Bioengineering
The collaborative relationship between schools at the University of Pennsylvania allows Penn Bioengineering doctoral students to pursue a Bioengineering Ph.D. alongside a doctor of medicine (M.D.) or doctor of veterinary medicine (V.M.D.) degree.
These integrated paths equip students to translate the real-world challenges of clinical practice directly into breakthrough bioengineering discoveries. By bringing a unique, dual-lens perspective to human and animal health, our combined degree doctors go on to turn clinical questions into bioengineering discoveries, become practicing physicians advancing new approaches to treatment, and drive innovation in the practice of medicine.
A combined degree program is ideal for students with strong academic credentials who want the future career flexibility to both practice medicine and innovate within it. Bioengineering combined-degree students bring research, clinical insight and interdisciplinary collaboration together to drive innovation in human and animal health.
The combined Doctor of Philosophy in Bioengineering and Doctor of Medicine degree path is a joint program between Penn Engineering and Perelman Medical School.
The combined Doctor of Philosophy in Bioengineering and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris, or V.M.D.) path is a joint program between Penn Engineering and Penn School of Veterinary Medicine.
This program trains outstanding physician-investigators whose clinical practice shapes the path of their future bioengineering research: technological advances for treatment and diagnosis.
Our Bioengineers enrolled in the M.D./Ph.D. program satisfy the degree requirements for both degrees within 7 or 8 years. Graduates are prepared for careers in research, clinical practice, academia, or industry.
Students focus on groundbreaking biomedical research such as identifying and understanding the mechanistic contributions of Parkinson’s Disease biomarkers to disease pathogenesis, and improving diagnostic radiology of solid and soft tissues.
Submit applications to Penn Medicine via AMCAS (the AAMC’s centralized medical school application processing service). Verified applicants will then gain access to the M.D.-Ph.D. program online supplemental application.
You can find additional information online from the School of Medicine. If you are interested in applying, please contact the medical school’s combined degree programs office:
Dr. Lawrence Brass, Director of Combined Degree Programs
Maggie Krall, Director of Administration
phone: 215-898-8025
fax: 215-573-9428
mail: Suite 100 Annex (room 104) Stemmler Hall
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6087
The Penn Veterinary School offers a joint program combining the Bioengineering PhD with the VMD. The program offers both clinical practice experience and research experience. Students must apply to BOTH the graduate program in Bioengineering and to the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Our Bioengineers spend a minimum of 6.5 to 7 years in coursework and research, and by engaging in this program, Ph.D./V.M.D. students satisfy the requirements for both degrees.
Students focus on problems at the intersection of animal health and bioengineering such as vaccine therapeutics for emerging infectious diseases, zoonotics, stress biomarkers in shelter animals, the effect of probiotics on the calf microbiome, macrophage function during bone healing, and other groundbreaking topics in animal science.
To enable students to gain both research and clinical experience, the Veterinary School offers a joint program similar to that of the Bioengineering PhD/MD program. If you apply, you must obtain admission to both the graduate program in Bioengineering and to the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Our Bioengineers spend a minimum of 6.5 to 7 years in coursework and research, and by engaging in this program, Ph.D./V.M.D. students satisfy the degree requirements for both degrees.
For additional information on the Ph.D./V.M.D. program, please contact the Bioengineering Graduate Group.
