The MD-PhD program is a fully funded, dual-degree program jointly offered by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (KPSOM). Students receive their training leading to the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree at KPSOM, and research training leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at Caltech.
This program is designed for students interested in pursuing in-depth research to identify and bridge gaps to advance health. Students typically perform summer research rotations at Caltech before, during, and after the first two years of medical school at KPSOM. They then carry out their doctoral degree work in any of the multiple areas of research offered at Caltech, ranging from bioengineering and biochemistry to computational and neural systems. During their Caltech years, students also continue to see patients at Kaiser Permanente, to ensure that their clinical skills are sharply maintained. Upon completion of their PhD dissertation, students return to KPSOM to finish their MD studies.
MD-PhD program graduates will be prepared to not only excel at patient care but also to successfully challenge current and future impediments to the well-being of their patients and communities. They will be poised to become leaders of change by advancing health through scientific discovery.
KPSOM MD-PhD Program with Caltech
2024-2025 Admissions Timeline
Frequently Asked Questions
Admissions Process
The MCAT and AAMC PREview exam are required.
Applicants must complete the MCAT no later than September 2024. For the 2025 application cycle, KPSOM considers MCAT scores dating back to July 2022. Applicants do not need to take the GRE.
All applicants who complete the primary application through AMCAS and submit an MCAT score will be invited to submit our MD-PhD secondary application. Applicants selected to interview will be notified via email by the KPSOM Office of Admissions to interview at KPSOM during the fall semester. After that, qualified candidates will be selected to interview with Caltech in November/December 2024. Interviews will be conducted virtually. (MD-PhD applicants do not need to submit a separate application for Caltech.)
All applicants will receive access to our applicant portal to view their admission status at any time.
The MD-PhD Admissions Committee looks for applicants who demonstrate alignment to the KPSOM mission and a commitment to research.
Three to six individual letters or one committee letter will be accepted.
Yes, on occasion. If you are admitted as a regular MD student and would like to be considered for the MD-PhD program, please contact the program director, Dr. Jose Barral. Note: Transfers are not guaranteed and will be at the discretion of the program director.
No. KPSOM is currently unable to accept international students on student visas.
Yes, students are encouraged to do a four-week summer rotation at Caltech prior to starting at KPSOM.
Interview Process
MD-PhD applicants selected for an interview will be notified via email in October/November of each year.
There are up to three available MD-PhD seats in each cohort.
At KPSOM, applicants will interview virtually and participate in Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMI) and a traditional one-on-one interview with a faculty member. Applicants will also have the chance to engage with the Program Directors, the Senior Associate Dean for Admissions and Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, current students, and staff from the Office of Admissions.
Yes. The interview with KPSOM is the first step in the interview process for the MD-PhD program. If an applicant is chosen to progress following the KPSOM interview, they will receive a separate interview invitation from Caltech. Upon completion of the Caltech interview, final admissions decisions will be rendered jointly by KPSOM and Caltech.
Program Structure
Students admitted to the MD-PhD program complete their first two years of medical instruction at KPSOM, including all core clinical clerkships. In this manner, selection of their PhD program of study at Caltech is informed by their experience at the bedside. Subsequently, MD-PhD students carry out their PhD study in any of the programs of research offered by Caltech. MD-PhD students will generally be expected to complete their PhD training in four years. After completing their PhD training, students return to KPSOM to complete the last two years of clinical training. Also, MD-PhD students will typically perform four-week summer rotations at Caltech before, during, and after their first two years of medical study at KPSOM. Additionally, while undergoing their PhD study at Caltech, MD-PhD students will continue to be engaged in clinical training by performing approximately monthly half-day sessions in Kaiser Permanente Urgent Care facilities.
MD-PhD students are generally expected to complete their entire MD-PhD training in eight years (two years at KPSOM followed by about four years at Caltech and then two years back at KPSOM).
MD-PhD students may carry out their PhD study in any of the programs (options) of research offered by Caltech. View the program options .
The stipends for Academic Year 2204-25 are:
- KPSOM: $44,892 (includes health insurance and requirement to do a summer rotation)
- Caltech: $45,000
MD-PhD students are expected to do three four-week summer rotations: one before they start their first year at KPSOM, one between Year 1 and Year 2, and one after Year 2. Students receive support from Program Directors as they consider and select their dissertation mentors.
There are no teaching requirements for MD-PhD students.
No, MD-PhD students do not have any special responsibilities at KPSOM.
Faculty Mentors
There are multiple opportunities for mentorship for MD-PhD students. Both MD-PhD Program Co-Directors and Assistant Directors at KPSOM and Caltech serve as mentors when students first arrive, to orient them to the Program and guide them as they become acclimated to their new environment. While at KPSOM, students are in close contact with researchers in the Clinical Science and Health Systems Science departments, who may guide their interests in clinical and health services research.
Students are exposed to research mentors at Caltech in multiple ways. Formally, the three summer research rotations before they join Caltech provide opportunities to explore future mentors and research laboratories. The close physical proximity of the KPSOM and Caltech campuses provides opportunities for students to attend seminars, laboratory meetings, and social events at Caltech during their first two years, where they can interact with potential future mentors. The Caltech Program Co-Director guides students throughout the process of finding and selecting mentors at Caltech.