MBBS/MD+PhD Programmes in Australia

[Zylian]

Currently doing a Bachelor of Western Herbal Medicine in which you also study anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology and pathology. So I'm dreaming of getting into graduate medicine after I get my undergrad. I quite like the idea of being a physician-scientist, splitting my career between clinical practice and cutting edge research. I'm pretty sure I want to do radiology. It'd be better to do a PhD along with the medical degree and get both in say 6 years rather than doing the medical degree for 4 years and then having to spend 3 years if lucky, more likely 4 years away from medicine to do the PhD.

UQ explicitly offers an 'intercalated' MBBS/PhD over 6 years. Coming out with a medical degree and a PhD in 6 years sounds like a pretty good deal when you consider that many MBBS programmes around the world take 6 years. Ok sure, first you have to have an undergraduate degree and then an honours degree... but the more knowledge, the better, right? Knowledge is power.
But I've heard that UQ has a reputation for skipping a lot of the basic sciences in their MBBS.

Since the other universities don't explicitly list any MBBS or MD/PhD programmes, I thought I'd ask around. Is this possible to do? I see the University of Sydney has currently has opportunities to do a PhD in Radiology. Let's say they still do when it comes time to apply for medical school, if I got into the University of Sydney would I be able to do their medical degree and a PhD over 6 years?

It'd be great to hear from anybody who has done a PhD alongside their medical degree.

Thanks!

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[pitman]

All Australian med school programs 'skip' a lot of the basic sciences (relative to US med schools). The reason you hear most about UQ in this regard is because it has the largest contingent of N. American students -- those who care about and discuss the issue.

 

[Zylian]

And yet Australia has a strong reputation for producing quality doctors.

 

[Theillestill]

The premise is you already have demonstrated some research ability/potential before they would accept you into the intercalated program. It's expected you have an honours degree (which is a one year research degree done typically after your Australian undergraduate degree) and/or have published work in the past.

I was personally thinking about doing a conjoint PhD with my specialty training but I have decided that it isn't for me. PhDs often take up more years than initially proposed or expected and I don't want my registration as a specialist to be tied to that. If I'll do one - which I plan to do in the future - it would be as a part-time PhD whilst working as a specialist.


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