Curriculum Sequence

Detailed Chronological Description of Studies for MD/PhD Students

A. Summer before BUSM I

Before beginning your first year of medical school, you can begin your research by doing an 8-10 week rotation in a laboratory.  This work may be used to fulfill the MD/PhD Program laboratory rotation requirement.  It also provides one with an opportunity to become acquainted with the campus and colleagues before beginning the first year of medical school.  Choosing a lab for this and later rotations may be facilitated by the Division of Graduate Medical Studies Office.    In planning this rotation, please keep in mind that the BUSM I orientation and curriculum begin in mid-August.  All students completing a summer rotation may earn a summer stipend for living expenses

 

B. BUSM I (Med Year I)

BUSM I is the same for both MD and MD/PhD students with the exception of the Integrated Problems (IP) course. The MD/PhD students take this class together.  While the format is the same as for MD students, this section is generally led by a scientist or physician scientist, allowing for discussions to get more in- depth concerning the science behind medicine.

During BUSM years I and II, MD/PhD students have the opportunity to take the Integrated Problems (IP) course in a 4-semester progression, the first two semesters in BUSM II as follows:

  1. Semester I:  Essentially follows the IP format, but uses cases that focus attention on the scientific aspects of the case. Students report back on what is known. Emphasis is on using existing literature to develop an understanding of medical issues in each case.
  2. Semester II:  ‘Bedside to Bench’  More cases are presented, but the focus now shifts to go beyond what is known. Students are asked to take their thinking beyond current literature, developing reasonable bench questions that could shed light on the medical cases.

 

C. Summer between BUSM I and BUSM II (Med Year I and II)

MD/PhD students should begin looking for labs to rotate in for this summer during the winter/spring of BUSM I.  A good starting point, is to consult the Faculty Research Interests, a document published each year by the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences that lists faculty with on-going research.  Funded faculty are generally eager to have MD/PhD students in their labs, and are easily approachable by phone or e-mail.  While many students decide quickly which investigator they will work with, other students may need to do an additional rotation.   Students completing an 8-10 week rotation during this period earn a stipend. 

D. BUSM II (Med Year 2)

BUSM II is also the same for both MD and MD/PhD students with the exception of the continued Integrated Problems course, in which student will also write a mock research grant proposal.

Students continue to take the MD/PhD IP course sequence as follows:

  1. Semester III (first semester of BUSM II)  ‘Bench to Bedside’   Rather than cases, this semester’s problems begin with basic science observations, asking students to think divergently about how this observation applies to medical science.  Similar to Semester II, the emphasis is on creative and logical thinking.
  2. Semester IV (second semester of BUSM II)   The goal in this semester is to develop skills in finding fundable questions/studies, based upon a clinical or basic problem.
  3. Upon completing two years of medical school, students are required to take step 1 of the National Board Examination. The Board Examination must be taken by July 1 and before starting a summer research rotation.  We have found that it is problematic if this is left until ‘after’ completing one’s PhD studies. By completing the board exam upon completion of year 2 medical school, you will be assured to find that the information learned will be fresher in your mind.  
E. Graduate/Research Phase
  1. Medical School Credit: Students will follow the requirements of the particular department.  Since MD/PhD students are considered “post-master’s” students after completing the first two years of medical school, advanced standing for medical school course work is granted, but varies by department.
  2. Departmental Requirements: Outside of the thesis research, each department has curriculum requirements including courses and qualifying exams. These vary among departments.
  3. Qualifying Exams: Try to initiate the qualifying examination process as soon as possible!  The format of the qualifiers differs from one department to the next, so look into the requirements and possible exam dates as early as possible.  Generally, MD/PhD students take their qualifying examination after completing their first year of graduate study.  So, In some cases, this may effect which classes you register for your first year of graduate studies. The sooner you pass your qualifying examination, the sooner you’ll be able to form your dissertation committee.
  4. Dissertation Committee: Your dissertation committee is formed after you have passed your qualifying exams. The professors on your committee are selected based on their expertise. The dissertation committee is there to help guide you and your project in the right direction, and therefore aid you in the timely completion of your dissertation research.
  5. Identifying and utilizing clinical experiences during graduate school:  Students are encouraged to take an elective  Clinical-Scientist Clerkship (GMS MD 800) for MD/PhD students who are within 1.5 years of completing their PhD training. This clinical-scientist clerkship opportunity is available beginning in the 2006-2007 academic year with a duration of a cumulative clinical time of 4 weeks.

The Clinical-Scientist Clerkship (GMS MD 800) was designed with the goal of helping students develop some clinical skills as well as provide them with real-life exposure to the world of the clinician-scientist. Following are the details of the Clinical-Scientist Clerkship:

1.   It will be supervised by a physician-scientist who holds a faculty appointment at BUMC.

2.   It will be open to all MD/PhD students who:
      a.   Have completed BUSM Years I and II, and USMLE Part 1
      b.   Are in the post-qualifier years of their PhD

3. At present, this is recommended as an elective.

4.   The clerkship will be an ambulatory clinical experience, working alongside a physician-scientist on a regular basis (weekly or every other week) for up to 40 half-day sessions that would be equivalent to a 4 week full-time rotation.

5.   The clerkship will be run by a physician-scientist faculty  working in conjunction with an experienced clinical clerkship director.  These faculty will work to develop a set of criteria for evaluation of both the students and faculty.

6.  The clerkship will be graded and count towards the completion of clinical clerkships required for graduation.

7.   Students who have completed this clerkship will have several options under the current system when returning to the medical curriculum.

Option 1: Begin their clinical clerkships in Block II, using this ‘4-week’ clerkship together with 8 weeks of Research Elective Time Credit to have a total of 12 weeks of 4th year credit. This student’s third year clerkship will not be completed until part-way into the final year of medical school.

Option 2:  Begin clinical clerkships with the beginning of Block 1.

To assist you in planning your graduate studies and transition back to the third year of medical school, we offer the following checklist and timetable:

(This advice is outlined for students in the traditional path. The plan follows a similar line for other students with dates adjusted accordingly. )

      – Defense of Dissertation must be completed  before entering BUSM III on July 1.

      – Winter before defense – Meet with MD/PhD faculty advisor to review plan.

      – Try for a May thesis defense date to give you time to respond to committee issues and file thesis in library.

      – If you are in jeopardy of not making this deadline, make sure the MD/PhD program office knows so that contingencies can be considered.

      – Timeline for Building Third Year Schedules::

 

F. Transition to Clinical Clerkships:
  1. Approximately 1.5 years before anticipated completion of graduate research students should contact the MD/PhD administrator, who will initiate the process of linking the students to the medical school registrar, curriculum and list serve.
  2. At this time, students will also register for the graduate phase clinical clerkship.
  3. The February/March before re-entry to the medical school curriculum, students will fill out clerkship transition forms and participate in the medical school lottery for clinical rotations.
  4. Clinical clerkships will be administered through the medical school.
  5. Students may receive credit for their graduate phase work including research elective credit and the graduate phase clinical clerkship credit. Note:  Students MUST request this credit, it does not automatically appear.

 

Research Elective Credit for MD/PhD Students Returning to MED Clerkships (BUSM III) (effective 2005-2006)

The Research Elective for MD/PhD students returning to MED clerkships will have a duration of up to 8 weeks.  A student may start the BUSM II year with up to 8 weeks of graduate research time counted as a 4th year research elective.  Students may opt for this elective when they are in the the final phase of their PhD studies–when they are in process of completing and defending their Ph.D. dissertation.   Students selecting to take this elective option should obtain a Transfer Credit Form from the Medical School Registrar.   Your Advisor and Graduate Program Chair or Director must approve this request.

 

BUSM IV
  1. The Sub-Internship
  2. ERAS and The Match
  3. 4th year electives
  4. Clinical Investigation Clerkship Elective (approval process now in progress, see below for descriptions).
  5. Research electives (see above under BUSM III options ), going abroad?
  6. USMLE Step II– when is the “right” time to take it?

 

Clinical Investigation 4th Year Clerkship – for MD or MD/PhD Students – 4-week elective offered during BUSM IV.

The Clinical Investigation Clerkship is currently in undergoing the final approval process but is designed to provide formal training in clinical research. The clerkship will provide a clear understanding of the clinical research process, from study design to implementation and data analysis.  It will consist of three components: 

  1. Students will work for 4-weeks directly with a clinical research investigator or team of investigators on a clinical research project run through the GCRC.
  2. Self-learning module under guidance of course director
    • NIH web-based course in clinical research resulting in certification
    • Complete some number of Clinical Research newsletter and self-learning modules
    • Case-based learning section on trial design
  3. Review some number of IRB applications in conjunction with IRB committee member, and attend 2 IRB meetings.

The Clinical Investigation Clerkship will be graded and count towards the completion of clinical clerkships required for graduation.

The Curriculum Sequence is available as a Portable Document Format (PDF) file. Adobe Acrobat Reader 6 or greater is required to view this file. To download the Reader for free, go to: www.adobe.com.

Contact|Directory|BUMC
December 4, 2008
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