ArticleBMC medical education2026
The business of medicine: a cross-sectional analysis of 4- and 5-Year MD/MBA programs in the United States.
Article in BMC medical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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5 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundThe 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.
methodsIn 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).
resultsIn 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.
conclusionsThe 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.
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