Combined M.D. and Ph.D. Program

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Combined M.D. and Ph.D. degree programs are offered in biochemistry, biomedical engineering, cellular and molecular biology, pharmacology and physiology.

Degree candidates may be accepted to the M.D./Ph.D. program only after being accepted to the School of Medicine as a regular M.D. student.
Candidates must also meet the admission criteria of the Graduate School.
Students may apply for admission to the Program and Graduate School during the spring semester of the second year of medical education.
An additional application must be submitted to the M.D./Ph.D. program committee and the Graduate School.
A maximum of 30 semester-equivalent units earned in the M.D. program may apply to the Ph.D.

The M.D./Ph.D. program requires:

1 unit of comprehensive exam
30 units at the 700-level (including comprehensive exam)
72 total units
Both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees are posted on the student’s record only after the requirements for both have been completed.

For further information, contact the Office of Medical Research at 784-4908.

Contact Information

Senior Associate Dean for Research
Office of Medical Research
University of Nevada, School of Medicine
775 682-7320

Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of principles of biomedical sciences as applied to the practice of medicine and translational research. Further they will integrate this information in problem solving scenarios.
Students will be able to demonstrate effective oral communication skills.
Students will be able to demonstrate effective writing skills.
Students will be able to demonstrate independent and critical thinking abilities which will enable them to contribute significantly to the advancement of knowledge in basic science and translational research in medicine.
Upon completing the training program students will be able to work independently as a clinician/scientist in a collaborative environment to create scholarly manuscripts and grant applications that effectively communicate scientific ideas and experimental results.

I. Program Requirements (74 units)

A. M.D. Component (30 units)

The M.D. component of the combined degree is obtained through the existing medical curriculum of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (https://med.unr.edu/ome/curriculum/structure).

M.D./Ph.D. students enroll in the following courses in years 1 and 2 of the graduate medical curriculum:

MED 622 - The Practice of Medicine - Spring (0 units)
MED 623 - Advanced Clinical Skills - Fall (0 units)
MED 624 - Advanced Clinical Skills - Spring (0 units)
MED 631 - Foundations and Principles of Medical Science I (0 units)
MED 632 - Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Renal Systems (0 units)
MED 633 - Gastrointestinal, Endocrine and Reproductive Systems I (0 units)
MED 634 - Musculoskeletal and Integumentary Systems (0 units)
MED 635 - Nervous System and Human Behavior I (0 units)
MED 636 - Foundations and Principles of Medical Science II (0 units)
MED 637 - Whole Body (0 units)
MED 638 - Nervous System and Human Behavior II (0 units)
MED 640 - Gastrointestinal, Endocrine, and Reproductive Systems II (0 units)

B. Interdisciplinary Molecular Biosciences Program (42 units)

At the beginning of the third year, M.D./Ph.D. students select one of the tracks within the interdisciplinary Molecular Biosciences Graduate Program of the University of Nevada, Reno. The student and graduate committee will decide among the three Ph.D. degree programs available: BCH, CMB or CMPP.

At that time the graduate committee must approve the program of study and determine the remaining curriculum, which is comprised of elective courses relevant to the student’s dissertation project. The curriculum of selected graduate courses and ancillary activities such as seminars, colloquia and qualifying examinations is structured to be consistent with the background and goals of the student.

At a minimum, the student is expected to successfully complete 20 units at the 700-level with 50% of this to be fulfilled by course work in the area of specialization (e.g., advanced 700-level courses in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, pharmacology or physiology). The student enrolls for a minimum of 24 units for dissertation research.

Electives may include:

Biochemistry Courses:
BCH 605 - Molecular Biology (3 units)
BCH 610 - Plant Physiology (3 units)
BCH 613 - Molecular Biophysics (3 units)
BCH 617 - Metabolic Regulation (3 units)
BCH 706 - Functional Genomics (3 units)
BCH 707 - Protein Structure and Function (3 units)
BCH 709 - Introduction to Bioinformatics (3 units)
BCH 718 - Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (3 units)
BCH 793 - Independent Study (1 to 3 units)
Biology Courses:
BIOL 604 - Population Genetics (3 units)
BIOL 615 - Evolution (4 units)
BIOL 654 - Genomic Conflict, Epigenetics & Human Disease (3 units)
BIOL 656 - Molecular Basis of Epigenetics (3 units)
BIOL 666 - Developmental Biology (3 units)
BIOL 675 - Neurobiology (3 units)
BIOL 677 - Genes, Brain, and Behavior (3 units)
BIOL 682 - Cell Biology of Disease (3 units)
BME 725 - Ethics and Scientific Research (2 units)
BME 730 - Introduction to Imaging and Optics (3 units)
CMB 793 - Independent Study (1 to 6 units)
Chemistry Courses may be of interest to some students.
Microbiology Courses:
MICR 625 - Human Virology (3 units)
MICR 653 - Immunology (3 units)
MICR 670 - Microbial Pathogenesis (3 units)
MICR 687 - Problems in Infection and Immunity (1 to 3 units)
MICR 700 - Biotechnology Today and Tomorrow (2 units)
MICR 780 - Introductory Cellular Immunology (3 units)
MICR 793 - Independent Study (1 to 3 units)

II. Recommended Schedule

A. First Year

Blocks 1 - 5 (40 weeks)
Practice of Medicine (40 weeks)
Summer Research (10 weeks)

B. Second Year

Blocks 6 - 10 (30 weeks)
Clinical Reasoning (18 weeks)
USMLE Step 1 (4 weeks)

C. Third Year

Advanced Graduate Courses (6 units)
Journal Club (2 units)
Seminar (2 units)
Dissertation (12 units)

D. Fourth Year

Qualifying Exam
Advanced Graduate Courses (6 units)
Journal Club (2 units)
Seminar (2 units)
Dissertation (12 units)
Dissertation Defense

E. Fifth Year

Clinical Rotations (52 weeks)
Clinical Reasoning in Medicine (18 weeks)

F. Sixth Year

Rural Rotation (4 weeks)
Clinical Electives (2 weeks)