Short MD after PhD, a myth?

VSL said:

I was wondering if there is such Medical School/programs which offer a 'fast track' MD program (2 years) to students that have previously completed their PhD degree in biological sciences. I have heard of such mythical program in Miami but cannot seem to find more info about this. Is this for real? If so, how good can it be?

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I've heard of this happening at MIT/Harvard (that is, friend finishing PhD and was being badgered to becoming a MD/PhD), although I'm not certain if that was part of a formal program or people pulling strings (I wouldn't be surprised if it was the latter).

VSL said:

I was wondering if there is such Medical School/programs which offer a 'fast track' MD program (2 years) to students that have previously completed their PhD degree in biological sciences. I have heard of such mythical program in Miami but cannot seem to find more info about this. Is this for real? If so, how good can it be?

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One such program did exist and it was very successful (see PUBMED):http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,2600-1;17585-3,00.html

VSL said:

I was wondering if there is such Medical School/programs which offer a 'fast track' MD program (2 years) to students that have previously completed their PhD degree in biological sciences. I have heard of such mythical program in Miami but cannot seem to find more info about this. Is this for real? If so, how good can it be?

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Sorry, but you're over twenty years too late. Miami disbanded their program in 1987. The fastest track that I know of for PhD-to-MD is to go to Duke, where they only do one year of basic sciences and spend the third year doing research. If you come in with a PhD, they'll let you skip the research year and go straight to fourth year, so you'll finish in three years instead of four.

VSL said:

I was wondering if there is such Medical School/programs which offer a 'fast track' MD program (2 years) to students that have previously completed their PhD degree in biological sciences. I have heard of such mythical program in Miami but cannot seem to find more info about this. Is this for real? If so, how good can it be?

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The "basic science" taught outside a medical school to PhD is not equivalent to the first two years of medical school which are focused on integrating disease with basic science. I sat next to a PhD in microbiology my 1st two years and although many things were easier for him, the vast majority of was unfamiliar.

There is no way a PhD in anything completely prepares you for the science to be a physician.

There seems to be a movement to integrate more clinical science into the basic science years and vice versa. So in the future it is even more unlikely a PhD would give you credit for any year of school.

viostorm said:

There is no way a PhD in anything completely prepares you for the science to be a physician.

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As a PhD who has finished the first two years of medical school, I agree with this completely. The focus in grad school is much narrower and does not cover anywhere close to all of the subjects that will be covered in medical school. I would guess that someone with a PhD in pathology would have the greatest curricular overlap. But even then, they'd still be missing huge chunks of the med school curriculum, including really important subjects like pharm, micro, etc.

Dear QofQuimica,
as a phd graduate, how easy or how difficult do you think it is to get into med school. From your personal experience, what do you think is needed or how do you sell your case to the committee. also for Mcats, how much of prep time is needed. Im trying to perusade my husband who graduated last year with a phd that its still not too late to consider it. he thinks he too mature (32) plus family et all ....but you see i am willing to help him in his struggle and dream.
what do u suggest/advice?

VSL said:

I was wondering if there is such Medical School/programs which offer a 'fast track' MD program (2 years) to students that have previously completed their PhD degree in biological sciences. I have heard of such mythical program in Miami but cannot seem to find more info about this. Is this for real? If so, how good can it be?

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A number of schools offered this PhD to MD 2 year path for select candidates in the 80s. It was an accelerated program, with no vacations, few weekends off. University of Miami was one of the bigger such programs. It was reportedly quite good, and folks who made it through the program got a top notch, albeit intense education. But the LCME put the nix on this on these programs were closed. You won't find such a program any more.

leolad said:

Dear QofQuimica,
as a phd graduate, how easy or how difficult do you think it is to get into med school. From your personal experience, what do you think is needed or how do you sell your case to the committee. also for Mcats, how much of prep time is needed. Im trying to perusade my husband who graduated last year with a phd that its still not too late to consider it. he thinks he too mature (32) plus family et all ....but you see i am willing to help him in his struggle and dream.
what do u suggest/advice?

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His age is the least of his problems as far as making him competitive or not competitive for medical school. What he needs to do are the same things that everyone who wants to go to med school need to do: take any missing pre-reqs (generally one year each of gen chem, organic, physics, and bio each with lab); take the MCAT and ideally score 30+ on it; and get some sort of clinical experience. Time to prep for the MCAT will vary by the individual; the average is probably around 2-3 months, but some people will do much more or much less. Note also that some schools have additional course requirements (ex. English, calculus, biochem). These courses are not needed for MCAT prep, but he will need to take any additional courses required by his med school before he matriculates, even if he has already been accepted.

I compiled a bunch of threads in the Physician Scientist forum for people who are interested in going PhD-to-MD. Your husband (or you) may find some of these links helpful.

Best of luck to you.

QofQuimica said:

Sorry, but you're over twenty years too late. Miami disbanded their program in 1987. The fastest track that I know of for PhD-to-MD is to go to Duke, where they only do one year of basic sciences and spend the third year doing research. If you come in with a PhD, they'll let you skip the research year and go straight to fourth year, so you'll finish in three years instead of four.

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This is incredible info, that is perhaps not obvious when researching which MD schools to apply to...do you know if Duke still follows this system? I really appreciate you and your response! thanks

Doesn't Columbia have this program (or one of the other NYC schools) where you can do 3 years (basically skip MS1) if you have a PhD and they audit your previous coursework and some kind of exam. I think I heard about it on one of my admissions tours?

There are some PhD's in my med school class and the only thing they're allowed to skip is the required research.

wholeheartedly said:

The Columbia website still has this program listed.

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Yes, does anyone know the class size of the PhD to MD program at Columbia? It was started in 2013, and Unfortunately, the class size is not found online.

wholeheartedly said:

I would guess its very small. they prbably don't get someone every year. of course i'm guessing on that.

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The class size is 4, and it's a top notch program - well-designed and well thought out. They had around 95 applicants this year and interviewed about 15% of them.


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