Overview

Beginning in 2007, the CMB Program and the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) created a partnership that combines clinical medicine with graduate training in scientific research. The goal of the MD/PhD Program is to create a combined physician and scientist who will make major contributions to human health. At the completion of the MD/PhD Program, students leave with an MD/PhD degree. MD/PhD students complete two years of Medical School and then begin their PhD training in the CMB Program. MD/PhD students must intend to conduct research in the lab of a current CMB faculty trainer in order to begin graduate training in the CMB Program. If CMB is not the right graduate program for a student, they may exercise the option to transfer out of CMB, into another UW-Madison graduate program.

Program Structure

MD/PhD students follow the timeline for progress towards the PhD as outlined for all other CMB students. Effective Fall 2012, MD/PhD students are only required to take 3 credits of coursework from the CMB Core Curriculum or Additional Courses list, instead of the required 10 credits for PhD students.  The table below outlines the specific details for MD/PhD students in regards to the CMB Graduate Program. For more information about the MSTP Program structure, see the Medical Scientist Training Program website.

Application Process into the CMB Graduate Program

• MD/PhD students apply to the CMB Program once they have decided that they are attending MSTP at UW-Madison
• To apply to CMB, students must submit an online Graduate School application
• All MD/PhD students are automatically admitted to CMB when starting the MD/PhD Program
• After the completion of the first two years of Medical School, students choose to stay in CMB or transfer into a different PhD graduate program at UW-Madison
• The first year of the PhD graduate school begins during the fall semester after years one and two of Medical School
• Payroll is switched over to the Thesis Advisor's home department effective September 1

Choosing a Graduate Program

Option 1: Remain in the CMB Graduate Program

• In order to begin training within the CMB Program, students must plan to conduct research in the lab of a current CMB faculty trainer
• If the intended faculty member is not currently a CMB faculty trainer, the faculty member must apply to become a CMB faculty trainer by May 1 for review at the May Coordinating Committee meeting
• During the spring semester of the second year of Medical School, the student should contact Paul Cook, MSTP Program Coordinator (pscook@wisc.edu, 262-6321), and Michelle Holland, CMB Program Coordinator (cmb@bocklabs.wisc.edu, 262-3203), to inform them of the intention to remain in the CMB Program
• In mid-August, all MD/PhD students entering the CMB Program will be required to attend the MD/PhD orientation luncheon
• Upon beginning the CMB Program, MD/PhD students will be considered Direct Admit students since they directly enter a thesis lab and do not complete lab rotations in CMB
• Effective Fall 2012, MD/PhD students are only required to take 3 credits of coursework from the CMB Core Curriculum or Additional Courses list, instead of the required 10 credits for PhD students

Option 2: Choose a Graduate Program other than CMB

• Change of a PhD program must be completed by the end of year two in Medical School and before the beginning of fall semester in year one of Graduate School
• Students should research UW-Madison Graduate Programs based on suggestions from the Thesis Advisor
• Contact the PhD program of interest to become informed of their transfer policy
• Contact Paul Cook, MSTP Program Coordinator (pscook@wisc.edu, 262-6321), and Michelle Holland, CMB Program Coordinator (cmb@bocklabs.wisc.edu, 262-3203), to inform them of the plans to change program
• Submit transfer application materials and a Change of Program form to the intended PhD program
• Once transfer is approved, the Graduate School will send an approval of the Change of Program form by email to the student, CMB, and the new PhD program