About MD Plus Program
How to Apply
Prospective MD Plus students are considered after acceptance to the School of Medicine MD Degree Program. Students contact the MD Plus office for information on the application process. The application process varies depending on the course of study, however, the administrator will guide the student through the process to completion. Email mdplus@tamu.edu.
Scholarship funds to help defray the cost of study are available on a competitive basis. Classes for the MD Plus graduate program tracks typically begin the summer semester one year prior to the beginning of medical school curriculum at the School of Medicine.
The MD Plus application opens in October 2023 and the application deadline is April 8, 2024.
Meet the MD Plus students
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Track: MD + MBA
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Undergraduate Institution: Texas A&M University
Why did you choose to add the MBA to your academic path?
Medicine is an increasingly interdisciplinary field that requires physicians to be proficient in more than just the science of medicine. I chose to pursue an MBA to further expand my perspective of the healthcare field and to help bridge the gap between business and medicine. In the future I hope to utilize the knowledge and skills gained through the MBA to address medical inefficiencies, lack of healthcare in underserved areas, and to improve patient dissatisfaction.
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Track: MD + MBA
Hometown: Houston, TX
Undergraduate Institution: University of Houston
Why did you choose to add the MBA to your academic path?
I chose to pursue an MBA to understand better the economic, financial, and institutional nuances of the healthcare industry. By being able to speak both the languages of business and medicine, I hope to bridge gaps between the two. This expanded vocabulary will hopefully allow me to implement systemic quality improvements in medical access and care. Additionally, I hope to implement these improvements through innovative and creative solutions that come from taking an interdisciplinary approach to current healthcare challenges.
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Track: MD + MBA
Hometown: American Fork, UT
Undergraduate Institution: Brigham Young University
Why did you choose to add the MBA to your academic path?
I chose to pursue an MBA because I wanted to learn how to be a business leader and how to run a business in addition to my clinical responsibilities. After all, healthcare is a business, and if it is run well, then it has more potential to help more people.
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Track: MD + MBA
Hometown: Lake Jackson, TX
Undergraduate Institution: The University of Texas at Austin
Why did you choose to add the MBA to your academic path?
Because I am interested in the way money impacts human behavior and society as a whole, studying business was the best way I could gain the formal education necessary to widen my views and help me understand why things are the way they are. Medicine and business in particular are closely intertwined and to understand only one would be to miss out on the whole.
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Track: MD + MBA
Hometown: Houston, TX
Undergraduate Institution: University of Texas at Dallas
Why did you choose to add the MBA to your academic path?
I aspire to establish and operate a network of outpatient clinics that allow for patients to receive both primary and subspecialty care within the same clinic. Additionally, I aim to create a nonprofit organization dedicated towards feeding and housing the homeless as well as having a mentorship program for children from low-income backgrounds. Also, I plan to work with biomedical engineering firms to create devices dedicated towards improving patient safety and recovery. Lastly, I hope to become CEO of a hospital one day. With all of these goals in mind, the MD Plus Program has and will continue to equip me with the skills, knowledge, and tools necessary for me to be successful in the future.
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Track: MD + MBA
Hometown: Houston, TX
Undergraduate Institution: Baylor University
Why did you choose to add the MBA to your academic path?
I chose to pursue the degree since the chasm between the way we practice medicine and how we work administratively is something that needs to be bridged. As someone that can speak both languages I believe that I will be able to provide better care by thinking about the larger systems in my organization.
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Track: MD + MBA
Hometown: Edinburg, TX
Undergraduate Institution: Texas A&M University
Why did you choose to add the MBA to your academic path?
The healthcare system is complicated. It has many stakeholders such as physicians, hospital groups, pharmaceutical companies, insurance groups, etc. I hope that by obtaining an MBA I will be able to bridge the gap between these various stakeholders and decrease the ambiguity that is seen in the industry. I also feel that obtaining an MBA will allow me greater mobility in my career path and a unique outlook on general physician best practices.
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Master of Engineering (ME)
Track: MD + Master of Engineering (ME)
Hometown: Temple, TX
Undergraduate Institution: Texas A&M University
Why did you choose to add the ME to your academic path?
EnMed has already opened doors for me that would not have presented themselves to me otherwise. I am in constant interaction with cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons at Houston Methodist and am growing and thriving under their mentorship. Through this program I hope to carry out research and device design that will contribute to the evolving dynamics of interventional cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, as well as serve as the beginnings of an interest in research and biodesign that will only continue to grow and develop throughout my medical career.
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Master of Public Health (MPH)
Track: MD + MPH
Hometown: Houston, TX
Undergraduate Institution: University of Houston
Why did you choose to add the MPH to your academic path?
I felt it was important to get an understanding of not only how the disease works biologically in an individual but to get a fuller sense of all the factors that impact health whether positively or negatively within communities. What can make us sick and what can make us better is much bigger than biological or individual factors.
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Track: MD + MPH
Hometown: Nacogdoches, TX
Undergraduate Institution: Stephen F. Austin State University
Why did you choose to add the MPH to your academic path?
I believe broadening my education will give me a diversified set of skills to draw on when tackling real world healthcare related problems. I am particularly looking forward to learning more about community assessment models and grant proposal writing, as these things and other similar concepts are not readily exposed in the traditional medical curriculum.
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Track: MD + MPH
Hometown: Houston, TX
Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Berkeley
Why did you choose to add the MPH to your academic path?
I chose to pursue a graduate degree in addition to the MD because of my interest in understanding the social and environmental determinants of health. By studying public health, I hope to adopt an interdisciplinary focus that will allow me to become a more effective physician and public health practitioner.
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Track: MD + MPH
Hometown: Allen, TX
Undergraduate Institution: Abilene Christian University
Why did you choose to add the MPH to your academic path?
The skills, knowledge, and relationships I have already begun to form in the MPH program will allow me to be a better advocate for my patients and promoter of change. I worked with refugee women with the International Rescue Committee for nearly three years and the experience I had shaped the impact I want to have and the community I want to serve. Seeing how health is the cumulation of life experiences and unique to each person led me to pursue an MPH.
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Track: MD + MPH
Hometown: Austin, TX
Undergraduate Institution: Texas A&M University
Why did you choose to add the MPH to your academic path?
I chose to pursue a Masters in Public Health with a focus on Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences because I believe it is important for public health professionals to identify and help address the unique issues in a given place because it can truly change and even save the lives of the people living there. As someone who has a long-standing passion for preventative medicine and health education, the MD Plus Program is providing me with the understanding of public health that I need to be a physician who is equipped to recognize the issues that are affecting a particular region or population, and implement a solution.
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Track: MD + MPH
Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
Undergraduate Institution: University of Houston
Why did you choose to add the MPH to your academic path?
In learning from public health mentors and physician-leaders, I saw how the competencies gained through an MPH can be valuable in tackling health inequities. I hope to adopt a more interdisciplinary mindset in learning how to respectfully and effectively work with communities. There is growing evidence that one’s zip code is the biggest predictor of one’s health. Through obtaining my MPH and adopting a community-oriented focus towards practicing medicine, I aim to play my part in making this no longer the case - ensuring that all people receive equitable health outcomes, regardless of where they live.
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Track: MD + MPH
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
Undergraduate Institution: UCLA
Why did you choose to add the MPH to your academic path?
Physician mentors who pursued additional public health degrees have lives and careers that I admire. I am glad I pursued the public health degree because it let me start early to build my community and tribe at Texas A&M and I learned so much in the program that I will take with me into my next stage.
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Track: MD + MPH
Hometown: Flower Mound, TX
Undergraduate Institution: Texas A&M University
Why did you choose to add the MPH to your academic path?
I chose to pursue a Masters of Public Health because I believe it will give me practical opportunities & experiences to compliment a Medical Doctorate. A MPH will allow me to gain a better understanding of the social, economic & environmental components of patient health, which will be beneficial for virtually any medical specialty. Furthermore, I know this degree will prepare me to look beyond an individual patient and help care for larger communities, which would be beneficial for a primary care physician. In addition to these benefits, this program will give me an opportunity to dive deeper into my areas of research. This will give me more exposure to the field of academic medicine & subsequently prepare me for clinical research in the future.
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Master of Science in Education for Healthcare Professionals (EDHP)
Track: MD + EDHP
Hometown: Portland, TX
Undergraduate Institution: Yale University
Why did you choose to add the MS to your academic path?
I feel that learning is only half of one's education. By developing the skills to become a more proficient teacher, in the MD Plus Program, I believe that I will be more skilled and able, as a medical physician, to master the art of medicine, share the discipline with others, and continue my journey as a life-long learner.
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Master of Science in Medical Science
Track: MD + MS in Medical Science
Hometown: Abilene, TX
Undergraduate Institution: Hardin-Simmons University
Why did you choose to add the MS to your academic path?
I want to make research a complement to my career as a practicing physician, and hopefully make a positive impact on improving health of the community.
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Track: MD + MS in Medical Science/Academy of Physician Scientists
Hometown: Brownsville, TX
Undergraduate Institution: St. Mary’s University
Why did you choose to add the MS to your academic path?
Medicine to me means always staying up to date on the newest treatment strategies for our patients. Obtaining a masters degree and doing research for a year were an opportunity to begin exploring what it means to be a physician scientist by being an active part in developing treatments and diagnostic strategies that will help patients in the future.
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Track: MD + MS in Medical Science/Academy of Physician Scientists
Hometown: Cypress, TX
Undergraduate Institution: Stanford University
Why did you choose to add the MS to your academic path?
Research is an important part of medical innovation and advancement, and though it is possible to get research experience throughout our clerkships, I wanted to dedicate time specifically toward learning to conduct research properly.
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MD Plus Student Connection
We believe our current students can give prospective students the best overall picture of what our program can offer. If you are interested in connecting with a current MD Plus student, please fill out the following form. For any questions related to specific courses, admissions, financial aid or any other university polices, contact the MD Plus office directly at mdplus@tamu.edu or 979.436.0204.
FAQ
How do I apply for the MD Plus Program?
Once you have received notice of admission from the College of Medicine’s Office of Admissions, inform the MD Plus Program Administrator of your interest in the program. The Program Administrator will then assign the application to you in the Admissions Processing Portal. MD + MBA applicants are also required to fill out the Full-Time MBA application. The MD Plus Program Administrator will provide further details.
Is there a character or word limit for the essay portion of the application?
Yes. The character limit for the essay portion of the application is 12,000 characters, including spaces.
What should the statement of purpose include?
Your statement of purpose and objectives should describe your reasons for interest in the course of study you have selected, career goals, etc.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline for the academic year is April 5, 2024.
I have previously submitted transcripts for my MD application, do I need to resubmit them for the MD Plus application process?
No, the MD Plus office will access those transcripts you submitted for your MD application. However, the Registrar will need the final conferred degree transcripts before a student can fully matriculate into the program – this is separate from the application process.
Can the dual degree curriculum be done simultaneously?
No, due to registration constraints and the rigorous MD and graduate school curriculums and schedule, this is not an option for students.
What are the timeline options for the master’s portion of the program?
There are two timeline options:
1. Before you begin the MD curriculum or
2. In between your third and fourth years of medical school.*
*The second option is not recommended for students who want to do the MS in Science & Technology Journalism, MPH or MBA and plan to do their clinical years of medical school outside the Bryan/College Station area, as these graduate programs are based on the main campus of Texas A&M University.
What are tuition and fees for the available graduate programs?
Tuition can be estimated by using the TAMU tuition calculator at https://tuition.tamu.edu/. The MS in Medical Science, the MPH, and the EDHP tracks are found under the Health Science Center tab. The MBA and STJR can be found under the Graduate tab.
What are the specific scholarship criteria for the MD Plus Program?
Scholarships are made available based on multiple factors which include available resources, merit, and need.
What are the benefits of the different degree tracks?
MBA
The MBA curriculum is designed to develop the knowledge and expertise students need to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex and rapidly changing medical field. The skills acquired are easily applied in a hospital or clinical setting. In addition to being able to complete the MBA in a shorter amount of time than the traditional route, students who have pursued the MD/MBA option tend to be looked upon more favorably by medical residency programs.
MPH
Students that complete a Master’s of Public Health gain knowledge on the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals. The MPH’s emphasis on health at the population level adds an important dimension of insight and understanding of the dynamics of health and wellness to the practice of medicine. These students are more competitive for residency programs in the future and are more prepared to enter careers in preventive medicine.
MS in Education for Healthcare Professionals (EDHP)
The Master of Science in Education for Healthcare Professionals (EDHP) will provide the opportunity for individuals to develop the background and skills necessary to be excellent teachers in their areas of specialty and conduct research to improve and develop innovative educational programs in health professions education. Students who have an interest in academia are encouraged toward this program. Multiple online courses and an interprofessional approach make the EDHP degree unique. Graduates of the program help satisfy the need for qualified teaching faculty in medicine across the country.
MS in Medical Science
The MS in Medical Science degree is available through the Clinical & Translational Science (CTS) track of the College of Medicine graduate program. The overall educational goal of this track is to prepare future physician-scientists to bridge the interface between patient care and bench research, interact effectively with the spectrum of healthcare providers and community members, and function efficiently within large research teams. The CTS curriculum is flexible and designed to provide a strong foundation in biological sciences along with scholarly activities that will encourage team-oriented projects, enhance interdisciplinary communication, develop leadership skills, and provide the foundation for a broad understanding of scientific, medical, and regulatory issues.
MS in Science & Technology Journalism
The MS in Science and Technology Journalism (STJR) provides students with skills to communicate with various audiences about medicine, science, and technology, both through the mass media and by other means. Students also explore the broader contexts of such communication in order to best serve society. Much of the learning can aid in communicating in clinical settings. The STJR program includes core courses in reporting, editing, media research, and related areas. It also contains electives. Medical students in the program choose between doing a medical communication internship and writing a thesis. Conference attendance and frequent guest speakers help round out the experience.