Subspecialization in MD aspect of MD/PhD

blazinfury · Jun 9, 2008

Since most MD/PhDs go into internal medicine, do they sub specialize in a given area of their MD? I ask because subspecialization requires additional education and hands-on training after residency and fellowship. Or is this looked upon as a drag because of all of the schooling that an MD/PhD had to endure already?

pseudoknot · Jun 10, 2008

I don't think "most" MD/PhDs go into IM, although doubtless a plurality do (true of regular MDs too!). Anyway, it's pretty common to subspecialize, partly because it's expected, partly because it's easier to balance a narrow clinical career with a scientific one, partly because scientists tend to be into depth over breadth.

Here is an interesting example of a physician-scientist who didn't do a clinical fellowship after IM residency:
http://mootha.med.harvard.edu/members_vm.html

Neuronix · Jun 10, 2008

pseudoknot said:
I don't think "most" MD/PhDs go into IM, although doubtless a plurality do (true of regular MDs too!).

http://www.aamc.org/research/dbr/mdphd/bsullivan_residencychoices.pdf
http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~paik/match.html

25-30% go into IM (according to the aamc data, and the largest MD/PhD choice)

For all medical graduates:
http://www.nrmp.org/data/resultsanddata2008.pdf

19% into IM (the biggest specialty)

This got me thinking... Where are the biggest deviations? I am comparing older data to newer data but I imagine it hasn't changed a whole lot.

Peds is pretty close nationally (9%, #3 nationally) and MD/PhD (~12%, #2 for MD/PhDs).

Pathology is 2% nationally vs. about 10% of MD/PhDs (#3 for MD/PhDs).
Neurology is also 2% of MD matches and close to 10% of MD/PhD matches.

Radiology and Radiation Oncology (combined only because B. Sullivan did and NOT because they are at all similar) is about 5% of MD matches, 10% of MD/PhD matches.

FP is an obvious one that goes the other way. It's a low single digit percentage of MD/PhDs but 10% nationally (#2).

Rowany · Jun 12, 2008

That's pretty cool Neuronix. Thanks for checking that out!

Subspecialization in MD aspect of MD/PhD

blazinfury

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pseudoknot

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Neuronix

Total nerd

Rowany

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