Health Sciences & Technology (HST)

HST has two educational tracks, one leading to the MD degree from Harvard Medical School, and the other to the PhD degree in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics from MIT or Harvard University. HST graduates are committed to leadership and innovation in academic careers across medicine, basic and translational research, and the social sciences.

The preclerkship curriculum in the MD program at HST is composed of concurrent, semester-long offerings allowing creative interactions between courses — as well as reinforcement of important concepts from different perspectives. There is also an interconnected clinical curriculum woven throughout the preclerkship years designed to address the specific challenges of combining a career that balances clinical medicine and research.

Students engage in translational research projects, collaborating with Harvard and MIT faculty drawn from across departments and disciplines to develop preventative, diagnostic, and therapeutic innovations. The research opportunities in HST are legion, spanning the entire academic landscape from Cambridge to Boston, and offering laboratory experiences in engineering, wet-bench investigation, and computational research. Students on the four-year track typically spend a minimum of 4-6 months working on a research project; some HST students elect to take either an additional full-time year of supported research (typically occurs after the second year of the MD curriculum) or to affiliate and enter a PhD program.

We believe every class, every clinical and research experience, and every student we welcome should work toward a single goal: to use basic science, social science, and engineering to advance human health.

More Information

Preclerkship Phase

During the first two years, HST MD students build a deep understanding of the medical sciences and lay the groundwork for further exploration. Students explore the complex mechanics of human biology, study the technical underpinnings of health care, and gain a fundamental knowledge of molecular biology, biotechnology, engineering, and the physical sciences. Students also explore the human side of medical science, meeting with a variety of patients in classroom and clinical settings. Courses are taught in groups of 30-50 students (including HST PhD students), with small group (4-8 students) case-based exercises, problem-solving sessions, and laboratory experiences. View the academic calendar and curriculum map

In the first year, HST MD students join their Pathways colleagues in early August for Introduction to the Profession (ITP), and in January for the Essentials course, where they study social and population sciences including health care policy, social medicine, and medical ethics. HST MD students are also joined in the classroom by their peers from HST’s PhD Medical Engineering and Medical Physics (MEMP) program. Together, these two cohorts study side-by-side, gaining a deep understanding of the biomedical sciences, a strong quantitative foundation, and extensive hands-on clinical experience in Boston-area hospitals.

Students will also conduct research in a lab at MIT, Harvard, or one of the teaching hospitals, building expertise and learning from a thriving community of researchers, educators, and fellow students.

Beginning in April of the second year, HST students join their classmates from the Pathways MD track in clinical clerkships and electives, gaining valuable real-world experience in a clinical setting.

Principal Clinical Experience (PCE) Phase

During the 12 months of the PCE phase, students gain comprehensive clinical training across eight core disciplines:

• internal medicine
• neurology
• obstetrics and gynecology
• pediatrics
• primary care
• psychiatry
• radiology
• surgery

Students are placed at a single hospital site for the year which allows them to be immersed in the clinical learning environment of that institution. As part of each clerkship rotation, PCE Core Faculty provide direct observation, feedback, and longitudinal assessment. The core clerkships are enriched by a longitudinal, multidisciplinary curriculum that integrates ambulatory experiences, faculty mentoring, clinical case conferences, and small group discussions on professional identity formation. Students are given autonomy — alongside faculty support and guidance — to enhance their physical examination skills, medical knowledge, and clinical reasoning. The PCE year emphasizes meaningful roles on the care team, sustained mentorship, strong clinical competence, and effective teamwork.

Post-PCE Phase

After a year of clinical immersion, students take advantage of myriad opportunities across Harvard University and around the world to customize their route through Year 4, preparing optimally for whichever aspect of the profession of medicine has attracted their curiosity and passion.

More Program Details

HST MD Research and Thesis Requirement
Student Funding — funding for fifth year, clinical elective/travel abroad, community service, fellowships

Please note that the curriculum is undergoing continuous review and improvement and is subject to change at any time.
Updated: 1/8/24

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