Drexel’s College of Medicine Plans to Develop Three-Year MD Program

In an effort to tailor medical education for learners seeking a more efficient pathway to a medical doctor (MD) degree, Drexel University’s College of Medicine is planning a three-year degree program that aims to enroll its first cohort in the 2028-2029 academic year. The college will maintain its traditional four-year MD program.

The accelerated curriculum will initially focus on preparing students for careers in primary care via specialties such as family medicine, pediatrics and internal medicine.

Development of the program for its first year is bolstered by a $425,000 grant from the Independence Blue Cross (IBX) Foundation.

According to program leaders engaged in creating the new degree over the next several years, the condensed track includes the same academic rigor and training components as a four-year degree. They also note that some learners perform better in a three-year program. 

“There are multiple, evidence-based, effective modalities to complete an MD degree,” said Leon McCrea, MD, vice dean of educational affairs at Drexel’s College of Medicine. “This three-year planning stage that we are entering ensures we develop a curriculum bolstered by the right resources so that we admit the most qualified students and graduate those who are ready to serve as brilliant and caring clinicians and health care leaders.” 

Drexel will join a growing list of more than 30 institutions nationwide that offer a three-year MD program organized under the consortium of accelerated medical pathway programs (CAMPP). The College of Medicine will collaborate with CAMPP, as well as the Family Medicine Education Consortium and the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians to grow the program’s reach across the region and beyond.

The United States is projected to see a shortage of 86,000 physicians by 2036, according to a 2024 estimate by AAMC. Stakeholders view accelerated pathway programs as one solution to address the shortfall. 

“Everyone should care about the future health workforce. It continues to be a priority of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation – from our leadership and innovation in nursing to the work of our Community Health Institute to transform medical education,” said Heather Major, IBX Foundation executive director. “With the nation’s best schools and world-class medicine at our doorstep, the Philadelphia region has the responsibility and opportunity to train and retain more primary care physicians to care for our communities.”

In addition to expediting the process of clinicians joining the workforce, three-year programs save students on tuition fees and living expenses associated with medical training. Earning a salary a year earlier is also appealing to many students, with the median debt of a medical student reaching $215,000 for the class of 2025, according to the AAMC.

Although three-year programs include the same requirements as a four-year program, there are key differences. Students are expected to select their specialties earlier in a three-year track and establish a structured relationship with their future residency program. This guidance helps ensure students follow a more precise path for them and upon graduating, transition effectively to clinical practice.

“With an even greater emphasis on mentorship from the start of the program, a three-year may be the better option for incoming medical students who know very quickly what specialty they want to pursue,” McCrea said. “Also, research has shown that the performance of accelerated graduates of medical school is on par in skill and knowledge as those on a four-year timetable.”

Students in the program will still complete a minimum of 130 weeks of instruction, which is required of all MD programs by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

Drexel’s medical school is home to 1,200 students, making it one of the nation’s largest MD-granting institutions.