The School of Medicine offers a variety of degree programs to accommodate every student’s individual career goals. Our MD program is perennially considered to be among the very best in the nation.
Doctoral and combined degree programs
Although Washington University School of Medicine no longer participates in U.S. News & World’s MD program rankings, the publication may continue to rank our MD program based on publicly available data.
Doctor of Medicine (MD) (four-year): The MD degree equips you for a career as a physician. In addition to medical knowledge and skills, our graduates possess qualities of personality — compassion, emotional stability and a responsible attitude — essential to an effective professional life.
Combined Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (MD/PhD): The Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) equips you for a career of scientific investigation combined with the practice of medicine. Apply to the MSTP when you submit your application to medical school or apply later to transfer into the program after you have spent time in medical school and feel comfortable with a commitment to a career that combines science and medicine.
In the summer of 2022, Brian Sullivan, Executive Director of WashU’s MSTP Program, was interviewed on the All Access: Med School Admission Podcast. Prospective MD/PhD students may appreciate the knowledge Mr. Sullivan relays in this thorough 90-minute conversation, in particular regarding the nuances of what makes a strong MSTP applicant.
Combined Doctor of Medicine and Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MD/MSCI): The Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) is designed as a one- to three-year, full- or part-time degree program for young investigators committed to pursuing academic careers in clinical and translational research. This unique program combines didactic coursework, a mentored research thesis, and career development opportunities. It provides students with the knowledge and tools to excel in the areas of clinical investigation most relevant to their careers. Multiple concentrations (i.e., Clinical Investigation, Translational Medicine, Genomics/Genetics, and Dissemination and Implementation) are available. Individuals who participate in a CRTC training program (e.g. TL1 Predoctoral Program) are eligible to pursue the MSCI degree as their didactic course of study and do not need to complete a separate application. The MSCI is also available as a stand-alone program to individuals not participating in a CRTC training program. Directors for the MSCI Program are David Warren, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine, and Dominic Reeds, MD, Professor of Medicine. Financial support is available from several sources.
The Combined Doctor of Medicine and Master of Population Health Sciences (MD/MPHS) allows medical students to add clinical research methods training to their medical school experience, a knowledge base needed for a career as physician-researcher. Students gain a strong foundation in leading, designing and applying study results. This five-year combined degree program uses a population health research curriculum covering clinical epidemiology, biostatistics, comparative effectiveness research, clinical outcomes, randomized control trials and more. Students in the program work on a research project (there is no thesis requirement) and use that project to complete MPHS coursework in as few as 10 months, creating an ideal combination of didactic training and hands-on experience. Directors for the program are Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH, FAFPHM, Chief, Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery; Associate Director for Prevention and Control, Siteman Cancer Center; Deputy Director, Institute for Public Health; and Niess-Gain Professor of Surgery. Allison King, MD, MPH, PhD, Professor of Occupational Therapy with additional faculty appointments as a professor in education, medicine, pediatrics and surgery, serves as the program’s associate director for medical students. Tuition is waived for medical students in good standing.
Combined Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health (MD/MPH): Washington University offers a five-year MD/MPH option in association with the nationally recognized George Warren Brown School of Social Work. The MD/MPH program is designed to train physicians with the knowledge and skills needed to recognize, analyze and address health problems at a population-level. Students learn to identify the social, economic, environmental and cultural determinants of health, and they prepare to apply evidence-based approaches to disease prevention, health promotion and health policy. The degree requires MPH coursework and completion of an independent scholarly project and exam. The MD/MPH track is not a joint acceptance program; rather, MD students apply to the MPH program as third-year students (phase 2 in the Gateway Curriculum). MPH faculty are on the forefront of chronic disease prevention, tobacco policy research, mental health, health system science, health communications, epidemiology, violence and injury prevention, and system dynamics. Angela Hobson, PhD, MPH, associate dean for public health, is the advisor for the program. Scholarships are available to cover MPH tuition costs. The Washington University Institute for Public Health serves as an additional campus resource.
Combined Doctor of Medicine and Master of Business Administration (MD/MBA): Have a passion for leadership or innovation in health care? The Washington University MD/MBA program augments medical training with the knowledge and skills to both identify the most pressing problems and propose solutions that will make a difference beyond the bedside. Learn to make a meaningful difference for patients, partners, communities and the entire system. This program (1 year, in addition to the MD curriculum) provides a valuable educational experience in mentorship, leadership, innovation, formal advising and integrated experiential learning opportunities that connect the skills of business with the mission of health care. A particular focus of the program is the integration of concepts across cultures and geographic boundaries. Financial support is available from several sources. Also see this program description from the Washington University Bulletin.
Dr. Linda Wu is the advisor for the program. Read more about innovation at the WashU School of Medicine.
The interdisciplinary MS and certificate programs in Biomedical Informatics (BMI) provide students with a competency-based training in core biomedical informatics theories and methods to address the fundamental shift health and life sciences are experiencing toward transdisciplinary, integrative and data-intensive approaches to research. These developments, coupled with the use of information technology platforms, are helping transform healthcare, achieving greater value alongside improved outcomes and safety. The complex data, information and knowledge needs associated with these changes requires a comprehensive approach to biomedical informatics research, education and practice.
The Master of Science in Reproductive Sciences program is positioned within the Center for Reproductive Health Sciences (CRepHS) division of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology. CRepHS aims to improve the overall health of women and men by making reproductive health a priority in investigative and translational science. CRepHS provides an infrastructure of core facilities and resources to support basic and translational research while facilitating collaborations across disciplines and institutions. Our program also utilizes the Washington University Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Center (FRMC) administered by the Department of OB/GYN Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. The FRMC is an outstanding facility for a clinical embryologist to learn best practices and cutting-edge techniques in assisted reproductive technology.