Can I study tissue engineering in medical school?

[jckut10]

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[EulerianCircuit]

Some schools (Baylor, Vanderbilt, etc.) give you the option of taking a year off between years 2 and 3 to do research. If you want more than 1 year you could go combined MD/Ph.D

I don't know of any programs that favor engineers.

 

[harvman11]

My advice would be to seriously consider an MD/PhD. If you want both basic research and clinical work, then it's probably the best path to take. Of course, I might be a little biased... I'm applying MD/PhD right now. If you want research and patient care though, you should definitely look into it.

I've heard that BME spots are a little bit harder to get into, but if that's what you want to do you should definitely go for it.

 

[Mattabet]

You should look into programs that have the same types of research going on that you'd like to help out with. It's definitely a good question to ask at interviews, but you can find a lot of information on schools' websites.

 

[jckut10]

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[axeon123]

You can do anything you want in medical school as long as you have the time. They're not going to deny you the right to do research. 🙂

That said, I feel that MD/PhD program is better suited for students who want to have a strong emphasis on research in the future. But this program means you'll spend 3-6 extra years to do your thesis. Many schools offer a 5th year where you just spend that year doing research, which is great. And at any medical school you will be able to apply for a one year research fellowship (HHMI, NIH, etc), and these programs are designed for MD students who wish to pursue interests in academic medicine in the future. Having just an MD doesn't mean you can't start a lab in the future or do research in the future (maybe it'll just be more difficult to get funding?).

I enjoy research, and I found this out after spending a year dedicated to research, while applying to medical school, and I regret not taking a stab at the MD/PhD program. My medical school does not offer a 5th year paid research program, so I'm stuck.

 

[propel1]

You should look into Wake Forest University School of Medicine. They lead the nation with their Institute for Regenerative Medicine. They were the first to develop a bladder from tissues and inserted them back into patients and I believe they are leaders in research in that area.

I'm a biomedical engineering student who will be graduating with my BS/MS in spring 2011. I've done some research in tissue engineering and I really like it, but I've worked in a clinical setting before and I also enjoy interacting with patients. That last bit is the big reason why I've been leaning toward an MD over a PhD.

Two questions:

1.) I know some schools allow a research thesis -- are there any MD programs which would allow me to continue researching tissue engineering/regenerative medicine during medical school? Or should I just give up on the MD and consider a PhD?

2.) Are there any programs which are unusually friendly to engineers, specifically biomedical engineers?

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

Best place to study is at UW with Professor Buddy Ratner

http://www.cheme.washington.edu/people/faculty/ratner.htm

 

[loveoforganic]

Thanks everyone. I've been browsing around online and it looks like I'm not the only one to wonder about this.

I am seriously considering the MD/PhD program -- on the one hand I'd like to do research. But on the other hand, 7 years?! geeze... 😉

Also took a practice MCAT today. We'll see my scores tomorrow.

Don't expect anything stellar unless you've already completed content review.

 

[jckut10]

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[jckut10]

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