MD-PhD Course Descriptions

The first year medical school curriculum is divided into four 8-week blocks:

• Gross Anatomy/Radiology
• Molecules/Cells/Tissues
• Pathobiology and Host Defenses
• Neuroscience/Human Behavior

Beginning with the second block, Molecules/Cells/Tissues, MD-PhD students enroll in specialized MD-PhD courses. The courses, noted below, coordinate with the medical school curriculum by discussing primary scientific literature related to the medical school topics. Students meet weekly for 3 hours of class time. Class sessions consist of discussion of the literature with active participation by both faculty and students.

• MDPH 6203 – Current Topics in Molecules, Cells, and Tissues
• MDPH 6201 – Current Topics in Pathobiology and Host Defense
• MDPH 6202 – Current Topics in Neuroscience and Human Behavior

Additional MD-PhD Program courses include:

• MDPH 6001 – Research Rotation: 8-10 week rotation, which serves as the first of two required rotations. Incoming MD-PhD students enroll in an 8-week laboratory rotation during the summer prior to the start of medical school. During the summer after the first year, MD-PhD students participate in their second research rotation (7 weeks).

• MDPH 6101 –Faculty-Student Seminar: The seminar program focuses on research activities in various graduate programs and other topics of interest to MD-PhD students. This program is organized by MD-PhD students and a faculty consultant. Speakers are usually MD-PhD students in their graduate years and UTMB faculty or local physician-scientists.

Year 2 : At the end of the first year students enroll in one of the graduate programs . Time is allotted during the second year to take up to 2 graduate school courses in place of the Practice of Medicine slot which is moved to year 5 of the Program. This allows MD-PhD students to fulfill graduate school course requirements prior to beginning the third year of the Program. Consequently MD-PhD students completing the first two years can immediately engage full time on their dissertation research.