After MSTP life

[Res-J]

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Hey all, this is a bit premature seeing that I'm applying to MSTPs this year but I'm curious about what life entails after your MD and PhD training. My present inclination is to try to live a life running a biomedical research lab (basic science, translational, clinical I don't know but that thread was a great one) and also be a practicing specialist as well. I understand that I'll spend more time in lab than in the hospital and I'm definetely agreeable to that, though I definetely want patient contact.

First off, is this a feasible plan? Will I have time for family and other interests (travel etc)? What kind of timeline (roughly speaking) am I looking at? 7-8 years MD/PhD, 3-4 years clinical residency, 3-4 years postdoctoral research, x years in specialty fellowship? Is it really going to be 15-20 years before I actually can do what I want? 😱

Finally I know there are some exceptionally well-versed veterans on SDN. Do you know what you want to do? Know any that have completed this path? What are they doing now? Do they know their children's birthdays?

Thanks a million in advance.

 

[Vader]

MD/PhDs on the academic pathway can fast-track through residency at some programs, which reduces the amount of clinical time by replacing a year or so with research. This cuts down on the postdoctoral fellowship time and allows an opportunity to apply for special career-development NIH awards (K grants).

So, 7-8 years MD/PhD, 3-7 years residency (depending on specialty), and perhaps 1-2 additional years postdoctoral fellowship or startup as an independent investigator. If fresh out of college, you should expect to be somewhere in your mid-thirties when starting up your own lab if you take this pathway.

Obviously, there are many other routes one can take that reduce or lengthen time, depending on one's goals and experiences. For example, if you are not interested in pursuing clinical medicine, you can skip the residency.

I have got to say though that there are people in my medical school class who are in their mid to late thirties who will no doubt be 40+ when they finish residency training. So age is really all a matter of perspective. It is never too early to start living your life! 😀

 

[Doctor&Geek]

Be aware also that a number of specialties such as IM and Peds often have research-oriented combined residency/fellowships with up to a year and a half worth of research time.

Also, some of the longer residencies such as neurosurgery often have requirements for protected research time, whether clinical or basic.

Bottom line; avoidance of the postdoc is possible.

Yours,

Jason