The mission of the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program is to educate and train an engaged and empowered group of physician-scientists who are prepared to bridge the gap between laboratory research and clinical medicine, thereby improving health and enhancing the quality of life by reducing disability and death from disease.
The Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program (Tri-I) trains physician-scientists to become the next generation of leaders in biomedical research. Weill Cornell Medical College, The Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center combine to form one of the few inter-institutional collaborations dedicated to joint MD and PhD training.
Since its inception in 1972, over 500 graduates have been trained to tackle the urgent medical research needs of society. Tri-I awards the MD degree from Weill Cornell Medical College and the PhD degree from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, the David Rockefeller Graduate Program in Bioscience, or the Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Students are fully funded from start to finish, in part by the National Institutes of Health Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).
The world-class clinical and research faculties of the three institutions provide a stimulating environment for research and medical training. With over 300 participating faculty and an organization that fosters student freedom and independence, Tri-I offers unparalleled opportunities for an individualized education. Tri-I graduates are thus prepared to lead tomorrow's biomedical research efforts and to carry the knowledge acquired from basic research to the bedside.
For general information on MD-PhD training from the AAMC click here or listen to the MD-PhD podcast from the NIH.
Our own informational podcast, Tri-I Pod, discusses MD-PhD training, goals, careers, and admissions. Questions are answered by seasoned MD-PhD directors and administrators. Listen to our Tri-I Pod MD-PhD Podcast.