The MD-PhD is conceived primarily for students who wish to pursue an academic career. The goal of the programme is to train physician scientists who can address questions related to mechanisms of disease in the laboratory while excelling in the clinic. However, it also provides a basis for physicians who opt to pursue a pure research career as well as for those who wish to acquire a strong scientific background but choose to dedicate their efforts primarily to clinical medicine. In addition to academic medicine, the MD-PhD can pave the way toward career options in several other fields, including the pharmaceutical industry, biotech, biomedical engineering and healthcare policy.
