A central theme of the program is that there exists an interface between basic biomedical science and clinical practice and that these two approaches to disease must be in constant interplay with one another. As a result, continuing programmatic efforts are made to relate students' research and clinical activities. The University of Minnesota Medical School collaborates with 20 local hospitals and clinics to provide exposure to a wide variety of clinical training for its students. Medical School coursework includes pre-clinical, basic science, and courses that may be used to support the Ph.D. graduate work that follows. These presentations are intended to help students choose the subject of their Ph.D. research and their thesis advisors or preceptors.
Students also participate in a number of research rotations among the various graduate programs.
These rotations broaden the students' research perspectives and help in selecting a topic and mentor for the Ph.D. dissertation research. This period of work leading to the Ph.D. degree begins with one year of coursework required by the particular graduate program chosen. In Phase 2, students carry out and complete their Ph.D. research in a selected graduate program. At the end of this Phase, students will have completed a Ph.D. dissertation and are awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Approximately 64 weeks of clinical rotations conclude the Combined Degree Program, at the end of which the M.D. degree is awarded.