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As for residency, I think the answer is similar to the answer to "Podunk U genius vs Harvard slacker." Going to Harvard will not make up for a 2.0 GPA and 25 MCAT. Similarly, a PhD will not make up for poor board scores or grades because first and foremost residencies are training clinicians. At least that is the sense I get from one of Neuronix's I read a while back.
Sulfinator said:In general, surgical specialties tend not to attract many MD/PhDs because, in general, people who go through MD/PhD programs wanting to do research are usually geared toward more basic science research, and not so much 'clinical' research. Surgical practice and surgery residency training just don't lend themselves to a career in basic science research as much as other specialties, such as IM and pathology (which are two of the most common fields pursued by MD/PhDs entering residency training). Not to say that no MD/PhDs go into surgery training, just not near as many. That is why you don't see as many MD/PhDs matching into those type of programs.
Doctor&Geek said:If your intention is not to go hardcore research, choose a different career path. Do not do an MD/PhD to pad your resume.
If you are set on being a basic researcher AND a surgeon, good luck to you.
gstrub
You do not have to spend 80% of your time doing research to be a productive surgeon scientist, despite what the NIH (all IM docs and straight PhD's) have to say.
Read: Skip Brass is my MD/PhD director.
Look at the websites at Hopkins, Iowa, Michigan, UCLA, Mass Eye and Ear, Cleveland Clinic, UNC, U Washington and you will find several RO1 holding, full time surgeons with full labs, post-docs, multiple yearly publications, and excellent operating schedules. Are they in the lab 80% of the time? No, if that's what they wanted to do, they would have done IM.
You do not have to spend 80% of your time doing research to be a productive surgeon scientist, despite what the NIH (all IM docs and straight PhD's) have to say.
Was it in ENT? Of course not...it was biochemistry. Basic science is just that...your training experience is applicable in any field of research, as you are taught to think like a scientist
I'm sorry if I came off as abrasive, ad did not mean to lump IM with anything, so if I offended anyone, I apologize. I just cannot tell you how irksome it is to have people espouse the attitude (not saying anyone did here) that being a surgeon and being successful in research are mutually exclusive. It's like being told you've wasted your time doing research if all you wanted to do was peddle around in the OR. As if I've sold out or something....
-G
Just to throw in my 2 cents/summary to the OP:
(1) DO pursue the MD/PhD if you will feel that your life will not be complete without doing significant bench research in the next several years and your foreseeable career. This is irrespective of what you want to do clinically.
(2) Otherwise, stop right there and do MD only. If you kick butt in med school and do a shorter (like 1 yr) research experience, you will be in as good a shape as any MD/PhDs for applying in these specialties, at least if current trends hold. The 3-4-5+ quality adjusted life years in lab are not worth it if you're only doing this to bolster your CV. You can do basic, or clinical research as an MD only later on in residency if you wish (in fact, many surgical residencies build in significant research time). MD-only researcher surgeons do exist.
(3) If (1) holds, you CAN do surgical training and, as the above posters have indicated, pursue a majority lab research career (or even possibly start it with (2) and a research fellowship). It is possible with hard work and luck, but significantly harder than in less procedure oriented fields because of systemic factors.
(4) In my general observational experiences of MD/PhDs I know, lifestyle considerations are less important when we're starting the program as ex-premeds, but often rise in terms of priorities as we get married/reproduce/have aging parents/burn out, etc. Many of us change our minds with respect to our clinical goals with these issues in mind as our training goes on.
Good luck!
Since no one wants to answer your question . . .
Just for the record, I found that to be mildly insulting.
Whatever, if the truth insults you, i make no apologies. He asked if the mdphd would help in getting a competitive surgical residency. The answer is yes. The answer is not the posts about how difficult the career will be. I have been hearing that from every non surgeon mdphd for years.
Being mdphd will help you get a competitive surgical subspecialty provided the program values research. Some do more than others.
Not true, the original question asked:
"That's not really where I want to end up and I'm just not sure if so many of them are choosing these traditionally not-very-competitive residencies because of their personal interests, test scores, research ambitions or simply because the M.D./Ph.D double degree doesn't help them that much in the application process for highly competitive surgical"
You answered the latter half. Everyone else was answering the first part: that MD/PhD students tend to choose IM and other non surgical specialties out of personal interest and research ambitions.
My apologies.
In general, surgical specialties tend not to attract many MD/PhDs because, in general, people who go through MD/PhD programs wanting to do research are usually geared toward more basic science research, and not so much 'clinical' research. Surgical practice and surgery residency training just don't lend themselves to a career in basic science research as much as other specialties, such as IM and pathology (which are two of the most common fields pursued by MD/PhDs entering residency training). Not to say that no MD/PhDs go into surgery training, just not near as many. That is why you don't see as many MD/PhDs matching into those type of programs.
I 100% agree with this. Don't start an MD/PhD program not serious about doing a majority bench research career. If you are set on being a basic researcher AND a surgeon, good luck to you.
Why? I'm an MD-PhD student and I plan on going into surgery. My PhD is in CLINICAL work and I DON'T plan on doing research long-term. I'm doing the PhD to improve specialized knowledge and establish better technique to assist me as a surgeon.
I hate lab work
Since no one wants to answer your question, and want to spout the usual "surgeons don't have time to do good research " Skip Brass mantra, I will enlighten you on my experience, since I doubt the above posters are going into surgery or have been on the interview trail in a surgical subspecialty.
My best friend and I are graduating MD/PhD this year, and he is doing ortho and I am doing ENT. I can say, without a doubt in the world, the PhD was a tremendous help in getting interviews and making us more competitive. This applies to the big name, research intensive programs. We are by no means academic superstars...Step I from 230-250, similar step 2, only a few clinical honors, him AOA but not me. There are 8 people from our school applying into ortho, and his interview list is by far the most impressive (despite being numerically inferior to every single other applicant). My scores and grades are well below the average ENT applicant, but I received over 25 invites, and interviewed at 7 of the "top ten" programs in the country, and all of them mentioned how valuable my research experience was. Was it in ENT? Of course not...it was biochemistry. Basic science is just that...your training experience is applicable in any field of research, as you are taught to think like a scientist.
Of course, you have to have decent enough scores to get you in the door in any competitive field. However, I cannot stress enough the value (again, at the research based programs) of having basic science first author publications, extramural funding, being a bit older and more mature, and being able to talk about how basic science research will make you a better surgeon, etc etc. There are plenty of academic surgeons out there with RO1 grants. I met 9 on the interview trail this year. It is completely doable. Even if that's not what you want, having the experience will make you a better resident.
I also wanted to be a surgeon when I applied for MD/PhD, so I know where you are coming from. Just remember to keep an open mind about all medical specialties, as you will likely change your mind as your path winds on and you become older and your priorities change.
Good luck,
G
Did you go into your MD/PhD interviews stating this plan?
Personally, I think you're wasting several years of your life obtaining a PhD you will barely use.
Also, the advice to take step 1 after or during your PhD is seriously misguided IMO. Take the time you need to study for step 1, on the order of 6 weeks (+/- 2 weeks) full-time with practice books and questions. Don't do this after being out of clinical world for awhile. A PhD is a full-time endeavor. If you want to take several months out of the start of your PhD to study, that might be ok (assuming your PI is okay with it). But, expect your PhD to take that much longer.
What are Farrah Fawcett, Patrick Swayze, Michael Jackson, and Ed McMahon getting for Christmas?
anonymous000
If you want not a 240, but a 260, the # of practice Qs and times reading/understanding FA is everything. There should never be an MD-PhD independent learner scoring <250.
I disagree with the implication that all MD/PhD students following some protocol should score 250+. Nobody should feel worse about themselves based on your ignorant and misplaced comments. I go to a very good school, scored very well for the sake of anonymity, and worked my ass off- and I'm smarter than you, as are my classmates. The majority of them did not score 250+. While there is truth to your formula, most US students can't 'do all the Q-banks.'If on the other hand you are the type of person who generally finds med school lectures worthless ... it IS in your best interest to study alongside the initial PhD years, because additional study time is essentially the same as that during the first two med years. That is an important point... If you can make the extended timeline tractable and do all of the QBanks, including having read FA minimum 3x, a 250+ is a guarantee and a 260+ is very much within reach...
In the US, completing Step1 is typically a requirement for entering the PhD. Most US citizen MD/PhD students are not in school in Australia (or some other place), where your situation is different, and step 1 may be even more important for landing a US residency. We don't have the option to research/step 1 prep 75/25 during our PhD, as if we would desire that.The study pattern should include a percentage devoted to the PhD concurrent to a percentage devoted to additional step-1 studying (e.g. 75/25); keep in mind, time devoted to step-1 should not be thought of as detracting from that possibly spent on the PhD, since the material in step-1 is necessary to know for the rest of your career! And reinforcement/repetition is key.
I disagree with the implication that all MD/PhD students following some protocol should score 250+. Nobody should feel worse about themselves based on your ignorant and misplaced comments. I go to a very good school, scored very well for the sake of anonymity, and worked my ass off- and I'm smarter than you, as are my classmates. The majority of them did not score 250+. While there is truth to your formula, most US students can't 'do all the Q-banks.'
In the US, completing Step1 is typically a requirement for entering the PhD. Most US citizen MD/PhD students are not in school in Australia (or some other place), where your situation is different, and step 1 may be even more important for landing a US residency. We don't have the option to research/step 1 prep 75/25 during our PhD, as if we would desire that.
I'm not really sure I get this. You are saying to study throughout your PhD in order to boost your step I score? Why not just study harder as an MS2, get a 250+, and then enjoy your free evenings?
I actually agree with Anonymous000. I know someone who achieved a high score by doing that.
Anonymous000, I'm new to this website and am also an MD/PhD student. If you have any more advice to offer up, I'd really appreciate it!
I think you all can connect the dots on this one...
You mean you aren't going to let us enjoy tonight's production of Sockpuppet Theatre?
I actually agree with Anonymous000. I know someone who achieved a high score by doing that.
Anonymous000, I'm new to this website and am also an MD/PhD student. If you have any more advice to offer up, I'd really appreciate it!
People are actually banned from this website?! Woooow! What happened to free speech? I just have a couple of words to say from reading this thread, "SUPER-EGOS" & "POWER TRIP!"