmation from the student’s PhD Supervisor and committee that the student will complete the PhD requirements before starting the clerkship rotation.

Horizontal clinical electives are strongly encouraged during the 3 year research block following MF5. The student may use these elective periods to enhance areas of clinical interest or to solidify knowledge and clinical skills.

There are 24 weeks of block electives required by the MD program. Seven weeks are completed between MF4 and MF5 and the remaining 17 weeks are completed during clerkship. Fifty percent of the clerkship electives must be clinically oriented.

PhD Program Fulfillment

The students are required to successfully complete courses as required by the Graduate Studies Program in which they are enrolled. Students will successfully complete Comprehensive Examinations of the Graduate Program that they are enrolled and will successfully complete thesis work and any other requirements of the relevant graduate program.

Eligible Programs

MD/PhD students can complete their PhD studies in the following graduate programs: Medical Sciences, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Health Research Methodology, Health Policy, Biomedical Engineering, or Chemical Biology. Further programs will be considered on a case by case basis.