Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Program | Duke University School of Medicine

The mission of the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program is to prepare a diverse student body to pursue a spectrum of medical career options in order to become physician leaders who can advance biomedical research and improve local, national, and global health.

This is accomplished in part, through an innovative curriculum in which students learn the core basic sciences in the first year, complete core clinical clerkships in the second year, devote the entire third year to scholarly investigation, and fulfill elective rotations in the fourth year. By condensing the traditionally structured training from four years into three, students are provided ample opportunity to pursue their own independent interests.

Explore the M.D. Program

Admissions

The Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program strives to attract, educate, and nurture students who have extraordinary compassion, humanism, and intellect.

Duke medical students practice clinical skills on a pretend patient.

Curriculum

Four years are dedicated to the exploration of medicine from a Patient FIRST perspective that embodies our core values of humanism, professionalism, diversity and inclusion, and lifelong learning.

Medical students have fun at the Davison Ball formal dance

Student Experience

Medical students have the opportunity to be thriving members of the Duke and Durham community.

Dual Degrees

Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD)

The Duke Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), trains highly qualified students as physician-scientists, equipping them for solving problems in human disease using the approaches and techniques of the basic biomedical and social sciences.

Opportunities for Dual Degrees

Duke's highly flexible curriculum gives students an opportunity to pursue a second degree while enrolled in medical school. About 40 percent of Duke medical students graduate with two degrees.

Specialty Tracks

Primary Care Leadership Track

This unique 4-year program works to train primary care leaders who can enter residency prepared to engage with communities and practices to help improve health outcomes.