Combined MD/MBA
The combined MD/MBA links the MD degree with intensive management education at a top business school providing a full MBA with an additional focus in the health sector. This five-year program is designed for students interested in both medicine and the business aspects of medicine, and can be applied across a range of health care delivery settings, as well as in the life sciences industry, health information technology, and the creation of new health sector enterprises.
Degree Requirements
The MD/MBA program is conducted under the joint auspices of the School of Medicine and the School of Management. Students complete the first three years on the medical school curriculum and then spend their fourth year fully integrated into the MBA program at the School of Management. During this fourth year, they take 36 credit hours of management courses, completing a full core MBA education. In the fifth year, students complete their remaining medical courses and 7 management course credits at the School of Management, emphasizing the health sector.
An internship in a health sector setting is also required, and this can be completed flexibly depending on the intended specialty and schedule of the student. The internship provides a compelling real-world experience to complement the intensive, experiential education provided in the classroom.
To earn both degrees, students must successfully complete the required classroom and clinical coursework for the MD, the required coursework for the MBA, and a 400-hour field placement in a health sector organization (taken during the summer between the fourth and fifth years). Students must earn the grade of Pass or Honor in all MD courses and must maintain a grade point average of 2.7 (on a scale of 4.0) in all MBA courses.
The MD is awarded by the School of Medicine and the MBA in Health Sector Management by the Graduate School of Management.
Admission
Eligibility
Requirements for the MD/MBA program are the same as the traditional MD program (course requirements, MCAT) plus the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). We recommend that the GMAT be taken as early in the process as is convenient for the applicant.
Application
Students should express their interest in the MD/MBA program when they apply to medical school or can apply any time during their first three years at BUSM. We recommend that interested students contact Dr. Steven Ober, Program Director, MD/MBA Program (617-645-3193, sober@bu.edu) and/or Professor Mark Allan, Faculty Director, Health Sector Management Program, School of Management (617-314-9207, mallan@bu.edu) to discuss the program as early as they identify their potential interest.
In addition to the usual medical school application requirements, applicants for this combined degree program should submit the following materials to the Graduate School of Management Admissions Office:
- Online application form including answers to required essay questions
- Application fee of $125 payable to Boston University
- Current résumé
- Two letters of recommendation
- GMAT results: Request official scores and include a copy with your application package (GMAT test scores are valid for five years)
- Official copies of all university-level transcripts (undergraduate and graduate)
Please have all transcripts mailed to:
Boston University School of Management
Graduate Admission Office
595 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
Applicants should attach a letter to both the School of Medicine and Graduate School of Management stating that they are applying to the combined MD/MBA program. It is also possible for students to apply for the MD/MBA program after they have begun medical school. As noted above, interested students should contact Dr. Ober and/or Professor Allan.
