> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ismms-gs.gitbook.io/graduate-student-handbook/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://ismms-gs.gitbook.io/graduate-student-handbook/chapter-2-1/md-phd-program/curriculum.md). # Curriculum All MD-PhD students will be expected to complete the following MD-PhD-specific courses: 1. Biomedical Science for MD-PhDs (BMS) - Fall and Spring of Year 1 2. Medical Scientist Grand Rounds (MSGR) - MD1 through the PhD phase. Students writing their PhD dissertation may apply to the Director to be excused from this course. 3. MD-PhD Laboratory Rotation 4. Clinical Refresher - The MD-PhD Clinical Refresher Course is a required component for all MD-PhD students who are returning to clinical clerkships after three or more years since beginning their PhD training. The course is designed to facilitate a smooth and confident transition back into the clinical environment by refreshing core medical knowledge and clinical skills. Through a structured series of didactic sessions, bedside teaching, standardized patient encounters, oral presentations, and clinical shadowing, students will re-engage with key competencies in history-taking, physical examination, clinical reasoning, and team-based patient care. Active participation, completion of pre-session assessments, and timely submission of assignments are required. Students must uphold professional standards throughout the course. Students who begin but do not return to clerkships in the same calendar year must repeat the Clinical Refresher Course in the year immediately before re-entry into clinical training. Completion of this course is essential preparation for success in the third-year clerkships and a critical step in ensuring readiness to rejoin the clinical care team. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://ismms-gs.gitbook.io/graduate-student-handbook/chapter-2-1/md-phd-program/curriculum.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.