MD/PhD Medical Scholars Program

Carle Illinois College of Medicine’s MD/PhD Medical Scholars Program (MSP) is designed to prepare a diverse cadre of physician-scholars to confront the multi-dimensional problems and issues that face medicine and society. Students in the program will earn the MD degree from Carle Illinois and a PhD from one of the existing PhD programs at the University of Illinois.

Applying to the Medical Scholars Program

The MSP admits applicants through two mechanisms. One mechanism is to apply directly to the joint MD/PhD program. Interested applicants apply through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) and designate themselves as MD/PhD applicants in the application. AMCAS applications for MD/PhD students must be received by July 31 of the application cycle. Applications that advance to the secondary phase will receive a secondary application to indicate PhD program interest and provide additional essays regarding research background and interest. Qualified applications must meet the requirements for both the MD program and the PhD program of interest. Interest in the MSP will not be a factor in considering applicants to the MD program.

In addition, interested Carle Illinois MD students may apply to the MD/PhD program after their first year of medical school. During the first year of medical school, interested students will receive advising from the MSP and be able to explore different PhD programs and potential advisors. Interested students will complete an MSP application in the first quarter of Fall semester in their M2 year to be reviewed by the MSP Admissions Sub-Committee in conjunction with the desired graduate department and the Graduate College. If accepted, graduate work will begin after satisfying requirements for the pre-clerkship curriculum (first 18 months of the curriculum) and passing USMLE Step I.

Funding

Students admitted directly into the Joint MD/PhD program will receive a tuition scholarship for four years of medical school. Support during the graduate school years will be provided by existing mechanisms in the home graduate program. Students who apply to the MSP after matriculating at Carle Illinois are responsible for their tuition while in the MD program until starting their graduate program. Upon completion of the PhD and return to the medical school curriculum, MSP students will receive a Carle Illinois tuition scholarship to complete the Clinical Immersion and Final Year of the medical program. The MSP scholarship can be combined with an existing scholarship with a cap of covering tuition. Students must remain in good standing in both the graduate program and medical school to receive continued funding.

MSP students are expected to pursue external funding support by applying for an F30/F31 grant from the National Institutes of Health, although continuation in the program and funding as described above is not contingent on grant funding success.