The dual MD- PhD (Molecular Medicine) program of the UPCM aims to train aspiring physician- scientists for careers dedicated to the pursuit of basic and applied biomedical research towards the advancement of health from individual to global levels. The prescribed program of study comprises eight years: one year of graduate level coursework and research, five years of medical education (LU III – VII of the INTARMED program) and two years for completion and defense of a PhD dissertation. Applicants are expected to clearly demonstrate their aptitude and motivation for advanced study in molecular medicine and related areas.

• Synopsis/Summary

The MD-PhD (Molecular Medicine) Program aims to train aspiring physician-scientists for careers dedicated to the advancement of health through biomedical research. The prescribed period of study is eight years, during which time the MD-PhD student is expected to satisfy all the course requirements of the UPCM Organ System Integrated (OSI) curriculum (i.e., the MD component of the Program) and also earn at least 44 credit units of graduate courses, including 16 credit units of core courses, 12 units of major courses, 4 units of cognates/electives and 12 credit units towards the PhD dissertation. A student is qualified to take the comprehensive examination upon completion of 32 units of graduate courses, inclusive of 16 units of core courses, subject to the required minimum general weighted average (GWA) as determined by the National Graduate Office for the Health Sciences (NGOHS). A student must satisfactorily pass the comprehensive examination before proceeding with the proposal, approval and conduct of dissertation research. He/she must satisfactorily defend his dissertation to an expert panel before submitting the final dissertation manuscript in accordance with NGOHS regulations. The graduate courses are typically completed during the first year of enrollment in the Program. Dissertation work may formally commence after completing the required basic science courses of the MD Program, such that the clinical courses may be completed after the dissertation requirements are fulfilled.

• Rationale

The conduct of biomedical research increasingly demands PhD-level training. Yet, pursuing a PhD separately from an MD entails many more years of training via two distinct programs completed in succession, and achieving coherent synergy between the two programs is challenging given their traditional differences in perspective. The MD-PhD (Molecular Medicine) Program thus aims to train aspiring physician-scientists for careers dedicated to the pursuit of basic and applied biomedical research with a strong translational character, towards the advancement of health from individual to global levels. Emphasis is placed on preparation to assume key leadership roles within the academic community as principal investigators and mentors to physician-scientists in training, so as to promote a self-sustaining process whereby new knowledge is continuously generated, applied and transmitted to meet emerging and anticipated health needs.