The first two years of the MD/PhD program are spent in the MD Curriculum, in which students will take the integrated medical school basic science curriculum. During the summer periods before and after the first year of medical school, students will complete at least two research rotations to facilitate the selection of a research mentor and specific graduate program.
After successful completion of Years 1 and 2 of medical school and posting a passing score on Step 1 of the USMLE, students will enter the PhD research portion of their training in one of the following graduate programs:
Eligible Graduate Programs
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Cancer Cell Biology
- Cellular & Integrative Physiology
- Exercise Physiology
- Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis
- Neuroscience
- Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences
- Clinical and Translational Science
- Public Health Sciences
Training Sequence
MS1
Fall: Medical Biochemistry and Cellular Function (integration of biochemistry and genetics), Human Structure (integration of human anatomy and histology), Physical Diagnosis and Clinical Integration, and Professional Development.
Spring: Immunity, Infection and Disease 1, Mechanisms of Human Disease 1, Medical Pharmacology 1, Physical Diagnosis and Clinical Integration 2, Neurosciences and Human Behavior, Health Care Ethics. Students also engage in self-directed learning in the Problem-based Learning course.
Summer: Career & Professional Development Experience and Public Health.
MS2
Immunity, Infection & Disease (microbiology); Mechanisms of Human Disease (pathology); Medical Pharmacology; Physiology, and Physical Diagnosis & Clinical Integration. Students also engage in self-directed learning in the Problem-based learning course.
In addition to this significant change, a highlight of the current second year curriculum is that students continue to develop the clinical skills of a physician in the Physical Diagnosis and Clinical Integration course by working with physician faculty preceptors throughout the year.
PhD
Required graduate coursework and/or comprehensive exams (this varies by program):
- Biomedical Sciences
- Clinical and Translational Science
- Public Health Sciences
- Dissertation Research
MS 3
Clerkships in Internal Medicine; Surgery; Psychiatry; Neurology; Pediatrics; Family Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology.
MS4
Rotations in Anesthesiology; Sub I Hospital Care; Critical Care and ICU; and Rural/Community-based Care.
The remainder of the fourth year consist of 20 weeks of CCMD 841 electives.
For more detailed information about the MD curriculum visit - https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/md-admissions/curriculum/.
