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dr.cooper.42 said:
I was curious to know if there are any psychologists here who decided to switch careers to pursue a MD or DO. After much thought and practicing as a licensed clinical psychologist for a few years, I decided to start medical school next fall. Any psychologists decide to pursue this path as well? What led you to this and how has your experience been so far? Thanks in advance!
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How long were you licensed before deciding to change careers? What led you to decide to do this?
 
As a trainee, I have never run across psychologists looking to become an MD or DO. I have on the other hand seen quite a few psychologists go for prescribing rights as their state allows for psychologists with RxP credentials. I guess my question for you is why subject yourself to more debt and a long course of education when you could get an RxP or a Physicians Assistant license quicker and gain some of the same benefits as an MD.
 
I know one person doing this. They’re doing well. Ultra specialized area (trans care). I don’t think they are a modal example of people who might have tried (very very smart and very driven, even for an md/PhD). Not sure how they afford it tho tbh.
 
I know a neurosurgeon who eventually trained to be and is now practicing as a psychoanalyst. I have yet to encounter a psychologist who decided to pursue a medical career. I am curious to know more about your story. Good luck!
 
I explored this in depth. Basic motivations were interest in the subject, boredom in my work, and social reasons. I concluded that it made no financial sense for me, unless I completely changed what interested me. In exploring this avenue, I've met about 4 psychologists that went back to medical school. Most were doing family medicine. Ugh.

Side note: Look into Path-derm. Easier to get into path. Median income is relatively baller.
 
I think at least one of the psychologists in the initial RxP project in DoD ultimately went back to medical school. I personally know of one person who moved pretty much from straight from (non-neuropsych) fellowship to med school. They seem to be happy.

I've kicked around the idea in a, "hmm, what if..." sense in the past. Then I'm re-confronted with what physicians typically do, and realize that--like PsyDr said--it wouldn't have made financial sense for me. Intellectually, it certainly still seems like it'd be interesting. But for me, there are probably more efficient/less financially disrupting ways to pursue that knowledge.

But best of luck to you! That's a substantial undertaking and (ultimately) achievement.
 
dr.cooper.42 said:
It's been less than 5 years since earning my doctoral degree. I decided to pursue this after several years of training in both neuropsych and health psych. In a nutshell, I became more interested in not only diagnosing medical conditions but also treating them (or at least slow down the progression of some of these diseases). There's more to the story. Ultimately, while I still value mental health I realized I was more passionate about understanding biological mechanisms of diseases and treating them.

This path became more feasible after receiving a generous financial package where my tuition and living expenses would be covered throughout medical school. I will not have any debt once I finish.
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In what area of medicine are you intending to specialize?

I came across someone who had an MD and PsyD as well as a PhD in a different area (I can’t remember what area). This person really liked school, to say the least. I believe they went to medical school first and then got a PsyD.
 
I know someone who did sort of the opposite (MD from an Ivy League med school; general internal medicine residency) who got an MPH and is now a tenured professor in social work department doing very psychological research--incredibly successful and nationally prominent. Still holds an adjunct faculty medical school appointment and rounds for two weeks every semester in IM.
 
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If I were younger, I might have done this. I often considered it. The idea of going to medical school is really what turned me to neuropsychology. I ended up getting a master's in cognitive neuroscience prior to going into my Psy.D. I still wonder if I would do it or not. I am 31 now, I will be 34 by the time I finish up post-doc and become licensed. I'm honestly "over" testing, quizzes, papers, etc. It gets to a point to where I think in the back of my mind "when will I be done with being tested all the time?"

I might get a 3rd master's in clinical psychopharm to prescribe tho. Goodluck in your adventure.
 
I know someone who is a physicist, neurosurgeon, test pilot, and musician.

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What advice would you all give in my case? I’m currently in a Masters level program in psych (school) and confused on the next steps to take. For the most part, I’ve desired to pursue a PhD in psych. However, for the past few years I’ve had a desire to pursue medicine, but constantly brushed it off bc I’ve been on the psych route and wanted to “stay in my lane” per se. I’m 27 with basically a year left for internship in my current program.

My main concerns are: regret! A PhD will be another 4-6 years( hoping closer to 4-5 w/ transfer credits) 1-2 years post doc (pediatric psych). I live in a RxP state and would eventually pursue the post masters (maybe begin while in post doc; if not another 2 years) and licensure.

If I pursued medicine: I’d be looking at 1-2 years preparing my app and taking preqs. 4 years med school. 3-4 years residency (Peds/Meds-Peds/Family medicine)

I have to experience working with developmentally complex adults and children! I love learning about complex diseases and treatment. I’ve been finding myself more so desiring to treat patients medically. I do think I would love peds psych but am nearly certain that at the end of all of my training, I will still want to pursue medicine. I have had the opportunity to work under PhD psychs who are basically doing a lot of what I’d like to do with the degree, and I feel like I would still desire the ability to perform the medical side of patient care.

Looking back, if you were at the masters level and had similar thoughts as myself, would you continue onto the PhD or pursue the medicine? Anyone have similar thoughts and still decided to pursue psych?

Sn: I do plan to begin shadowing docs, residents, and med students.
Thank you all!!!
 
PsyDr said:
I explored this in depth. Basic motivations were interest in the subject, boredom in my work, and social reasons. I concluded that it made no financial sense for me, unless I completely changed what interested me. In exploring this avenue, I've met about 4 psychologists that went back to medical school. Most were doing family medicine. Ugh.

Side note: Look into Path-derm. Easier to get into path. Median income is relatively baller.
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I mean, if you had to pick a medical subspecialty that is like the opposite of psychology and would use literally none of your clinical training to date, derm path would be a good candidate.
 
If you want to prescribe, pursue an MD/DO. It's the clearest path and most flexible. I did brick & mortar (as opposed to online) RxP training and it was a solid experience, but it seems like training standards have gone down since then w online training, not up. NP is quicker, but the training is quite different.
 
clausewitz2 said:
I mean, if you had to pick a medical subspecialty that is like the opposite of psychology and would use literally none of your clinical training to date, derm path would be a good candidate.
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Pathology looked like it had a lower step score median. Dermatogical pathology had a median income over $500k when I looked.

When I looked, I needed a speciality that paid high enough to overcome opportunity costs (I am an outlier for earnings in my field) and had a low enough barrier that my older age at the time of application wouldn’t be a barrier. Reaction time and energy level would clearly be mild to moderate considerations.

Psychiatry would be a reduction in income, and increased hours.
 
PsyDr said:
Pathology looked like it had a lower step score median. Dermatogical pathology had a median income over $500k when I looked.

When I looked, I needed a speciality that paid high enough to overcome opportunity costs (I am an outlier for earnings in my field) and had a low enough barrier that my older age at the time of application wouldn’t be a barrier. Reaction time and energy level would clearly be mild to moderate considerations.

Psychiatry would be a reduction in income, and increased hours.
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dr.cooper.42 said:
I was curious to know if there are any psychologists here who decided to switch careers to pursue a MD or DO. After much thought and practicing as a licensed clinical psychologist for a few years, I decided to start medical school next fall. Any psychologists decide to pursue this path as well? What led you to this and how has your experience been so far? Thanks in advance!
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Go for it and good luck to you!!!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN
 
I know a couple of people who did this. I'm not sure if @DrMikeP is still active on SDN but my recollection is that he was accepted to medical school well into his career as a psychologist.

Msam18 said:
Looking back, if you were at the masters level and had similar thoughts as myself, would you continue onto the PhD or pursue the medicine? Anyone have similar thoughts and still decided to pursue psych?
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The best time to change plans is early on, but only if you (1) have a realistic plan and (2) are sure about it (or are very sure about NOT wanting to pursue psychology further). Am I correct in assuming that you're in a terminal master's degree program? You're very far from being locked into anything. In your case it might make sense to complete your terminal master's, start working, and do your pre-med coursework in your spare time. But perhaps you can shadow some physicians while you're still in grad school and make sure that you have a good sense of medicine and what that career path will entail.

PsyDr said:
Side note: Look into Path-derm. Easier to get into path. Median income is relatively baller.
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I know a physician who completed a residency in derm and a fellowship in derm path. Can confirm that the subspecialty affords a rare combination of income and lifestyle.
 
I thought about it very often. Late last year I jumped from a traditional tenure-track academic job to working in industry (biotech startup); many of the things I was dissatisfied with in my academic and private practice life or psychology profession more broadly went away and yet I still get to use my training and expertise for a much higher salary and lower stress load. This career switch completely eliminated my interest in returning to med school, so for others reading, you may just need to go an alternate career route to get the satisfaction you are looking for.
 
I was not satisfied with most potential job/career prospects at 5 years post Clinical Psychology Ph.D either. That said, that didn't mean I want to be an M.D.

There is a space in between, so as long as one doesn't really, truly long to be a clinical medical practitioner that lays hands on. Let's face it, laying hands on patients is/can be gross.

Without working too hard after your Ph.D.: SLAC faculty with a boutique PP, Pharm advisory, Pharm research industry/clinical trials employee/consultant, IME evals, health insurance company psychologist peer reviewer, disability peer reviewer, health insurance clinical operations, CME medical director, medical writing,
 
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I considered med school after my first and second years of my clinical program, but many of the same barriers were present (e.g. dealing w insurance companies, healthcare uncertainty, publish or perish).

After my fellowship years I looked again for alternatives and decided between a 2-3yr fMRI fellowship/assistant prof position @ a great uni, start-up company gig (eHealth App), AMCs, or a VA. I went with one of the AMCs.

Opportunity cost has always been a really big consideration for me. I already cost myself $1m+ in earnings leaving my tech career to go back to school, so losing out on more $ was just not feasible. I figured I could do another tech startup and keep my PP until I hit my number, and then I'm likely gone completely.
 
futureapppsy2 said:
Confused by this sentence--can you clarify?
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In addition to my private practice, I have some startup opportunities and long-standing business relationships that continue to develop. My private practice is my main gig, but I can continue to work in an advisory role with my other interests, hopefully having one pay off in the next few years.

I set financial goals awhile back, so I have "a number" that if/when I hit it, I'd seriously consider walking from day to day practice. There are still a bunch of hoops, but I now have a few paths that could work.
 
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