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April 2005
Harvard Adds Social Sciences to MD/PhD Program
Harvard University's MD/PhD program is now offering a social sciences track in
addition to its existing biomedical science track. The program is meant to serve
students whose career interests span the fields of medicine and the social
sciences. It is hoped that the program will make Harvard "a
real center for research in social sciences relevant to medicine," according
Dr. Allan M. Brandt, Kass Professor of the History of Medicine and Chair
of Harvard's History of Science Department.
Students following the MD/PhD social sciences track will be able to combine
study of anthropology, health policy, government, economics, psychology, and
other disciplines with their study of clinical medicine. A typical student will
spend two years at Harvard Medical School,
move to the Graduate School of Arts
and Sciences for four to five years of doctoral study and research, and then
return to HMS to finish their degree.
Although HMS students have been able to take courses at the Graduate School
of Arts and Sciences since the early 80s, this is the first time a formal
program has been available for Harvard students whose career interests span
medicine and the social sciences. Similar programs are already offered at the
University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins
University.
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