There are several mechanisms in place to provide medical students with opportunities to interact with graduate faculty and students and other health professionals for the purposes of achieving personal, professional and academic goals.

M.D.-Ph.D. Program

The M.D.-Ph.D. program is available to highly motivated students with an excellent academic record who are interested in a research career in academic medicine and wish to receive both of these degrees from the Faculty of Medicine.

The purpose of the M.D.-Ph.D. program is to provide medical education, including clinical skills, and training in health research.  The integrated program is designed to increase the efficiency of obtaining both degrees, and the student is required to fulfill the complete requirements of both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees.

Any students who are interested in a research career in academic medicine and wish to receive both of these degrees from the Faculty of Medicine, please request a meeting with both the Associate Dean of UGME and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies to discuss this option. 

Concurrent enrolment allows students to complete their medical degree while working on Ph.D. A mechanism is in place to facilitate concurrent enrolment of students in undergraduate medical education (M.D.) and Ph.D. programs.

Students enrolled in a graduate program who have been offered admission to medical school or medical students who have been offered admission to a graduate program must complete a concurrent enrolment checklist to ensure their compliance with current School of Graduate Studies regulations governing concurrent enrolment.

Because School of Graduate Studies regulations prohibit students from holding full-time status in two programs at the same time, current or prospective medical students have the option of changing their status from full time to part time in the graduate program or requesting a leave of absence from their graduate program. Current and prospective students must submit a written request for permission for concurrent enrolment from the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (Medicine)
Other Research and Learning Opportunities

Medical students have access to graduate faculty, students and other health professionals during regularly scheduled research and learning events:

1. Research seminars hosted by graduate programs are open to medical students and scheduled later in the day to facilitate medical student attendance.
2. Medical students are invited to attend professional development activities (e.g. workshops, seminars) leading to CME hours are hosted regularly by PDCS.
3. Medical students completing the third year of their program may request a research elective (minimum 2-week) to study with a graduate faculty member.
4. Interprofessional education components connect medical students with other health and social services professionals (nursing, pharmacy, social work) in case-based programs of study.
5. Medical students participate in a rural visit module organized by graduate faculty in community health and complete a research paper on a rural-related project.

 Funded Research Opportunities

Several awards competitions fund medical students who choose to engage in research:

1. Medical students may apply for a 4 or 6-week funded Summer Undergraduate Research Award (SURA) to study with faculty on a research topic of shared interest.
2. Medical students may apply for a Mach-Gaensslen Foundation Award to conduct medical research in one of three areas of medicine (i.e. Cardiology, Oncology and Psychiatry). The award valued - between $4,000-$5,000 for a five-week study term during the summer semester.