MD to Undergrad Professor?

SDN Members don't see this ad. (About Ads)

So I'm one of those students who always likes to keep my options open with regards to my future career.. and I've recently been wondering whether its possible to be a Professor (at the undergrad level, say biology courses, ap etc.) with an MD?

I was curious about this too a while ago. The answer I got when I asked is that you likely need a PhD to do so...

Absolutely, I had an anatomy and patho course taught by an MD.

Not quite sure if he had a Masters in something though.

Originally Posted by crmellon

Absolutely, I had an anatomy and patho course taught by an MD.

Not quite sure if he had a Masters in something though.

One of the professors in the neuroscience department at my school has an MD and was a practicing neurologist for a decade. Then he decided that he would prefer a career in research and teaching (with more traditional hours). He even served as the department head for a while. Super nice guy.

Originally Posted by Kinis

So I'm one of those students who always likes to keep my options open with regards to my future career.. and I've recently been wondering whether its possible to be a Professor (at the undergrad level, say biology courses, ap etc.) with an MD?

You would be qualified, but in most cases the school would be concerned that if they hired you you would bail as soon as you got a better, more lucrative physician job, so it's a hard sell. In short you are "overqualified". I know quite a few lawyers who had difficulty finding teaching jobs at undergrad justice/legal studies departments for this reason. Also there are likely enough clinicians who are willing to teach courses in their spare time for local colleges that the demand for full time faculty in such fields is pretty low.

My anatomy professor is an MD who got through med school and part of his residency when he decided it wasn't what he wanted to do. He looked around for jobs and now runs the anatomy classes and cadaver labs at my university. He told me that he'd never go back. I don't know how common this is, but he has been quite successful with it.

They (you) took our jobs (spot in med school)

I had an ecology professor undergrad who had an MD from Harvard...

my undergrad toxicology professor was a MD that stopped practicing to teach at a college and med school as well as serve on certain political panels

i think if you sell them as this is something you want to do in addition to other things then it will be okay

Former head of my the Biomedical Engineering Department at Cincinnati was a Pediatric Neuroradiologist on the side.

Also took a class on wine that was taught by an MD who specialized in Toxicology.

Wouldn't it be cheaper to hire a Ph.D than a MD to teach a course? Or, would both be paid the same?

Originally Posted by lineazy

I had an ecology professor undergrad who had an MD from Harvard...

Preftigious...

Originally Posted by Lysinee

Wouldn't it be cheaper to hire a Ph.D than a MD to teach a course? Or, would both be paid the same?

Probably paid the same, I would think. My dad's a professor at a small university, and it's mostly about the rank they hire you in as. So, if you're an assistant professor vs. an associate professor vs. professor, it changes, but probably not with your background as much.

Our physiology course was taught by a physician who worked at his ENT practice full-time. He was also involved in the pre-health committee process and interviewed students. I don't know what his situation is - I know he's an alum of the university, so that may have helped - but it's certainly possible.

There's an ND who teaches several upper level science courses at my little brother's undergrad.