Advice: Becoming a Med School Professor- MD vs. MD/PhD

[gtiger94]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am a college sophomore, beginning to look into medical schools. I have an end goal of being a medical school professor, but also want to be involved with patient care, before and/or during my time teaching.

While I know that being an MD/PhD would most likely increase my chances, and am not intimidated by research, I am concerned that by enrolling in an MD/PhD program would reduce the amount of time I would get to see patients on the whole. However, by just enrolling in an MD program, I don't think I would get the research that is highly valued in academia, however I would have much more patient care.

Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MadRadLad]

You can still do research without a PhD fyi. It doesn't sound like you want to be research-centric, so I don't think MD/PhD would be a good fit for you. I wouldn't do something that you don't seem particularly enthused about (which takes an extra 3-4 years) just for the sake of becoming a med school professor. I'm sure that just being an MD is not going to preclude you from consideration in any way.

 

[mcloaf]

You can do plenty of research as a regular MD student.

 

[Reckoner]

The purpose of an MD/PhD is to propel you into a career doing primarily (~80%) research at the expense of clinical work. Go for the MD.

 

[physicsnerd42]

The purpose of an MD/PhD is to propel you into a career doing primarily (~80%) research at the expense of clinical work. Go for the MD.

While I would disagree with this, I would say that the MD/PhD is only something you should do if you're sure. An extra four years is an extra four years and you will be miserable if you don't love research. It's also not like the PhD magically will get you a tenure-track job. Go to med school and if you want to do research, then do some research. There's a big difference between research on the side (or even for an extra year) and doing a PhD.

 

[jvquarterback]

You don't even need an MD behind you to become a med school professor. Just graduate from residency and they'll take you. Schools are always looking for people who want to work in the clinic and not in a lab.

 

[Reckoner]

While I would disagree with this, I would say that the MD/PhD is only something you should do if you're sure. An extra four years is an extra four years and you will be miserable if you don't love research. It's also not like the PhD magically will get you a tenure-track job. Go to med school and if you want to do research, then do some research. There's a big difference between research on the side (or even for an extra year) and doing a PhD.

My post might have been too strongly worded. It seems like the OP is not really set on nor motivated by research, and for that reason I agree that getting a PhD is not the right choice for them.

 

[Ismet]

I'd say most of the lecturers in med school (outside of the basic science courses) are MD. Our basic sciences like biochem, genetics, cell bio, etc were taught more by PhD's and MD/PhDs.

You don't need the PhD to teach.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

If you want the PhD to be faculty, you are wasting your time. Much better to just do a 2-3 year research fellowship after residency.

 

[pietachok]

I am a college sophomore, beginning to look into medical schools. I have an end goal of being a medical school professor, but also want to be involved with patient care, before and/or during my time teaching.

While I know that being an MD/PhD would most likely increase my chances, and am not intimidated by research, I am concerned that by enrolling in an MD/PhD program would reduce the amount of time I would get to see patients on the whole. However, by just enrolling in an MD program, I don't think I would get the research that is highly valued in academia, however I would have much more patient care.

Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated.

The majority of med school profs are MDs. You don't need the PhD if that is your goal. What type of research are you envisioning that you think you need the PhD for?

 

[ChEMD]

I agree with everyone else, the PhD isn't necessary unless research is a primary goal (and even then, MDs do research all the time). You also need to think about what kind of teaching you're talking about. Teaching extends way beyond preclinical lectures. The attendings you'll work with during your clinical years are mostly professors (MD only), and although the majority aren't teaching lectures, they are still actively involved in teaching medical students, residents, and fellows. Many of them also conduct research too, although it's usually clinical research and not basic science.

 

[sakata8242]

I am a college sophomore, beginning to look into medical schools. I have an end goal of being a medical school professor, but also want to be involved with patient care, before and/or during my time teaching.

While I know that being an MD/PhD would most likely increase my chances, and am not intimidated by research, I am concerned that by enrolling in an MD/PhD program would reduce the amount of time I would get to see patients on the whole. However, by just enrolling in an MD program, I don't think I would get the research that is highly valued in academia, however I would have much more patient care.

Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated.

MD at a teaching hospital = Medical School "Professor"
Most of them teach on the job while caring for their patients (teaching residents and 3-4th year students), and don't have any problem with not seeing enough patients.

I think the goal you have visualized is of lecturing first and second year med students...you can do that if you want to, but I'd find that boring as $hit considering that most M1/M2s don't even physically show up for class anymore.