BMC Med Educ. 2026 Jun 5. doi: 10.1186/s12909-026-09596-8. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The number of combined Doctor of Medicine and Master of Business Administration (MD/MBA) programs in the United States has increased fivefold over the past two decades, reflecting a shift toward integrating medical and business education. While most MD/MBA programs follow a 5-year structure with a dedicated year for business coursework, some offer 4-year programs that integrate both degrees concurrently. This study evaluated the structure and characteristics of MD/MBA programs in the United States in 2025, comparing 4-year and 5-year program structures and examining how 4-year programs integrate medical and business training.
METHODS: In January 2025, 93 U.S. MD/MBA programs were identified using AAMC and Association of MD/MBA Programs databases. Programs were categorized by duration (4-year vs. 5-year) and analyzed for admissions requirements, credit loads, degree integration, and institutional characteristics. Findings were compared to a 2022 analysis by Laditi et al. Additional analyses compared 4-year and 5-year programs in 2025, including how 4-year programs integrate business coursework into medical training. Statistical analyses used chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests (α = 0.05).
RESULTS: In total, 93 MD/MBA programs were identified in 2025, compared to 92 in 2022. From 2022 to 2025, significant changes included programs requiring full-time MBA credit loads (9% to 37%, p < 0.001) and a reduction in GMAT requirements (34% to 15%, p = 0.01). Of the 93 programs, 12 (13%) offered a 4-year track. Compared to 5-year programs, 4-year programs offered significantly more MBA specializations (83% vs. 15%, p < 0.001) and required fewer than 50 MBA credits (100% vs. 66%, p = 0.03). Among 4-year programs, 42% delivered MBA coursework online, 25% in-person, and 33% in a hybrid format.
CONCLUSIONS: The overall number of MD/MBA programs remained stable between 2022 and 2025, but program structures and admission requirements continued to evolve. This study highlights the differences between 4-year and 5-year MD/MBA programs and describes how 4-year programs integrate business training within medical education. These findings may inform prospective students, program administrators, and medical education policymakers seeking to design, improve, or select MD/MBA programs that best prepare future physician-leaders.
PMID:42249401 | DOI:10.1186/s12909-026-09596-8
