ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND POLICIES – MD/PHD PROGRAM
Technical Standards for Admission & Graduation
Students in the MD/PhD Program must meet the Technical Standards for Admission & Graduation of the UMMS School of Medicine and of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, based on the GSBS division (Basic Biomedical Sciences or Clinical and Population Health Research) with which the student is affiliated.
Requirements for Graduation
All MD/PhD students must complete both degrees at UMass Medical School.
SOM
All requirements as set forth by the SOM During FOM1 and FOM2 each student must complete MDP 740A (year one) and MDP 740B (year two) plus attend the MD/PhD Seminar. The credits for these GSBS classes can be transferred to cover the ABTS (Advanced Biomedical and Translational Science) requirement for SOM. o MDP 740A is a seminar style research class held during fall, spring and summer terms. o MDP 740B is a one‐on‐one research literature tutorial in which a student selects a faculty member to work with for approximately one hour per week during the term. (~15 hours over the course of each term).
GSBS
MD/PhD students must fulfill all of the requirements for both SOM and Graduate School Programs to be eligible for the award of the respective MD and PhD degrees. The GSBS standard for graduate students is in the GSBS Handbook for both the Basic Biomedical and Clinical Research Division. Any differences in standards can be found in the MD/PhD section of the GSBS Handbook. Prior to starting lab or research work in GSBS, the following guidelines apply No outstanding remediation from SOM1 prior to summer rotation or from SOM2 prior to full‐time research in GSBS. Early Clerkship remediation will be reviewed on a case by case basis with no guarantee of transition into GSBS. Step One Exam must be taken prior to clerkships, unless given special permission by the MD/PhD Program Director. Success in graduate study requires performance of the highest quality and commitment beyond expectations found at the undergraduate level. A student's progress will be reviewed each semester by the GSBS during the medical school years and by his/her Program of specialization during the research years with their mentor. Any student who fails to perform at a satisfactory level as judged by the MD/PHD Director, Core Curriculum Directors, the Graduate Program Director, the Thesis Research Advisory Committee, or the Dean may be asked
to discontinue graduate study. These scholastic requirements apply to graduate study undertaken during the entire calendar year and to work undertaken at all UMass Medical School research sites. In order to remain a student of the Graduate School in good academic standing, PhD Students in the Basic & Biomedical Sciences division must: Successfully complete two eight‐week lab rotations, the first one prior to the start of medical school. These can be broken down into two 4‐week or one 8‐week rotation each time. The second rotation follows FOM1. MD/PhD student are exempt from the GSBS Core Curriculum unless required by Thesis Advisor to take some blocks of the Core Curriculum either by audit for a letter grade. o If required by their Thesis Advisor, successfully complete all required blocks of the Core Curriculum by the end of the Spring Semester of their second year of graduate study. o Students who receive a grade of ‘C’ in any block of the Core Course or in an Advanced Topics course will be placed on academic probation until the course is remediated. o The student must be advised of and agree to this requirement before finalizing the selection of their thesis advisor. Any MD/PhD student who takes components of the core course for credit is required to complete all aspects of the curriculum and receive passing grades in accordance with the GSBS Standards. If a thesis advisor requires an MD/PhD student to enroll in blocks of the GSBS Core Curriculum, the thesis advisor must pay for the student’s stipend, insurance and fees while the student is completing this requirement. Successfully complete any Advanced Topics course required by their TRAC during their first or second year of graduate study Show adequate laboratory skills as demonstrated by satisfactory laboratory rotation evaluations Pass their Qualifying Examination by the end of six months into full‐time research. To extend the time for the exam the student needs the written permission of the MD/PhD Program Director. o Standards for the Qualifying Exam are those established for the Ph.D. program with the following modifications: o The Qualifying Examination committee for students in this Program may consist of three or more faculty who are in members in good standing in any Program in the GSBS, withstanding and not including the student’s Dissertation advisor(s). At least one member of the QE Committee should be an MD/PhD Program Affiliated faculty. o Students in the MD/PhD Program are not subject to comprehensive examinations of general knowledge such as may be disseminated in the GSBS Core Course. However, such students are i) subject to any questions of general knowledge and scientific know‐how that are directly and/or indirectly related to the Qualifying Exam topics and experiments, and that the members of the Qualifying Examination Committee deem appropriate and ii) the topic of the Qualifying Examination may include or overlap in part or in full, the student’s thesis project.
The student may not use any scientific materials including grant proposals, draft publications, written in part or in total, by the Dissertation Advisor(s), unless these were originally written by the student. o If a MD/PhD Program student fails the Qualifying examination, the Qualifying Examination Committee will determine whether there should be a second examination. If the repeat examination is not passed, the Qualifying Examination Committee will meet with the MD/PhD Program Director, the student’s Thesis Advisor, the Dean of the GSBS, and the Associate Dean for Education of the SOM, to recommend remedial action or dismissal from the MD/PhD Program and/or the Graduate and/or Medical School. To maintain satisfactory progress after passing the Qualifying Examination, the student must: Establish and maintain a Thesis Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) that meets the requirements of the program guidelines, At least one member of the TRAC has to be an MD/PhD Program Affiliated faculty. o The purpose of the TRAC meeting is to provide continual feedback on project selection and completion. Two meetings per year are mandatory o Standards for the Thesis Research Advisory Committee and its activities are those established for the PhD program. Please see GSBS Handbook for specifics on standards. The guidelines for the TRAC are the same as listed in the GSBS Handbook with the following exceptions: The TRAC for MD/PhD students will meet twice per year, during fall (Sept. to February) and spring (March to August). The first TRAC meeting for MD/PhD students will be during the spring semester following the successful completion of the Qualifying Exam. Meet and provide progress reports to their TRAC at least twice per year or more frequently if the program or the Committee so recommends. The Chair of the Committee will document the student's progress using the Thesis Research Advisory Committee report form and will report the student’s progress to the GSBS Dean Make acceptable progress toward completion of the thesis. Both the TRAC and the Thesis Advisor must be satisfied that the student is progressing toward the completion of an acceptable thesis. Any disagreements between the TRAC and the Thesis Advisor will be referred to the Dean Meet with the Dean, MD/PhD Program Director and/or Associate Dean and with the student’s Thesis Advisor in the fall semester of Year Six of full time research (GSBS) and each subsequent year to outline the schedule for completion Complete the requirements for the PhD degree by the end of the seventh year of graduate study. The student and the Thesis Advisor may petition for extension of this time limit. The petition must be approved by the TRAC before being forwarded to the Dean of the Graduate School for consideration. The student must complete the final thesis and the signature page must be signed by the Dean prior to returning to the medical school clerkships
In order to remain a student of the Graduate School in good academic standing, PhD Students in the Clinical and Population Health Research division must:
Successfully complete all Year 1 and Year 2 core courses by the fall of Year 3
Maintain a cumulative “B” average overall and have no more than one Marginal Pass in a research
course or ungraded core course
Successfully complete all course work by the summer of Year 3
Show adequate research skills as demonstrated by satisfactory research rotation evaluations
Complete the comprehensive project by the summer of Year 1.
Successfully complete the Qualifying Exam by the beginning of the Spring Year 2.
Students who receive a grade of ‘C’ in course will be placed on academic probation until the course is
remediated.
Develop and successfully defend their Dissertation Proposal
To maintain satisfactory progress after defending the Dissertation Proposal, the student must:
Establish and maintain a Thesis Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) that meet the requirements of
the program guidelines.
Perform satisfactorily as a research assistant for their Thesis Advisor as evaluated each semester
Meet and provide progress reports to their TRAC at least twice per year. The Chair of the Committee
will document the student's progress using the Thesis Research Advisory Committee report form and
the report will be submitted to the GSBS office
Complete the CPHR teaching requirement
Maintain satisfactory attendance and participation in the CPHR Research Seminar.
Make acceptable progress toward completion of the thesis which typically is completed by Year 4.
Petitions for extensions are possible but not advised.
The student must complete the final thesis and the signature page must be signed by the Dean prior to returning to the medical school clerkships
Any student who fails to progress satisfactorily as defined here is subject to dismissal from the Graduate
School.
Satisfactory Academic Progress - MD/PhD Student Status
In order to maintain status in the MD/PhD Program a student must be enrolled in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) and be in good standing at all times along with taking any required GSBS courses. The only exception is for a student on an approved Leave of Absence (See GSBS guidelines on LOA policy). While studying for the MD degree, the student is enrolled in both the Medical School and the Graduate School. While studying for the PhD degree, the student is placed on LOA from the Medical School and is enrolled in full‐time research at the Graduate School. The School of Medicine LOA policy is defined by the Medical School Handbook. All students must be in good academic standing following FOM1 and FOM2 in the School of Medicine order to move forward with a GSBS lab rotation or full‐time thesis research. Any student who needs to remediate a course(s) from the School of Medicine must meet with the MD/PhD Program Director to discuss their options, which include a LOA from the MD/PhD Program if necessary. All students must receive their degrees, both MD and PhD, from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in order to be a part of the Program and receive all benefits of the Program. When a student withdraws or is dismissed from either school, they will cease to be in
the MD/PhD Program. At this time, all Program benefits end and the Promissory Note for the Special Program Fee is activated. Required MD/PhD (MDP) courses that need to be taken include: MDP740A, B and C during Fall and Spring semesters of MS1, MS2 and MS3, and the summer following FOM1 MDP741 during every Graduate School semester; fall, spring and summer. The clinical hours require for this course are ten each in fall and spring, and five in summer semester. The preceptor sheet with the completed hours, teaching faculty and clinical area must be submitted to the program administrator by the end of each term or the student will be administratively withdrawn from the program. MDP742 MD/PhD HIPAA and OSHA Certification during each fall of full‐time graduate studies MDP 743 Preparation for Thesis Research during summer of year two in the program. MDP 744 Learning Communities during every semester of Graduate School MDP765 MD/PhD Qualifying Exam; register fall semester (starting in AY 14/15) of the first year of full‐ time graduate studies MDP865 MD/PhD TRAC Meeting every fall and spring semester after passing the Qualifying Exam and forming the TRAC, starting spring of Year 2 in GSBS research MDP800 MD/PHD Seminar Series during each fall and spring of all years in the program. Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) in either the BBS or CPHR track. Please review the section on Research Ethics for more details on the requirements for RCR. MDP990 during each semester of SoM following the completion of the PhD Any advanced topic course required by your TRAC during years one and two of full‐time research Teaching Requirement o All MD/PhD students are required to complete the teaching requirement with the preparation and presentation of teaching skills. The teaching requirement can be fulfilled at any point during the graduate school program. o The MD/PhD Student Seminar (MDP800) presentation can be used to fulfill this requirement in the upper graduate school years. o The teaching requirement can be fulfilled at any time during the graduate program. There is no limit to the number of attempts a student may make to fulfill the teaching requirement, although it must be successfully completed before the dissertation defense can be held. o The MD/PhD Graduate Program Director will determine if the student has met the Teaching Requirements.
MD/PhD Class Advisors
Their role is to guide the student through their years in the program and help with any difficulties, whether academic or personal issues. If you are having difficulty in Medical School, during either the pre‐clinical and clinical years, your current advisor will contact you to meet and discuss the issues. The Steering Committee oversees the program as a whole. It comprises Deans, faculty, advisors and other leaders from both the medical and graduate schools. The advising schedule is structured as listed below:Each student has a longitudinal Class Advisor for every year in the program. In addition, they are assigned a Learning Community Advisor by the School of Medicine at matriculation. The MD/PHD Class Advisor is also assigned, by the MD/PhD Program Director at matriculation. The student will meet with the Program Advisor on a structured schedule each year; the recommended schedule is listed below. Each student will also meet with the Program Director or Associate Director at the transition points between medical and graduate schools. If you are contacted by your advisor, respond in a timely manner.
Year Advisor Meetings
MS1 Assigned Group – beginning of Fall semester Individual – end of Fall semester Individual – end of Spring semester MS2 Assigned Individual with advisor and Associate Director or Director GSBS Assigned Meet annually MS3 Assigned Meet annually, plus a meeting with Director MS4 Assigned Meet annually, plus a meeting with Director
Medical School Advisor – Core Clerkship Experience and Advanced Studies
Upon return to the clinical years in Medical School, the student may want to select a different advisor in addition to the SoM Learning Community advisor for the clerkship years. This is allowed with faculty approved by the program leadership.MD/ PhD Courses
Registration
Students register for all MDP courses with the MD/PhD Faculty or Administrator. Students register each GSBS semester (Fall, Spring and Summer) following GSBS Registration Guidelines that are sent out several weeks before the start of each term. All MD/PhD specific courses and descriptions are listed below: MDP740A – Developing Solutions to Research Problems
Course Goals: The goal for the course is to expose MD‐PhD students to areas of basic and translational research, and to the knowledge skills necessary to conduct research in these areas in a manner that enables their intellectual contribution to the University’s academic and research functions. To meet this goal, the course material will provide the foundational knowledge relevant to modern basic biomedical research.. This will take place through scheduled didactic sessions by course faculty followed by interactive question and answer period. Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the MD‐PhD students should be able to: Name and describe the major classes of macromolecules that regulate cellular functions, and recognize the distinct properties of each class. Give examples of how macromolecules from each class interact in both normal cellular physiology and in disease.
Define and explain essential technical and conceptual investigative approaches used in predominant areas of basic, clinical and translational research.
MDP 740 B: Developing Solutions to Research Problems
Course Goals: The goal for the course is to expose MD‐PhD students to areas of basic and translational research, and to the knowledge skills necessary to conduct research in these areas in a manner that enables their intellectual contribution to the University’s academic and research functions. To meet this goal, the student will work directly with a selected member of the research faculty for a minimum of one hour per week over the course of the semester (15 hours total). The focus and experimental methodologies of the investigators research will be explored in‐depth through analysis of the primary literature and participation in individual and/or group discussion. Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the MD‐PhD students should be able to: Identify papers in the primary research literature that relate to specific questions of biomedical relevance, and explain the basis for their relevance. Assess the general biomedical research area, and the clinical and translational implications of the research activity of specific investigators at this institution. Articulate novel questions related to a specific area of active investigation that could be the basis of a viable thesis project.
MDP 740 C: Developing Solutions to Research Problems
Course Goals: The goal for the course is to expose MD‐PhD students to areas of basic and translational research, and to the knowledge skills necessary to conduct research in these areas in a manner that enables their intellectual contribution to the University’s academic and research functions. To meet this goal, the student will work directly with a selected member of the research faculty, which can include but is not limited to their PhD thesis mentor, for a minimum of one hour per week over the course of the semester (15 hours total). They will discuss experimental strategies to address questions of basic, clinical, and/or translation importance. These can include, but are not limited to, work that advances the student’s personal research toward publication or presentation. Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the MD‐PhD students should be able to: Propose feasible experimental strategies, including application of appropriate techniques, assessment of potential contingencies and pitfalls, and identification of alternative approaches, for investigation of novel research questions. When presented with two or more reports from the primary literature that reach conflicting conclusions about similar questions, evaluate the evidence and defend the merits of a particular argument. This includes an articulation of the major conclusions from each report, and an identification and evaluation of experiments that support the conclusions. Articulate the contribution of their personal research to knowledge in the broader area of interest.
MDP741 – Introduction to Translational Medicine Course Goals:
this course is to provide students with a continuous link to clinical skills and to familiarize students with different clinical
settings. Sessions should reinforce clinical skills learned from the first two years of the medical curriculum plus the 16
weeks of clerkship in Care of Family and Care of Adults prior to research studies.
The students will engage in clinical experiences for a minimum 10 hours in the fall and spring semesters and five hours
during the summer semester. The students can round with physicians on the ward services, attend an outpatient clinic, or
participate in supervised freestanding clinics in the local area. The second goal of this section of the course is to ease the
transition back to the clinical years of medical school by each student working with a designated clinical preceptor who
will supervise two returning MD‐PhD students as they perform complete interviews, physical examinations, oral
presentations, and write ups on hospitalized patients. Students will be evaluated by their faculty in these skills and a
summary report will be generated at the end of the course. The guidelines for a preceptor are as follows:
∙ They must be a faculty member at UMass either Full, Associate or Assistant Professor. ∙ They cannot be a resident, fellow or visiting scholar.
∙ The clinical sessions can take place at any of the hospital or affiliated hospital campuses and local free clinics
as long as they are directly supervised by a UMass faculty member.
MDP742 ‐ HIPAA and OSHA Certification
Certification module of HIPPA and OSHA that students enrolled in the PhD portion of the program and are required to
maintain annually (within the first two weeks GSBS fall semester) each year. This is an online BLS Vista class which can be
accessed by each MD/PhD student registered for this course in PSSA. The scores will be monitored by the MD/PhD
Program Administrator durng the student's PhD years.
MDP743 – Preparation for Thesis Research
Preparation of MD/PhD students to enter GSBS full time research in fall term after completing 16 weeks of clinical
clerkships from May through August prior to GSBS start. This includes meetings with the future PI, literature review and,
when scheduling permits, attendance at lab meetings. For students who have not yet selected a PI the requirements are
to work with MD/PhD and GSBS leadership to target and meet with potential lab rotation mentors during the summer
term.
MDP744 – School of Medicine Learning Communities
This course provides information about SoM Learning Communities (LC) including house member lists, Mentor‐Mentee
assignments, LC student leadership, career planning resources, information for planning clerkships and more. This is
important for all the MD/PhD students during both the SoM and GSBS years.
MDP 800 ‐ MD/PhD Seminar Series
This seminar series is a monthly event, organized by the MD/PhD students, and participation is required for all years in
the program. The seminar assists students in developing communications competency through these presentations.
Every month, two upper level graduate students present their research project. A moderator will maintain the 20 minute
timeframe and facilitate the discussion. An anonymous critical evaluation is provided by each of the students' colleagues
electronically.
MD/PHD Students are required to register for this course in the fall (starting in AY 14/15) semester of the academic year
in which they are to pass their Qualifying Examination.
MD/PHD Students will register for the course in the fall term; if the student successfully completes the exam by the end of
the fall semester, they will receive a grade of Pass. If the student has not yet successfully completed the exam by the end
of the spring semester, they will receive a grade of Incomplete. This will be changed to pass once the exam is passed.
This course must be passed before the beginning of the next academic year.
MDP 865 – MD/PHD TRAC meeting
All MD/PHD Graduate Students are required to have two TRAC meeting per calendar year, every 6 months. After passing
their Qualifying Examination and selection of their TRAC, students are required to register for this course each fall and
spring semester until their Dissertation Advisory Committee is formed.
Students will be graded upon the receipt of a TRAC meeting form by the MD/PhD Program Administrator. If the student
has a TRAC meeting by the end of a semester, they will receive a grade of Pass. If they have not yet had a TRAC meeting
that semester, they will receive a grade of Incomplete. They will be changed to pass once the meeting has been held.
MDP990 – Graduate Research (for program students who have completed the PhD portion of the program). Students enrolled in the MD/PHD Program who have completed their requirements for the PhD degree will register for
this GSBS course each semester while completing their School of Medicine requirements. Students enrolled in this course
will participate in and assist with the teaching/evaluation of the MDP Seminar course (MDP800) and complete the SoM
curriculum. This course is the MD/PhD equivalent of the GSBS course ‐ GR900, Graduate Research. All students must be
in good standing in the MD/PhD program to pass.
All courses must be completed successfully at each required point in the curriculum. Failure to pass any of these classes can lead to dismissal from the MD/PhD Program. This does not apply to your medical school enrollment, which will be governed by appropriate School of Medicine UMMS medical student policies.
Attendance
Attendance is required and expected at all registered classes and seminars. If unable to attend, the student should notify the Program Administrator.
Remediation
and
Extensions
The remediation of an incomplete MDP course must be approved by the Program Director. An approved remediation of an MDP class must be completed during the next academic semester. A student who needs an extension to complete the requirements for any MDP course must contact the Program Administrator prior to the end of the semester enrolled for permission. The timeframe will be worked out with the Program Director and must be completed no later than the end of the following semester.
Summer
Lab
Rotations/Selecting
an
Advisor
MD/PhD students are required to complete a total of two 8‐week lab rotations for graduate school. Students will complete one lab rotation(s) prior to the start of the program and a second rotation(s) after FOM1. Both Clinical Research and Basic and Biomedical Science rotations will consist of either two 4‐weeks or one 8‐week rotation. An advisor will be selected by mutual agreement between a PI and a student. The Thesis Advisor Selection and Financial Agreement Form should be submitted to the Graduate Office prior by August 1st of the third year in the program. If a student has not selected an advisor by that time, they can submit a Deferred Thesis Advisor form listing two eight‐week, fall lab rotations with eligible faculty who are actively seeking graduate students
in their lab and are members of the MD/PhD Program. If they are not members of the program, please contact the MD/PhD Program Administrator. If, after a sixteen week extension, a student does not secure a thesis mentor, they will be administratively dismissed from the GSBS. Scientific Writing All MD/PhD students are required to take either the BBS or the CPHR Core Course in Scientific Writing, based on their track. The BBS course is completed by MD/PhD students the summer following year one of Medical School. The CPHR students complete Scientific Writing during the CPHR Core Curriculum. Students who are unsure of their research track (BBS or CPHR) will be required to take the BBS Scientific Writing course the summer following year one of School of Medicine. Research Ethics All MD/PhD students are required to take a Responsible Conduct of Research/Ethics course based in their Track. Both courses are offered during the curriculum in the Fall semester of the first year of full‐time graduate school. In addition to the basic RCR class there are components for each year of the graduate program and during the return to School of Medicine. They include the on‐line Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative, mandatory curricula for using animals and human subjects in research, CTS 702 Ethics in Clinical Research, attending IRB meetings and working on a draft IRB application, and during their final years in clinical clerkships, reading “On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research” plus attending a classroom session to discuss the scenarios and ethical decision‐making process that are included in the book.
USMLE Step One and Step Two National Board Exams
All MD/PhD students finishing up the second year of Medical School (FOM2) are expected to take the Step One Boards by the start of the Block 1 Core Clerkship Experience. Each student must submit their test date to the Program Administrator; any extensions beyond the start of the clerkship require prior approval by the MD/PhD Program Director. There is time for student available to students between the end of classes, mid‐to‐late March, and the start of the CCE, in early May.
Core
Clerkship
Experience
A new curriculum was put into place for AY 11/12 which included participating in the Core Clerkship Experience (CCE) prior to beginning full‐time research. After taking the Step One Boards, second year students will begin the third year of medical school know as the Core Clerkship Experience. Each student will complete 16 weeks of the spring/summer following FOM2, all MD/PhD students will enroll in SoM Block 1A, B and C (approximately 16‐weeks) enrolling in clerkships in Care of Family and Care of Adults before shifting to GBSBS and full‐time research with your thesis mentor.
Academic Breaks
SOM
During the four years of SOM, MD/PhD students will follow the Academic Calendar of the SOM for the medical curriculum.
Student
Academic
Break
Days
MD/PhD students receive a total of 20 academic break days each academic year; these days are in addition to the official state and national holidays. The days must be used within the academic calendar and may not be carried over to the next year. This includes break days taken built into the SOM and academic break days taken during the summer lab rotations, i.e., the total number of days off in an academic year cannot
exceed 20 days. These days may not conflict with any other GSBS, MD or MD/PHD academic requirements. All students must request approval for use of these days from the Thesis Advisor or Lab Rotation faculty, depending on their student status. Approval should be received before tickets or reservations are booked. During full‐time research, students may take these days any time during the year with the approval of their Thesis Advisor. These days must be used before the end of the academic year and cannot be carried forward to the next year. MD/PhD students enrolled in SOM may only take these days when SOM is not in session or during summer lab rotation/coursework. If during a summer lab rotation, they must receive approval from their Lab Rotation Faculty. For example, during AY2012/2013 first and second year students will have already taken 11 vacation days that are built into the SOM academic schedule. This leaves each 9 days to take during the summer, respectively. This works out to approximately two weeks during summer where you can arrange some time off with your faculty lab supervisor or between four week rotations. First year students may not take an academic break day impacting the Scientific Writing or MDP 740 A requirements. These two courses typically fall during the first eight weeks of summer; please check the academic schedule prior to making any travel plans. Students cannot extend a lab rotation past the start of SOM. Immediately following the end of SOM year two, MD/PhD students complete the Step 1 Boards. They have from the end of the FOM2 second year until the start of the clerkship to study and take the Board exam. Days taken to study for the exam are not considered academic break days.
Financial Aid
The
Special
Program
Fee
(SPF)
Beginning in the Fall 2004, entering students will be required to sign a promissory note, agreeing to pay a Special Program Fee. The University defers payment of this Special Program Fee as long as the student remains enrolled in the Combined Degree Program. Upon completion of the requirements for the PhD and MD degrees, the repayment obligation shall be forgiven in full. However, if you were to drop out of this Combined Degree Program, the Note is enforced and debt would be collectable.
Massachusetts
Residents
The Trustees of the School have approved the Special Program Fee (SPF) for Massachusetts residents at $10,732.50 per semester for the 2013‐14 school academic year. If you were to withdraw from this Program before completing the requirements for the Ph.D., you could continue the medical curriculum and would be charged the School of Medicine tuition and fees. You would no longer receive any of the benefits of the program including the stipend. You would need to pay the SPF for each Academic Year you have already enrolled in.
Massachusetts
Non
‐
State
Residents
The Trustees of the School have approved the Special Program Fee for non‐Massachusetts’s residents at $18,232.50 per semester for the 2013‐14 school year. If you were to withdraw from this Program before completing the requirements for the Ph.D., you could continue the medical curriculum and would be charged the School of Medicine tuition and fees. You would no longer receive any of the benefits of the program including the stipend. You would need to pay the SPF for each Academic Year you have already enrolled in.
Return to SOM
Extended
Year
Policy
Students who opt for an extended fifth year of SOM are not eligible for the Extended Year Fee. This fee is available to students who have paid tuition and fees for all four years of SOM. Since MD/PhD students receive waivers for tuition and fees, they must pay the full cost of tuition and fees for the additional year in the SOM. This amount will be the current cost of tuition and fees for the SOM, both for in‐state and out‐of‐ state students. Extended Year students are also not eligible for any of the GSBS benefits provided to full‐ time students. These benefits are based on a four year Medical School curriculum. All MD/PhD students must complete the PhD portion of the program prior to returning to SOM. Exceptions to this time to return policy will be considered on an individual basis and at the discretion of the MD/PhD Program Director. Students participating in the new curriculum which allows for approximately 16 weeks of clerkship prior to full‐time research will have the option to return to SOM at the start of any term. The terms starts are typically January, May/June and August/September; each year may be slightly different. The final version, both written and electronic, along with any required forms must be submitted to the Graduate School Office prior to returning to SOM. MD/PhD students who do not complete all aspects of the PhD degree program prior to re‐entry into the clinical years of the SOM will not be eligible for either stipends or tuition waivers. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the GSBS Dean and the MD/PhD Program Director in advance of the return to SOM. Approval for exceptions is rare and must be submitted in writing. The MD/PhD Program Administrator should be notified of students considering returning to SOM for any semester. A TRAC form with “Permission to Write” can be submitted up to four months in advance of defending the PhD. Students must contact the SOM Office of Student Affairs to enter into the clerkship lottery or be matched with available clerkship slots. The mandatory clerkship lottery meeting takes place annually in late winter and the School of Medicine needs notification a couple of months in advance (example: December 15th for February lottery). This process is currently under review by SOM, please check with the Program Administrator until a finalized version is in place. Refer to the School of Medicine Student Handbook regarding the Clerkship Years.
