MEMP Academic Program

During the initial phase of the program, students concentrate on developing strength in their basic engineering or physical science disciplines. Students also begin taking preclinical biomedical sciences subjects such as human anatomy, pathology, and pathophysiology alongside medical students at the Harvard Medical School. Two required seminar-style classes help students integrate science and engineering with medicine and develop professional skills.

 

In order to continue to the second phase of the program, MEMP students must satisfactorily pass a doctoral qualifying examination and complete their biomedical sciences requirement. Then students may enroll in clinical courses where they learn the fundamentals of clinical medicine and participate in a six-week clerkship in medicine. The clinical experiences provide the student with an intimate understanding of the world of medicine. They also acquire a first-hand understanding of the opportunities for and the practical constraints of applying science and technology to health needs.

 

Students finish the program by completing their doctoral thesis research under the supervision of their thesis committees. Faculty members from MIT or Harvard supervise doctoral research projects, which should focus on a fundamental problem of medical relevance. Each student publicly defends his or her thesis upon completion.