Joint M.D.-Ph.D. Program
with University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
The Department of Biomedical Engineering participates in a combined M.D.-Ph.D. Program with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine to give selected medical students the opportunity to receive both the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from the University of Pittsburgh and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biomedical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Directed jointly by faculty at the two institutions, this NIH-supported Medical Scientist Training Program allows physician students to develop intellectual creativity, professional competence, and a range of technical skills. The aim is to allow physician-engineers to blend research and clinical perspectives as they contribute to advances in curing human diseases.
Students formally enter Ph.D. studies after completing their second year of medical school training at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. However the Ph.D. candidate may elect to begin his or her research during the summer after the first and/or second year of medical school, provided a faculty advisor agrees to supervise the research. This will allow the student to gain a total of six months of research prior to officially entering the doctoral program. The student may also rotate through up to three laboratories of potential advisors during the summer before and/or after the first year, and after the second year of medical school.
Prospective students for the combined M.D.-Ph.D. Program should apply directly to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Once admitted, those interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in BME should submit an application to the BME Department, which may include supporting documents previously submitted to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Copies of supporting documents should be sent to the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, 2100 Doherty Hall, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, to the attention of the Graduate Study Coordinator.
Ph.D. Degree Requirements for the M.D.-Ph.D. Program
The requirements for a Ph.D. degree are similar to those for the Advanced Entry Ph.D. program (See Graduate Programs) in terms of total course units, TA responsibilities, and seminar attendance requirements. However, there are no specific course requirements and each student may tailor his or her own course and research schedule with the advisor's approval. Depending on the individual's background, supplementary undergraduate courses may be needed upon the advice of the advisor. In addition, the student should take at least 12 units of graduate projects or research in the first semester and at least 24 units in each subsequent semester.
Completion of the Ph.D. portion of the program is targeted at three to four years of full-time study, depending on the progress of thesis research. After receiving the Ph.D. Degree, the student continues with his/her medical school studies, completing the last two years of the M.D. training at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
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