wagy, not riding any horse (tumbelina, Clydesdale or otherwise) though I suppose it can come across that way on a message board without the benefit of non-verbal cues. Bar the requisite introspection, I was hoping to give those considering PhD-type training in a post-graduate setting a warning to approach with caution -- all promises of completion of degree in a set time frame are lies. Which is also the reason why, and I fully agree, people can complete the degree requirements in an even shorter period of time if so fortunate. More power to them indeed, but for every 2-3yr phd you will find 5x as many who are in the 6-8yr range. Approach with caution!
The reason for fear of dilution of value is already with traditional MD/PhD training many PhDs already don't view you as real scientists and MDs (if you do some %age of lab) see you as somewhat deficient clinically as well. We already face these hurdles professionally, just fear adding to the skepticism over the training (and I must admit some of it may be justified on pure clinical or scientific basis).
That is an interesting question about societal costs. I don't know how to measure it but from an individual standpoint, the cost of phd after/concurrent with residency must be greater than before completion of medical school - at least to me mentally as you are now giving up real-world earning potential for every year in phd training. At least if you are in phd training before finishing medical school you are only giving up earning that would occur ~7 years down the road. Whereas after med graduation you are giving it up every day, so mentally it is different to me, though in real-world dollars it is the same, less the economic benefit of being debt-free doing the traditional route. Which I guess, would save society money by having them pay for med school. Hmmmmm.... Now you got me thinking about this...
