What are ideal PhD area, residency, practicing specialty, and research specialty combinations?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

MagicBlueSmoke

New Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
May 22, 2015
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Hi! I was wondering if you would be willing to indulge in a little bit of make-believe. People make ideal lists for all sorts of things, including Olympic gymnastic routines, Pokemon stats, and dream-teams of politicians. So in that vein:

1) Is there such a thing as an ideal (please describe primary metric(s)) combination of PhD area, residency, practicing specialty, and research specialty?

2) Is there actually an example of someone who has fulfilled your ideal criteria?

3) If not, who comes the closest?

Members don't see this ad.
 
You should get your MD/PhD from Harvard and go to UCSF for a residency in neurosurgery while having a Noble laureate personally take you under their wing so you publish a Nature or Science magazine article in under 3 years using mostly other people's data (of course). Get your own R01 with this data and start your own dysfunctional lab because you don't invest the time or have the actual skill or urge to run a lab.

Then immediately go into some sort of sexy subspecialty where you do some crazy new procedure (probably involving lasers or deep brain stimulation - bonus points if you can do it in pediatrics or cure a brain cancer). Promptly get invited on TV shows (usually Good Morning America, hopefully followed by Oprah or Ellen). Sell a book and make a few mil'. Party around and get a really hot wife (one your 'friends' would rate a '10'). Get some fast cars (make a YouTube commercial about your new Lamborghini but that you actually really prize books more). Make sure to have at least two children in quick succession as you get your own TV segment. Things peak, your life unravels as your wife leaves you and your TV show sucks. Do a lot of narcotics and alcohol and settle down in your mansion as people call you a quack behind your back. Don't worry, you can still buy anything you want and go on numerous dates with women much too young for you. Even though your clinical skills have deteriorated and you produce no meaningful research, you will still be faculty somewhere because of the name recognition.

You did it - the whole American dream. I think a similar person might exist and his name might be Oz.

..... or you can toil and toil for years , and maybe you will get a few Cell articles and some prizes - maybe a Lasker?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Top