title: [MD PhD programs: Providing basic science education for ophthalmologists].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Enrollment in MD PhD programs offers the opportunity of a basic science education for medical students and doctors. These programs originated in the USA where structured programs have been offered for many years, but now German universities also run MD PhD programs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The MD PhD programs provided by German universities were investigated regarding entrance requirements, structure and financing modalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  An internet and telephone-based search was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 34 German universities 22 offered MD PhD programs. At 15 of the 22 universities a successfully completed course of studies in medicine was required for enrollment, 7 programs admitted medical students in training and 7 programs required a medical doctoral thesis, which had to be completed with at least a grade of magna cum laude in 3 cases. Financing required scholarships in many cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several German universities currently offer MD PhD programs; however, these differ considerably regarding entrance requirements, structure and financing. A detailed analysis investigating the success rates of these programs (e.g. successful completion and career paths of graduates) would be of benefit.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsaugenklinik Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland, kristina.spaniol@med.uni-duesseldorf.de.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spaniol
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Geerling
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005858:Germany; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D012586:Science / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*