MD/PhD Program FAQs

How long does the program take to complete?
Average time to completion is eight years.

Are you interested in applicants with specific areas of research interest?
Yes. At present, we focus primarily on candidates interested in cancer biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and bioethics.

Is it possible to arrange a visit/meeting prior to applying to the program?
Unfortunately, no. We have limited administrative resources and are therefore unable to arrange “pre-visits.” Also it would not be completely fair to those applicants who were unable to interact with program leaders and faculty prior to applying. However, Georgetown School of Medicine does have information sessions and student panels that you are welcome to attend virtually. You can find the dates and times listed here: https://som.georgetown.edu/admissions/degrees-and-admissions/md/admissionsinformationsession/.

If I apply to the MD/PhD Program, will I also be considered for admission to the regular MD program as well?
Unfortunately, no. You must choose whether to apply for the MD/PhD program or the regular MD program. It is not possible to be considered for both in the same application cycle. 

What are you looking for in applicants to the program?
We are looking for super smart students who love biomedical research and have demonstrated that they are very good at it. Applicants must also fulfill the criteria for admission to Georgetown University School of Medicine. You can find out more about those criteria in the Guide to Application for the School of Medicine.

Do I need a specific GPA and/or MCAT score to be admitted to the program?
No. We read all applications regardless of GPA or test scores. However, in practice, students admitted tend to have unusually outstanding academic records and MCAT scores.

Should I apply directly from college, or should I take gap year(s) to do research, and then apply? Qualified applicants who are in their senior year of college (or in their first gap year) will not be at a competitive disadvantage when applying to the Georgetown MD/PhD program despite the fact that they tend to have less research experience than applicants with multiple gap years. If you have substantial research experience, are completely committed to the MD/PhD career path, and are excited to get started, we encourage you to apply. 

Tell me more about the MD/PhD program in bioethics.
he Georgetown MD/PhD program in bioethics is led by Daniel Sulmasy, MD, PhD a physician and internationally known bioethicist who earned his PhD at Georgetown under the tutelage of the late Edmund Pellegrino. Dr. Sulmasy is Director of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University. Graduate training and research in Bioethics is performed in the Department of Philosophy (in Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences) in collaboration with the Kennedy Institute (in the School of Medicine). The focus on Bioethics research is an integral component of the Georgetown Jesuit Catholic ethos and an important differentiating strength of the Georgetown MD/PhD program. 

What are the required qualifications for the MD/PhD program in bioethics? How do I apply?
In order to be qualified for admission to the MD/PhD program in bioethics, applicants need to be competitive for admission to both medical school (e.g., highly competitive GPAs and MCAT scores), and to a PhD program in philosophy (i.e., very strong undergraduate or masters-level preparation in philosophy). Apply through the AMCAS application portal as an MD/PhD candidate and denote your area of research interest as “bioethics.” Your application will be considered by both the MD/PhD admissions committee and the Department of Philosophy. Potentially qualified candidates will be offered an interview in January/February.