Advice for clinical exp for student interested in becoming a clinician-scientist

[Patterned_illuminator]

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Hi all,

I'm a 2nd year student at Columbia University, though international, from Canada. For a while, I saw myself doing a straight PhD because of my interest in biomedical science. I've been working in research labs since I was 14 and have won a few provincial grants for summer research + I got SURF for research here last summer. I obviously dream of publishing first author someday but that will take staying in the same place for a while + a project that works (unfortunately I was not so lucky in the past.)

However, I've done some volunteering in health organizations/worked with clinician scientists for a few years and I've come to realize that I think I'd like to become one. Obviously, the MD-PhD path is the main route but I am also interested in HST and similar programs. I'd also like to apply to Canadian programs, but I don't know if SDN is the best place to ask about that (I have some experience with that process and IMO it's obscenely competitive). I may also get my US green card by the time I graduate, which is why I'm asking here.

Anyway, I think I am doing fine on the research end (which I really enjoy), and I am part of some ECs that I quite like/leadership. I'm trying to add on to general volunteering but I don't want to do something that I won't be passionate about/take on as a chore. I'm doing biophysics atm with a 3.9 something but this year is the real test w/ Intro bio and harder math/sci classes - I also realized that I wanted biophysics after my SURF, so I am a bit behind on math there.

Anyway, that being said, all of this + premed at Columbia is really tiring and I'm trying to find the best way to juggle/add in clinical experience. As such, I was just wondering, how much of it should I aim to get with my present interests, and if I should be selective in some respects/look to more clinical research programs etc. ? I would really appreciate any general advice about this situation. There are lots of options and things going on and it's quite overwhelming.

Thank you 🙂

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Why don't you volunteer at one of your local hospitals? St. Luke's isn't far from Columbia. And I think they actually have a clinical research program for volunteers/students.

 

[JackieChanFan]

Do enough volunteering so that you get a good sense of what physicians do and whether you can see yourself in a clinical setting. IMO 100 hours is plenty. For MD/PhD you don't really need any clinical experience beyond that, just focus on doing research and g etting good grades.

 

[Patterned_illuminator]

Okay, thank you! Also, I was just wondering if there was any reliable list for which programs take international/Canadian MD-PhDs? I've been googling (sort of to plan my classes for next term and am having a difficult time finding one)

 

[gyngyn]

Okay, thank you! Also, I was just wondering if there was any reliable list for which programs take international/Canadian MD-PhDs? I've been googling (sort of to plan my classes for next term and am having a difficult time finding one)

Buy the MSAR.
Filter for "international" thus identifying the 62 schools that will consider you
Eliminate the ones that matriculated 2 or less (acceptance tab).
Identify the ones that match your stats and interests.
Confirm that they will consider you in a combined program.

 

[Patterned_illuminator]

Just saw this - thanks for the advice! Will do.