Emory School of Medicine and Georgia Tech launch new MD/MS dual-degree program in robotics

One of the first programs of its kind in the U.S. will train physician-innovators to design, evaluate and lead the development of new healthcare technologies.

Official response and confirmed impact

Emory University School of Medicine and the Georgia Institute of Technology have launched a new dual-degree program pairing a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Emory with a Master of Science (MS) in Robotics from Georgia Tech.

The five-year MD/MS in Robotics program offers medical students the opportunity to combine physician training with graduate-level engineering, robotics and technology development without having to choose one path over the other.

Admitted students spend their first year at Georgia Tech, completing core courses, professional-preparation seminars and electives spanning mechanics, controls, perception, artificial intelligence, human-robot interaction and natural systems.

They then move to Emory for four years of medical school.

While at Emory, students stay connected to faculty mentors at both institutions and finish their remaining Georgia Tech requirements, including a discovery/capstone project.

“This program is about training physicians who can identify the clinical problems that matter most and also have the engineering background to help build the solutions,” says Jason Bariteau, MD, professor in the department of orthopaedics at Emory University School of Medicine, who is helping lead the new pathway.

“We are not simply adding a technical degree onto a medical degree. We are preparing a new kind of physician-leader for healthcare technology.”