Neuronix,
MD/PhDs are 3% of the pool of physicians but receive 40% of K08, 15% of K23, 50% of R01 awarded to physicians.
MD/PhDs are 7.5% of Medical School Faculty and 10.5% of the MD Faculty (AAMC 2010 -
https://www.aamc.org/download/169798/data/10table7.pdf )
Part of the reason for the relative increase of success in R01s is that there is an actual decrease in the number of MDs (not MD/PhDs) submitting R01s. Why? The clinical demands for revenue have increased progressively. There is a greater emphasis on RVU production in clinical departments. If your negotiation as you take a position is primarily based on salary, you are signing up for a life of making that salary. Bridging between your first few grants will be very expensive and with much less duration, resulting in a greater probability of not doing science in the future.
NR3A,
You are not a finish product as you do your PhD. You are learning how to think and approach scientific questions. Biochemistry or Molecular Biology, for example, can be applied to the entire broad field of Medicine or Surgery. There is not a single specialty that these two disciplines are not touching in one way or another... even health care outcomes (polymorphisms of disease). Do what you are most interest on at the present time.
triplerox,
A Master's is a good way to start research, even if you are going to pursue a MD/PhD. Don't do it if it will take you longer than 2 years. Apply to MD/PhDs programs after your first year of the Master's. PM me if you have specific questions.
Agneau91,
It is not too late. If you have the academic credentials (ie: GPA and MCAT), what we measure in the interviews is your motivation and passion for science. It is important to get some posters and very helpful if you get a publication. At the interview, you must be able to describe clearly your research and your role acquiring and interpreting data. Regarding time, this career takes a lot of time. It took me 17 years after high school to get my first Assistant Professor job. It should feel that you can not do anything else but this. At the present time, I enjoy every minute of it. Good luck!