Joint M.D.-Ph.D. Program with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Overview

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.

Admissions

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.  Candidates indicating an interest in the BME Ph.D. Program may be interviewed by the BME faculty and introduced to the CMU environment.  Once admitted, those interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in BME should submit an application to the BME Department during the first semester of the second year, 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 to the attention of the Graduate Program Administrator.

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 Ph.D. Program) 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.

Go to Admissions Page

(Updated 07/10/2011)

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Campus Office for Student Affairs and Graduate Admissions
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
Doherty Hall 2100
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Ph: (412) 268-3955
Fax: (412) 268-1173

Administrative Office
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
PTC 4105
700 Technology Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Ph: (412) 268-6222
Fax: (412) 268-9807