Phase Three: Clinical Clerkships

The College of Medicine prescribes a little over one academic year's worth of required clerkships and an additional 24 weeks of elective credit as described in the bulletin for the College of Medicine. MD/PhD students have the option of registering for up to 24 weeks of elective credit to be received for time spent conducting dissertation research. These credits are accumulated during the last year in the laboratory before defending their dissertation degree and prior to their required clerkships.

The capacity to fulfill the elective clerkship requirement with research credits allows the MD/PhD student maximal flexibility either to complete the program in less than seven years, to retain the clinical emphasis of a typical medical curriculum, or to enhance research training, and truly maintain career goals.