Degree Opportunities - M.D./Ph.D.

" We believe the MD/PhD program at Johns Hopkins provides unrivaled opportunities for training in medical research.- Robert Siliciano, M.D., Ph.D. Director, MD/PhD Program

Approximately 10 percent of medical students at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine set their sights on a combined MD-PhD degree. The program offers superb preparation for careers in academic medicine, government or private research. Extraordinary flexibility is a characteristic of this six-to-eight-year course of study. The breadth of Hopkins' basic-science endeavors means that students can choose their PhD specialization from almost every area of the biomedical sciences.

For the first two years, most MD-PhD candidates—we say most because students can individualize their program in numerous ways—follow much the same course of study as their MD-only classmates. But after the students complete one or more clinical clerkships, they embark on an uninterrupted three-to-four-year program of graduate study. They will later return to the hospital to complete required and elective clinical rotations.

PhD students work with some of the world's leading basic scientists in an atmosphere graced with camaraderie. “But as much as I think we teach our students," notes physiologist and Nobel Laureate, Peter Agre, “I think they teach each other even more." A wealth of special programs helps build on this collegial atmosphere. Regular “evening discussions" bring in leading scientists for relaxed conversations about career paths. At the annual MD-PhD retreat students share insights and make presentations. Combine this kind of vibrant learning environment with Hopkins' reputation for excellence, and you can feel confident about what the future holds. Doubters are hereby advised to scan a list of where the members of recent MD-PhD classes landed postgraduate positions.

Please visit the MD/PhD program page for more information and admissions requirements.