MD/PhD in Biomedical Informatics
Program Overview
Students accepted into the MD/PhD Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine may choose to complete their PhD training in the BMI program. Completion of the PhD degree in the BMI program will typically take 4 years.
Program requirements for the PhD and the MD/PhD are very similar except that the MD/PhD students receive credit for medical school coursework completed prior to entering the BMI program. To remain in the MD / PhD program, it is critical to complete the dissertation defense by October of the sixth year. During the PhD program, students are required to complete three longitudinal clinical clerkships.
Coursework and Credit Requirements
A minimum of 72 credits is required for the PhD over a minimum of 6 full-time terms. Full-time student status requires 9 to 14 credits in the fall and spring terms and 3 credits in the summer term. The credit requirements for the PhD in the MD/PhD BMI program are:
- 15 credits are given for coursework completed during the first two years of medical school
- A minimum of 36 credits come from BMI coursework including 20 credits of BMI required coursework and 16 credits of elective coursework and/or independent study
- 3 credits come from the teaching practicum (BIOINF 3998)
- A total of 18 credits come from doctoral dissertation research (BIOINF 3999)
Program Timetable
GS - S1 | BMI lab rotation |
|
MS1 | Medical school courses | First year of medical school. |
GS - S2 | BMI lab rotation |
|
MS2 | Medical school courses | Second year of medical school. |
MS2.5 | 8 week long clinical clerkship |
|
GS - S3 | BMI lab rotation |
|
GS1 | BMI coursework:
| MD/PhD students enter the BMI program with an academic standing of second year PhD students. The course work from medical school years one and two are accepted for 15 credits. Other requirements (doctoral comprehensive exam, doctoral dissertation proposal and doctoral disertation defense) are the same for the MD/PhD students as they are for the PhD students. |
GS1 | BMI coursework:
|
|
GS1 | BMI research
|
|
GS2 | BMI coursework:
|
|
GS2 | BMI coursework & research:
|
|
GS2 | BMI research
| Comprehensive examination Nominate Doctoral Dissertation Committee |
GS3 – GS4 | BMI research
| GS3 - Doctoral Dissertation Proposal GS4 - Doctoral Dissertation Defense
|
MS3 – MS4 | 60 weeks of required clerkships. Elective rotations may include additional research or clinical experiences. | Third and fourth years of medical school |