md phd wayne state

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Warrior M.D. Impact

We will educate a diverse student body in an urban setting and within a culture of inclusion, through high quality education, clinical excellence, pioneering research, local investment in our community and innovative technology, to prepare physician and biomedical scientific leaders to achieve health and wellness for our society.

Wayne State provides a distinct advantage through hands-on clinical education in the heart of Detroit.

Recognized as the Carnegie Foundation's best in research and engagement, and renowned for innovation.

Students work along-side exceptional physicians who teach and practice patient care.

Leading clinicians and biomedical scientists, taking students from the classroom to the communities.

From Wayne State undergrad to M.D.

• April 11 (OVAS) Distinguished Speaker Series on April 11, 2024 at noon noon
• April 16 RC/GME: Professional Development Symposium, "Physicians with Disabilities" on April 16, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
• April 17 2024 College of Nursing Urban Health Research Conference on April 17, 2024 at 8 a.m. 8 a.m.
• April 25 (OVAS) Distinguished Speaker Series on April 25, 2024 at noon noon

• Request an Appointment

About the Department

Our History

Chairman’s Message

Our Benefactors

Faculty resources.

Trauma Protocols

Grand Rounds

Robotics Curriculum

Education & training, residency programs, fellowship programs, training programs, surgical innovation & research, research labs, alexander j. walt 
endowed lectures.

Notable Grand Rounds

Wayne State Surgical Society

Meet our faculty.

David Gorski, MD, PhD, FACS

Administrative Assistant:  Lisa Berant Administrative Email:  [email protected]

Breast and Oncologic Surgery

BOARD CERTIFICIATIONS: – American Board Of Surgery Board Certified

EDUCATION: – Ph.D. – Cellular Physiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH – M.D. – University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan – B.S. – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

RESIDENCY: – General Surgery Residency, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH

FELLOWSHIPS: – Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Publications

• Racial differences in estrogen receptor staining levels and implications for treatment and survival among estrogen receptor positive, HER2-negative invasive breast cancers. Purrington KS, Gorski D, Simon MS, Hastert TA, Kim S, Rosati R, Schwartz AG, Ratnam M.Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2020 May;181(1):145-154. doi: 10.1007/s10549-020-05607-4. Epub 2020 Mar 31.PMID: 32236827
• Using Whole Breast Ultrasound Tomography to Improve Breast Cancer Risk Assessment: A Novel Risk Factor Based on the Quantitative Tissue Property of Sound Speed. Duric N, Sak M, Fan S, Pfeiffer RM, Littrup PJ, Simon MS, Gorski DH, Ali H, Purrington KS, Brem RF, Sherman ME, Gierach GL.J Clin Med. 2020 Jan 29;9(2):367. doi: 10.3390/jcm9020367.PMID: 32013177 Free PMC article.
• The Epidemiology of Cancer Among Homeless Adults in Metropolitan Detroit. Folowatyj AN, Heath EI, Pappas LM, Ruterbusch JJ, Gorski DH, Triest JA, Park HK, Beebe-Dimmer JL, Schwartz AG, Cote ML, Schwartz KL.JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2019 Mar;3(1):pkz006. doi: 10.1093/jncics/pkz006. Epub 2019 Mar 25.PMID: 30944890 Free PMC article.
• Metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 regulates inflammation in triple negative breast cancer. Sexton RE, Hachem AH, Assi AA, Bukhsh MA, Gorski DH, Speyer CL.Sci Rep. 2018 Oct 30;8(1):16008. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-34502-8.PMID: 30375476 Free PMC article.
• IgA Fc-folate conjugate activates and recruits neutrophils to directly target triple-negative breast cancer cells. Frontera ED, Khansa RM, Schalk DL, Leakan LE, Guerin-Edbauer TJ, Ratnam M, Gorski DH, Speyer CL.Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2018 Dec;172(3):551-560. doi: 10.1007/s10549-018-4941-5. Epub 2018 Aug 28.PMID: 30155754 Free PMC article.
• Racial Differences in 21-Gene Recurrence Scores Among Patients With Hormone Receptor-Positive, Node-Negative Breast Cancer. Holowatyj AN, Cote ML, Ruterbusch JJ, Ghanem K, Schwartz AG, Vigneau FD, Gorski DH, Purrington KS.J Clin Oncol. 2018 Mar 1;36(7):652-658. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.74.5448. Epub 2018 Jan 17.PMID: 29341832 Free PMC article.
• Riluzole synergizes with paclitaxel to inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer. Speyer CL, Bukhsh MA, Jafry WS, Sexton RE, Bandyopadhyay S, Gorski DH.Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2017 Nov;166(2):407-419. doi: 10.1007/s10549-017-4435-x. Epub 2017 Aug 5.PMID: 28780701 Free PMC article.
• Variation in the use of advanced imaging at the time of breast cancer diagnosis in a statewide registry. Henry NL, Braun TM, Breslin TM, Gorski DH, Silver SM, Griggs JJ.Cancer. 2017 Aug 1;123(15):2975-2983. doi: 10.1002/cncr.30674. Epub 2017 Mar 16.PMID: 28301680 Free article.
• Associations between use of the 21-gene recurrence score assay and chemotherapy regimen selection in a statewide registry. Henry NL, Braun TM, Ali HY, Munir K, Silver SM, Gorski DH, Breslin TM, Griggs JJ.Cancer. 2017 May 15;123(6):948-956. doi: 10.1002/cncr.30429. Epub 2016 Oct 27.PMID: 27787892 Free article.
• Strategic Endothelial Cell Tube Formation Assay: Comparing Extracellular Matrix and Growth Factor Reduced Extracellular Matrix. Xie D, Ju D, Speyer C, Gorski D, Kosir MA.J Vis Exp. 2016 Aug 14;(114):54074. doi: 10.3791/54074.PMID: 27585062 Free PMC article.

CLINICAL STUDIES:

• PI – A Prognostic Study of Sentinel Node and Bone Marrow Metastases in Women with Clinical T1 or T2 N0 M0 Breast Cancer, 2009-present.
• PI – A Randomized Trial of Axillary Node Dissection in Women With Clinical T1 or T2 N0 M0 Breast Cancer Who Have A Positive Sentinel Node, 2009-present.
• PI – A Randomized Phase III Trial Comparing 16 to 18 Weeks of Neoadjuvant Exemestane (25mg daily), Letrozole (2.5 mg), or Anastrozole (1 mg) in Postmenopausal Women with Clinical Stage II and III Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer, 2009-present.
• Co- Chair – ECOG Protocol #2301: A Randomized Phase II Study of BMS-247550 (NSC #710428) Given Daily x 5 Days Every 3 Weeks or Weekly in Patients with Metastatic or Recurrent Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck, 2003-2005.

MEDICAL STUDENTS: Instruction in breast surgery clinic, lecturer on breast cancer, thesis committee

RESIDENTS: Bedside teaching in hospital/clinic, didactic/socratic

© 2024 WSU Department of Surgery

PhD in Molecular Genetics and Genomics

The PhD In Molecular Genetics and Genomics is a challenging, research-intensive graduate program which prepares students for careers in academia or industry and emphasizes eukaryotic molecular and cellular biology with applications in genetics and molecular medicine.

Doctoral candidates receive intensive laboratory training, working closely with faculty on projects at the forefront of biomedical research. The first year is spent taking the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences core curriculum and completing laboratory rotations to sample the research environment in laboratories of potential interest to them. The core curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in the areas of molecular and cellular biology and genetics. By the end of the first year, students begin thesis research, completing additional coursework tailored to their background and area of research in their second year.

Students also participate in the Center’s seminar series that covers the breadth of research areas in current molecular biology, molecular medicine, and genetics.

Program Overview

90 credit hours in didactic and laboratory course work is required, including

Interdisciplinary Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBS 7015)

Responsible Conduct of Research (GS 0900)

Complete course work (major courses designated for the MGG degree plus electives)

Original research upon reaching doctoral candidate status (MGG 9990, 9991, 9992, 9993, 9994)

A typical program timeline is here

Questions about the program?

For general questions and more informtion about how to apply, please see the FAQs or contact the CMMG Program Coordinator, Ms. Suzanne Shaw at 313-577-5325 or [email protected] . If you would like to talk with our Graduate Officer Professor Russell Finley, Ph.D. about the program please feel free to contact him at  [email protected]

Financial Support

Ph.D. students in good standing are funded by a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) that includes a competitive stipend, paid tuition, and subsidized medical insurance. 

Research Training and Laboratory Rotations

During the Fall and Winter terms of their first year students complete three laboratory rotations. The goal of these rotations is to select a PhD advisor, develop working relationships with different faculty, and learn scientific techniques. Students receive a grade for each rotation. The overall grade will be the average of the three rotation grades and will be credited to MGG 7460 in the Winter term. Correcting for holidays and Spring break, each rotation is approximately 10 weeks long.

Students are supported by Graduate Research Assistantships, which means that there are no teaching requirements. Students are therefore expected to spend the maximum amount of time in the lab, as determined by the faculty member. Near the end of each rotation students will give a 10-minute oral presentation on each rotation in the Research Conference series.

At the end of the third rotation all students will communicate their choice of PhD training laboratory to the respective faculty member and to the Graduate Director. All student-faculty matches must be approved by a vote of the CMMG faculty.

CMMG Seminars and Research Conferences

Students are required to attend all CMMG seminars and Research Conferences for the duration of their studies. Excuses in advance of an absence must be reported to the Graduate Director.

Each student will be required to give one presentation each year in the Research Conference series beginning in the second year. No course credit is given for these presentations. Students are encouraged to invite the members of their dissertation committee to attend their presentation, and schedule their yearly committee meeting to follow shortly after the presentation. The outcome of this meeting is reported to the Graduate Director using the dissertation meeting report form.

Timeline for Required Coursework and Advancing to PhD Candidacy

MGG students register for 10 credit hours in the Fall, 10 credit hours in the Winter and 2 credit hours in the Spring/Summer terms.

Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to retain their Graduate Research Assistantship. A grade of B- in a required course is considered passing. A grade of C+ or lower in any required course is considered failing. More than two C grades in general course work will be grounds for immediate dismissal from the program.

At the end of the first year students select an advisor and a laboratory in which to do their dissertation research, file a Plan of Work developed in consultation with the Graduate Director and advisor, and then complete the Written Qualifying Exam.

At the end of the second year, students complete a written Dissertation Prospectus (a proposal for their dissertation research), and defend the proposal at an Oral Examination/Prospectus Meeting. Upon successful completion of the Oral Examination/Prospectus Meeting, students advance to Ph.D. Candidacy. 

After advancing to Candidate Status, students are required to enroll for 4 successive Fall/Winter terms as Candidate Status in MGG 9991, 9992, 9993, 9994.  If the dissertation is not completed after 4 terms the student will enroll in Maintenance Status, MGG 9995.

MILESTONES IN GRADUATE TRAINING

Molecular Genetics and Genomics (MGG) Course Requirements

During their first 2 years, MGG students enroll in the following core courses.

MGG 7015 Introduction to Genetics (Cr. 2)

MGG 7030 Functional Genomics and Systems Biology (IBS 7030) (Cr. 2)

MGG 7600 Advanced Human Genetics (Cr. 4)

MGG 7050 Bioinformatics: Theory and Practice (Cr. 3)

MGG 7091 Scientific Communication II (Cr. 2)

MGG 7460 Research Training in Molecular Genetics and Genomics (Cr. variable)

FPH 7015 Biostatistics (Cr. 4)

Examples of Elective Courses

MGG 7020 Metabolism and Disease (Cr. 2)

MGG 7400 Molecular Biology of Cellular Signaling (Cr. 2)

MGG 8010 Quantitative Data Analysis for Biological and Medical Sciences (Cr. 3)

MGG 8680 Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology and Genetics (Cr. 1-3)

MGG 8770 Molecular Biology of Mitochondrial Disease (Cr. 2)

IBS 7030 Functional Genomics and Systems Biology (Cr. 2)

IBS 7050 Biomedical Neurobiology (Cr. 2)

IBS 7090 Biomedical Immunology (Cr. 2)

IBS 7100 Biomedical Neuropharmacology (Cr. 2)

IBS 7110 Introduction to the Business of Biotechnology (Cr. 2)

IBS 7115 Special Topics in Biotechnology Commercialization (Cr. 1)

IBS 7140 Foundations of Computational Biology (Cr. 3)

Wayne State University

Academic catalog, medicine three-year program (m.d.).

Contact Information: Office of Admissions Mazurek Education Commons 320 E Canfield, Suite 322 Detroit, MI 48201 Telephone (313) 577-1466 [email protected]

The Three-Year MD (3YMD) program at the Wayne State University School of Medicine (WSUSOM) offers a limited number of students the opportunity to complete their medical degree in three years. Students accepted into the 3YMD program receive conditional acceptance into a WSUSOM sponsored or administered residency upon graduation from the 3YMD program. Students enrolled in the 3YMD program will complete all of the requirements for graduation from medical school as set forth by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and will receive extensive mentorship from their chosen residency program while in the 3YMD program.

Three-Year M.D. Curriculum

Segment 1 - Phase 1, Part 1 - Pre-Clerkship

Segment 2 phase 1, part 2 - pre-clerkship, segment 3 - phase 2 - clerkship, segment 4 - phase 3 - post-clerkship, print options.

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All pages in the Undergraduate Catalog.

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All pages in Graduate Catalog.

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences

Wayne State University offers a broad choice of courses, research programs and teaching opportunities for doctoral studies. Each student follows an individualized program with a focus on original research, publication and presentation at meetings.

Our Ph.D. students receive financial support for at least five years of study. Support as a graduate teaching assistant, research assistant or graduate fellow provides a stipend, tuition and health benefits. On-campus housing is available, and many graduate students live in apartments near campus.

See biological sciences graduate admissions for more information.

• Annual progress report
• Committee meeting confirmation form

Procedure for doctoral studies

It is the student's responsibility to make sure that the Ph.D. requirements and documentation are fulfilled in a timely manner according to the sequence outlined below and to keep the advising office informed of their progress. Upon periodic review, students who are not up to date will receive a registration hold until the requirements are met.

The following synopsis is a combination of Graduate School and departmental requirements. Required forms are referenced by letter code with examples attached on the following pages; actual forms should be obtained in the department advising office.

Overall progress monitoring

Annual graduate student progress is maintained in the departmental advising office; it requires updating by the advisor with input from the student each year. For this and all other records of progress, the student should maintain regular contact with the advising office to confirm that progress has been properly documented and is officially on record in the Graduate School. Each year students fill out an annual progress report and a committee meeting confirmation form.

This will help avoid critical last-minute delays that can be caused by clerical errors or misunderstandings. A rolling record for each student will be maintained on an organization page (Biological Sciences Ph.D. Progress Group) found on Canvas. Students are encouraged to monitor their listings to ensure that the data are correct.

View requirements

View program curriculum

Career insights

This tool provides a broad overview of how major selection can lead to careers and is provided without any implied promise of employment. Some careers will require further education, skills, or competencies. Actual salaries may vary significantly between similar employers and could change by graduation, as could employment opportunities and job titles.