The MD/PhD program at UofT
30 Jul 2014The MD/PhD program at the University of Toronto is the largest of its kind in Canada. My class, starting in 2013, had 11 students in it. The program is run out of the Faculty of Medicine and as the name states is split into two sections: the MD side and the PhD side.
Most students complete MD year 1 and then transition to the PhD phase. An alternative avenue is to stay for MD year 2 and transition to the PhD phase afterwards. Following the successful defense of the PhD, the final 3 years of the MD degree are completed. Total time is (hopefully) 8 years, though this varies. The choice of PhD department and supervisor is done during first year of medicine with significant freedom to choose from the majority of departments at the university.
The current curriculum, as noted above, separates the two degrees. However, since we really should be learning to combine our clinical and research skills, some degree of integration should exist. The program is working on improving integration, as discussed in a 2012 report (Unfortunately no longer on-line).
If you have any questions on my experiences with the program, easiest means to contact me is @pesteadman
University of Toronto
2013-Present
Doctor of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine
2014-Present
Doctor of Philosophy
Institute of Medical Science
Supervisor: Dr. Paul Frankland