M.D./Ph.D. in Tumor Biology
The M.D./Ph.D. in Tumor Biology is a dual doctorate program designed for students interested in careers as physician-scientists. Students in this program receive a top medical education combined with research training in the laboratories of premier investigators at Georgetown University. The Ph.D. in Tumor Biology curriculum is tailored to complement the medical coursework.
- Jump To: Course Schedule
- Courses
- Thesis Proposal
Admissions
If you are interested in this program, please apply directly to the Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Course Schedule
Year 1 – Summer
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| TBIO 9985 TBIO Lab Rotation – Summer | 0 |
| 0 Credits |
Year 2 – Spring
M.D./Ph.D. students will be officially enrolled in graduate school and receive a stipend for the entire spring semester. However, they are not expected to actually begin their rotation until they have taken the USMLE STEP I board exam. M.D./Ph.D. students are required to take STEP I by the same deadline as students in the regular M.D. program.
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| TBIO 9986 TBIO Lab Rotation – Spring | 0 |
| 0 Credits |
Year 2 – Summer
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| TBIO 9987 TBIO Lab Rotation – Summer | 0 |
| 0 Credits |
Year 3 – Fall
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| TBIO 6508 Cellular & Molecular Aspects of the Transformed Cell | 4 |
| TBIO 6528 Modern Methods in Molecular Biology | 3 |
| TBIO 6599 Practical Data Analysis & Experimental Design | 3 |
| TBIO 6546 Resources for Cancer Research | 0 |
| TBIO 9985/9986/9987 TBIO Lab Rotations (taken until a thesis lab is chosen) | 0 |
| TBIO 7030 Current Topics in Cancer Research | 0 |
| TBIO 7110 Tumor Biology Student Seminar | 0 |
| 10 Credits |
Year 3 – Spring
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| TBIO 6562 Survival Skills & Ethics for Science | 2 |
| TBIO 6588 Preparing a Scientific Paper | 2 |
| BINF 5990 Next Generation Sequencing Data Analysis | 2 |
| TBIO 7040 Current Topics in Cancer Research | 0 |
| TBIO 7120 Tumor Biology Student Seminar | 0 |
| Electives | 3 |
| 9 Credits |
Year 4 through Completion of Thesis
| Course Name | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| TBIO 7030/7040 Current Topics in Cancer Research | 0 |
| TBIO 7110/7120 Tumor Biology Student Seminar | 0 |
| TBIO 9999 Thesis Research | 0 |
| 0 Credits |
Courses
The M.D./Ph.D. in Tumor Biology requires students to complete 17 credits in core tumor biology courses (compared to the 33 credits required for Ph.D. students). The remaining credits are absorbed from medical coursework.
The following core courses are waived:
- BCMC 5001 Biochemical & Cellular Sciences (for medical school biochemistry)
- BCMC 5390 Molecular Cell Biology (for medical school biochemistry)
- TBIO 6536: Cancer Pharmacology (for medical school pharmacology)
M.D./Ph.D. students are required to complete 3 elective credits. The elective credits can be fulfilled by taking clinical-translational courses (e.g., TBIO 6565 Clinical & Translational Oncology: Breast, TBIO 6566 Clinical & Translational Oncology: Neuro-oncology). Students can elect to take more than three electives if they choose to.
The number of laboratory rotations required before choosing a thesis lab is flexible. The following courses must be taken during every semester of graduate study: TBIO 7030/7040 Current Topics in Cancer Research and TBIO 7110/7120 Tumor Biology Student Seminar/Data Meeting.
Thesis Proposal
Students in their third year (or M.D./Ph.D. students in their second year) write and defend a thesis proposal before a committee consisting of their dissertation mentor, three (3) program faculty members, and an outside reader. This should be completed within one year of passing the comprehensive exam, by the end of Summer 3. The Tumor Biology Oversight Committee must approve the student’s Thesis Committee.
Students are required to meet with their Thesis Committee every 6 months and complete the Ph.D. Thesis Committee Report for each meeting.