While medicine and the law often intersect in the real world, joint MD and JD degree programs focus on two very different curricula. The combination of both requires a studious and determined student. At most universities offering the program, including Duke University, students are required to apply separately to the School of Medicine and the School of Law. If accepted into both programs, they are eligible for the dual degree program. Many universities, like the University of Chicago's School of Medicine, encourage candidates to apply for the law school after the first two years of the medical school program to be sure that they are not overwhelmed by the academic challenge.
Universities offering the program typically require students to complete the first two years of medical school, attend law school for two years, and then return to complete the final two years of medical school. The "2+2+2" schedule is common among universities offering the joint degree. At the University of Chicago, students follow the same schedule and are required to take an intensive refresher course before returning to finish their final two years of clinical practice in medical school. Some programs, like the one at University of Minnesota, combine medical and law school classes in the sixth year. To finish on time, students must remain in school year-round and take summer courses.
An MD/JD dual degree is extremely difficult and not a very popular choice since having both degrees is not particularly required for any one job. Not many universities offer the option. Among the universities that do offer an MD/JD dual degree are University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Yale University, Case Western University, Vanderbilt University and Ohio State University. The independent medical schools Robert Wood School of Medicine and the Mayo Medical School offer joint degree JD programs with Seton Hall University and Arizona State University, respectively.
Although not a necessity, acquiring both a JD and MD can better prepare graduates for many jobs. Medical malpractice lawyers can benefit from having a medical degree as they will understand much more about a client's medical problems. Other careers for which both degrees can be utilized include medical management, hospital administration, pharmaceutical companies, consulting, biomedical ethics, healthcare policy development and law and academic scholarship.