Technical Communication and Advanced Medical Training Programs

This program bridges the gap between complex scientific and medical information and the diverse audiences who need to understand it. The curriculum emphasizes communication theory, health literacy, information design and medical writing. You’ll learn to collaborate with health care professionals and researchers to improve access to accurate and life-impacting information. Professionals skilled in writing, editing and translating complex information into accessible content are needed in nearly every industry.

Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication – Medical and Health

This concentration in medical and health is ideal for strong communicators interested in nonclinical work in medicine, public health or health care systems. Through hands-on practice, you’ll develop a specialty in communicating health information ethically and effectively for user needs. You’ll also thrive in this program and the field if you’re empathetic and committed to improving public health literacy. Applied coursework includes opportunities to build skills you'll use in your career, such as:

• Creating digital content for health care platforms
• Developing accessible patient education resources
• Producing public health campaigns
• Translating scientific and medical data for non-experts
• Writing regulatory and compliance documents

Health care organizations and communities rely on clear, accurate messaging to support informed decisions. Your writing expertise will prepare you to pursue roles in medical writing, health education, regulatory documentation and digital health media. Specifically, health communication career paths include medical writer, patient education coordinator, information design specialist and digital health content creator.

The Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program Structure

For those pursuing clinical and research excellence, the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program offers a rigorous curriculum. The curriculum consists of three phases designed to integrate medical and scientific training:

• Phase 1: In the first two years of the program, MD-PhD students follow the Weill Cornell Medical College curriculum, including 18 months of foundational coursework and 6 months of required clerkships.
• Phase 2: During the graduate school phase (3.5-4.5 years), MD-PhD students take limited coursework and conduct original research in order to satisfy the requirements for the PhD degree.
• Phase 3: During the final phase (18 months), MD-PhD students return to medical school to complete their required clerkships and participate in electives before applying for residency.

Detailed Academic Timeline

1. Years 1 and 2: In addition to the first 18 months of pre-clinical medical school courses, students take several MD-PhD-specific courses: Introduction to Clinical and Translational Research, Frontiers in Biomedicine I & II, and Research Lunches.
2. Year 3 through Thesis Defense: Students select a thesis lab and graduate school by August of Year 3. By the end of Year 3, students write and defend a Thesis Research Proposal (TRP).
3. Final Clinical Training: Students defend their theses in the early fall before resuming clerkship training. In their final year, students complete remaining coursework including Advanced Clinical Ethics [ACE], Health Policy [HP], and Transition to Residency [TTR].

Core Competencies and Applied Learning

Medical documentation requires precision, so an eye for detail is essential. Whether you pursue roles in hospitals, government agencies, biotechnology firms or nonprofits, you’ll be prepared to make an impact from day one. You’ll also gain experience with industry tools such as design software, content management systems and documentation platforms. To complete this degree, you’ll develop a professional portfolio and a final document synthesizing your undergraduate experience.