1. What admissions exams do I need to take before I apply to the MD/PhD Program?
The GRE isn't necessary. The MCAT and CASPer tests are required to apply for the MD/PhD
program. The MCAT must not be more than 3 years old from the date of matriculation.
2. What is the best undergraduate preparation for an MD/PhD Program?
There is no one right way to prepare for an MD/PhD. MD/PhD students with undergraduate
majors in anything from English to Physics have been successful. However, applicants
must have a solid background in science. Much of this is ensured by fulfillment of
the requirements for admission to medical school. Applicants must also demonstrate
aptitude and interest in research, generally through active participation in research
starting as early as the summer after their freshman year. Research experience and
the resulting letters of recommendation are a requirement for admission.
3. What are the “cut-offs” for the GPA and MCAT scores?
There are no "cut-offs" for either score. Nevertheless, experience shows that students
with GPAs below 3.3 and MCATs lower than 507 may have limited success. Conversely,
high GPAs are not always indicative of success in competing for MD/PhD positions.
The committee is looking for well-rounded students and considers coursework, GPA and
MCAT scores, as well as research experience, clinical shadowing and extracurricular
activities.
4. Can I apply to the MD/PhD Program after starting medical school?
Yes! You can apply to the program after completing one, two or even three years of
medical school as a "flex" applicant. Please contact the MD/PhD office if you are
interested.
5. I submitted my AMCAS application but did not choose the Combined Medical Degree/PhD
as my program choice. Can I still be considered?
Yes, but you must contact the MD/PhD program directly. If your application is approved
for further consideration, then you must complete a supplemental application that
includes the following:
6. How many students are accepted in the program each year?
The MD/PhD program welcomes up to 6 students each year.
7. Do I need to be a resident of Georgia to apply?
You do not have to be a resident of Georgia to apply or be accepted into the program,
but you must be either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.
8. Will I be considered for both the MD and MD/PhD Program?
Yes. MD/PhD candidates will always be considered separately by both the medical school
and the MD/PhD admissions committee but final decisions are made collaboratively.
9. Is there a separate interview for the MD/PhD Program?
Yes. Applicants invited for interviews will be notified separately for the medical
and the MD/PhD office. The MCG Admissions office conduct Multiple Mini Interviews, or MMI's. The MD/PhD program conducts a half-day virtual interview where MD/PhD applicants
meet with current students, program directors and members of the MD/PhD admissions
committee.
10. Can I attend a different campus during the medical school curriculum period?
Yes. Augusta University offers medical school pre-clerkship and clerkship courses
and curriculum at Augusta, Athens and Savannah campuses. Applicants will indicate
a preferred campus on the AMCAS application; however, please note that it is not a
guarantee that accepted applicants will be placed at their preferred campus.
1. How long does it take to complete both degrees?
On average, it takes seven and a half years to complete the program, but can be completed
in as little as 6 years or as many as 8 years depending on your research studies.
2. What is the structure of the MD/PhD program at the Augusta Campus?
Years 1-2:
The first 18 months are devoted to pre-clerkship medical school courses. Students
can perform a research rotation under an MD/PhD program research mentor during the
summer before the first year or during pre-clerkship courses. Biomedical research
can be undertaken in any eligible graduate lab at the Medical College of Georgia,
Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, or the University of Georgia.
After completing all pre-clerkship courses and prior to entering into graduate coursework,
all MD/PhD students must complete and pass the Step 1 Medical Boards.
Year 3-6:
In general, the graduate years last three to four years and the PhD dissertation is
defended before the student returns to the wards for clinical clerkships.
Year 7-8:
The clinical clerkships are completed along the usual lines for third and fourth year
medical students.
3. How do I know what type of research I want to pursue for my graduate studies?
MD/PhD students are assigned a PhD mentor who will help advise them on different research
opportunities. Students will also have the opportunity to rotate through different
labs of their choosing to help determine what research they would like to pursue.
4. What are the Four Pillars of the MD/PhD Program?
This is Augusta University's holistic style of education which provides students with
access to outstanding academics in a cooperative setting with an emphasis on leadership
and service.
1. How will I be supported during my training?
The program waives tuition, provides a $29,000 stipend and pays for student health
insurance during the pre-clerkship and clerkship periods. During the graduate, or
PhD, curriculum, at Augusta University, students are responsible for paying $25 each
semester for tuition as well as fees. The student's mentor will continue to honor
the $29,000 stipend and student health insurance. During your graduate years, you
can apply for fellowships and a successful award will result in additional funding
for you! If students attend graduate school at Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia
State University, or the University of Georgia, they will obtain the stipend amount allotted to students based on their own institutional policies
and procedures. Stipend, tuition, student health insurance, and student fees will
vary according to the program and institution.
1. What are the advantages/disadvantages of the MD/PhD program versus research post-doctoral
fellowships after medical school and residency?
This is probably the most commonly asked question, and the comparison can be simplified
into a comparison of two different training environments. The MD/PhD program provides
integrated training in both medicine and basic sciences. The PhD degree provides complete
training in research through course work and thesis activities. Thus, in general,
dual-degree recipients tend to have a broader scientific knowledge base.
The dual degree is often attractive to residency programs looking for mature house
staff with investigative interests. This has been especially true in Neurology, Psychiatry,
Surgery, Therapeutic Radiology and Internal Medicine subspecialties. Furthermore,
since the majority of residency and fellowship programs have strong research components
(e.g. one - two years in general surgery), MD/PhD students have an opportunity to
complete further training that launches their faculty research careers.
However, there are also benefits to the post-doctoral fellowship tract. The most common
is that research training is initiated after students have determined their areas
of interest. On the other hand, the two-year duration of most post-doctoral fellowships
(e.g. NIH NRSA fellowships) means that the fellow must remain incredibly focused to
assure productivity. In addition, there is further pressure since the fellowship will
be the only formal research training before faculty status.
The major point of evaluation for these two pathways is to look at success rates for
dual MD/PhD programs and NIH NRSA postdoctoral fellowships in creating academic physicians.
A recent review of National MD-PhD Program Outcomes by The Association of American
Medical Colleges (2018) for MSTP program graduates from 1964 to 2014 shows that nearly
80% of graduates are either full-time faculty at US medical schools (60%), or work
at NIH, research institutes, industry, and federal agencies. In contrast, NIH Postdoctoral
Fellowships have had a much poorer track record, with most programs showing only a
15-20% success rate of physicians maintaining academic medical careers.
2. After graduation, can I practice medicine and conduct research?
Yes. A major advantage of the MD/PhD program is that it provides complete training
in both science and medicine. This gives graduates extensive flexibility to arrange
their lives as they see fit. How one chooses to balance research and clinical medicine
is up to the individual.
3. Do MD/PhD's make good physicians?
A brief perusal of the nation's top residency training programs demonstrates the large
number of clinically excellent MD/PhD physicians. MD/PhD student success in obtaining
residency positions also testifies to this fact. MD/PhD students returning to the
wards often stand out because of their increased maturity and organization. Earning
a PhD requires students to learn to justify their thought processes at every turn.
More importantly, the thought process behind hypothesis-driven science, which is at
the heart of research training, is identical to that for differential diagnosis as
a physician. This means that MD/PhD students have a significant advantage in the intellectual
skills required by excellent physicians.
4. Will I receive a real PhD as an MD/PhD student?
Absolutely. Students must complete all of the requirements of a regular PhD candidate
including written and oral comprehensive qualifying exams and completion and defense
of a PhD dissertation. You are able to complete the PhD degree in three to four years
because many of the first and second year medical school courses, including biochemistry,
cell biology, physiology, neurosciences, pharmacology and microbiology will count
for graduate credit. However, both degrees will be conferred at the same time upon
MD coursework completion.
1. Do I need to do my PhD in the area in which I will be doing my residency?
No. The goal of the MD/PhD program is to provide a comprehensive research training
experience that provides the tools needed to excel in your chosen career. A student
with outstanding research productivity from a PhD program will always have an advantage
in any residency program competition.
2. If I decide against residency training, have I wasted my time?
Most dual-degree graduates do go on to residencies, and feel that this intensive clinical
training solidifies their medical knowledge and influences their research careers.
Nevertheless, some graduates do choose to forego residency training in lieu of strictly
research postdoctoral fellowships. In general, these graduates feel that their MD
training has been critical as it provided a broader background in areas such as pathophysiology,
pharmacology and physiology.
1. What is life like in Augusta and Athens?
AUGUSTA: The Augusta metropolitan area, with a population of more than 400,000, is the second-largest
metropolitan area in Georgia. Augusta is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the
Appalachian Mountains with easy access to a number of outdoor activities, including
hiking, sailing, and river rafting. Cultural life in Augusta includes a professional
civic symphony, an opera company, and a ballet company. Both Atlanta and Savannah
are 2 1/2-hour drives from Augusta. For more information, please visit the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau.
ATHENS:The University of Georgia is located in Athens, which lies approximately halfway
between Augusta and Atlanta. For more information, please visit the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau.
1. Does Augusta University offer any programs to prepare me for medical school and graduate studies?
Yes, Augusta University offers several programs:
MD/PhD Program
David Stepp, PhD
Program Director
Aleesha Waller, MEd
Program Coordinator
706-667-4072
1120 15th Street, CB 3211
Augusta, GA 30912
