Home » Career Paths » Training Programs » MD/PhD Programs » Social Sciences & Humanities

MD/PhD Programs in the Social Sciences & Humanities - Harvard University

Disclaimer Notice: The following information was provided by MD/PhD students, and is not official data from the MD/PhD program administration or from APSA. For official information, please contact the program administration listed below. If you are aware of any outdated or incorrect information on this page, or if you can think of anything useful to include, please let us know at ssh@physicianscientists.org so that we may improve the page.

Harvard University

Social Science/Humanities PhD Field Supported:

Anthropology, Economics, Health Policy, History, Philosophy, Sociology, Statistics (contact Dr. Anne Becker at anne_becker@hms.harvard.edu to discuss other fields)

Description of Program:

The Program provides support for students pursuing cross-disciplinary training in the social sciences and medicine by offering strong mentoring, fostering an intellectual community, and providing practical support. Students receive their MD from Harvard Medical School and their PhD from the appropriate school within the University. The program seeks to educate students to apply social science perspectives and methods to health and health care delivery.

Structure of Program:

Students typically spend the first two years enrolled at HMS. For most students, at the beginning of their third year, they begin doctoral work in their respective social science departments. Although timing varies depending on discipline and dissertation research, students generally spend 3-5 years on their doctoral studies before returning to HMS to complete the final two years of medical school. Though this is the most common course of study, there is some flexibility. Faculty from HMS and the appropriate graduate program are available for mentorship about future goals and research interests.

Size of incoming joint MD/PhD class:

15

Number of students in the social sciences or humanities:

1-2/year

Number of graduates from the Social Science MD/PhD program (2001-2007):

5

Current number of students in the SSH MD/PhD Program:

12

Application Process:

The applicant must complete his or her application with the required transcripts and MCAT scores to the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) indicating that he or she is applying to Harvard Medical School's MD/PhD and specifying the field of graduate study. The standard HMS secondary application and interview process must also be completed. To be considered for the PhD program of interest, the applicant must also go through the standard application process for that program including separate application, essays, recommendations, and relevant standardized test scores. If the applicant is accepted separately to both programs, he or she will be considered for acceptance into the social science track. Students may also decide to apply to a doctoral program after their first or second year at HMS.

Funding:

Limited funding is available for students in the social science MD/PhD program. Generally, tuition but no stipend is provided during the student's years at HMS. Separate funding is available from the school or department of graduate study during the student's years as a PhD student. Funding for graduate study is consistent with other graduate students in that program who are not pursuing joint degrees at the medical school. It usually includes tuition and stipend. Students applying after their first or second year at HMS may compete for available funding, usually when they reenter HMS for their final years.

Contact information:

Anne E. Becker, M.D., Ph.D., Sc.M.

Director, Social Sciences M.D.-Ph.D. Program

Harvard Medical School

anne_becker@hms.harvard.edu

MD-PhD Office
Daniel C. Tosteson Medical Education Center
260 Longwood Avenue, Suite 168
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617.432.0991
Fax: 617.432.2791
mdphd@hms.harvard.edu

Current students available for contact as of 2008/2009 academic year:

M1: Simeon Kimmel (simeon_kimmel@hms.harvard.edu), medical anthroplogy
M2: Kim Sue (Kimberly_Sue@hms.harvard.edu), medical anthropology
M3: Amy Saltzman (Amy_Saltzman@hms.harvard.edu), medical anthropology