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E D U CAT I O N

M . D ., Ph.D ., M PH , M BA - Wh at·s With All These Letters?

M.D./Ph.D.student Romulo Albuquerque !left). D.D.S, is working toward his doctorate in Physiology with his mentor Jayakrishna Ambati (right),M.D., professor of Ophthalmology and Visua l Sciences.Albuquerque is engaged in exciting new research modulating the abnormal growth of blood vesse ls in the eye -the under lying cause of many eye diseases .

Eight years after completing a doctor of Susan Smyth, M.D., Ph.D., associate After his first two years in medical school dental surgery degree, Romulo professor of Internal Medicine. "We've got at UK, Albuquerque made the transition to Albuquerque is looking to add two more fantastic students working with great graduate school, working toward his degrees to his title - a doctor of medicine mentors, doing cutting-edge research and doctorate in Physiology, with his mentor and a doctor of philosophy. A graduate of already malcing impacts in their respective Jayalrrishna Ambati, M.D., professor of the University of Pernambuco-Brazil, fields." Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Albuquerque is one of 20 current students Albuquerque decided to become a Already, he's engaged in exciting new pursuing a combined degree in the UK physician-scientist after spending his first research into modulating the abnormal College of Medicine M.D./Ph .D. program. three years at UK studying for a master's growth of blood vessels in the eye, the Since 1993, the program has prepared a degree in orofacial pain with Jeffrey underlying cause of many eye diseases. small but talented pool of students for Okeson, D.M.D. In that program , he was Next year, he expects to make the careers as independent physician-scientists involved in both research and clinical work. transition back to medical school to and leaders in academic medicine, industry, "I'd lived that life for three years, and I complete his last two years. and government. thought it would be nice to do this forever. Two orb.er students in the program, "Across the board, these are exceptional Why not pursue a medical degree?" he Zachary Fulkerson , from Hartford, Ky., students," said the program's direcwr, explained. and Andres Chang, from Guatemala City,

2 • UK MEDICINE • WINTER 2009

A LONG, AR DUOUS PATH B.S./M.D .

The path through medical school these Another combined degree program

students have chosen is long and arduous. attracting top students to UK is the

By the time they complete their B.S./M.D. track, which offers those eligible residencies, they'll have spent.14 to 15 a chance to shave a year off their education,

years on their education. essentially earning a bachelor of science and

"There are days when you wonder, a medical degree in seven years rather than

'Why am I doing this, and could anything the usual eight. These students have the

else possibly go wrong?"' Fulkerson said. option of completing a bachelor of science

"But for the most part, I find the work degree in biological sciences in three years

I'm doing very interesting. Ifyou're going and applying to enter medical school their third year in college. On the whole, they're to be in your career 30 years, this program adds only three or four extra years. It's a talented group, scoring in the top 1

time well spent in the grand scheme of percent on college entrance exams.

things." Sarah Borders, of Versailles, Ky., and

Chang agrees. "Being a doctor who Tyler Keller, of Louisville, Ky., first-year

contributes to the understanding and medical students in the program, were both

treatment of diseases by doing research certain they wanted to becom e physicians.

First-year medical students Tyler Keller and Sarah and treating patients will allow me to do Besides reducing their time in school and Borders participated in the B.S./M.D.program, the things I enjoy most," he said. saving money, the program gave them the which offers those eligible a chance to shave a year Coming from a Third World country, chance to get involved in medicine as off their education. essentially earning a bachelor of Chang had little exposure to scientific undergraduates. science and a medical degree in seven years rather research until he won a scholarship to the "It's been invaluable in helping me than the usual eight. University of Central Arkansas. As a network with physicians for shadowing

chemistry major, he had the opportunity opportunities and also in allowing me to Guatemala, made the transition to to do research for the first time. meet many other people who have graduate school this fall. Typically, two "I liked it so much I began to look for provided advice and mentoring during my years of medical school are followed by ways I could combine my desires to progression through undergrad and three to four years of graduate school, then continue doing research and becoming a admission to medical school," Keller said. two more years of medical school. doctor," he said. Being on the B.S./M.D. track does not "It's a totally different mindset, going Michelle Stephens, of Colum bus, Ohio, guarantee a student admission into medical from medical to graduate school," now in her final year of graduate work, school. Each must tal<:e the MCAT and Fulkerson said. "The first two years of med got her first taste of research as an apply like everyone else. Nevertheless, school are more structured, and grad undergraduate, through summer internships. Borders pointed out, the one-on-o ne school involves more independent "My advice to anyone considering the attention from key people in the College of thinking, problem solving and analyzing." M.D./Ph.D. program is get into a research Medicine was crucial to her success Like many others in the program, he lab," she said. "Once you do, you can see through the appli cation and interviewing wants to keep his clinical skills sharp while where your interests lie." process. studying for his Ph.D. Working part time Stephens' primary interest is in the field Together with the M.D./Ph.D. and in the student-run UK Salvation Army of aging, particularly as it relates to the B.S./M.D., UK offers combined degrees in Clinic is one way he's managed to do this. part of the brain that controls learning medicine and public health (M.D./MPH) His research also allows him patient and memory. She works in the lab of Greg and medicine and business administration contact. Working in the laboratory of Gerhardt, Ph.D., professor of Anatomy (M.D./MBA). While still in their infancy, cardiologist Smyth, he is conducting and Neurobiology and director of the these programs are designed to prepare research in platelet function in the context Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease physicians for leadership roles in of atherosclerotic disease while recruiting Research Center of Excellence, whose administration, an increasing need in our patients for clinical_ studies. research she describes as "very translational." complex health care system.

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