cold feet for MD -> MD/PhD

[ramblinwreckie]

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Hey, ya'll.

Be it that I know no MSTPers at my school, I was wondering if I could get some advice.

I'm finishing up my clinical year of med school and was accepted to switch into my school's MSTP program. I know that I want to go into academic medicine, do basic science, blah blah blah, but I am now at the point where I am struggling to make the leap of faith into the MSTP program. I am about to "finish" med school, and it feels as if I am going to make a u-turn right back into school for another 4 years. I have a great mentor lined up in the field that I know I want to go into clinically.

What is tugging me away from MSTP is the fact that I truly enjoy clinical medicine and am having a difficult time leaving it. Thus, would it make more sense to get my formal research training during my fellowship as most cardiology fellowship programs require research rather than splitting up my clinical training? I would save some money if I did MD/PhD, but time seems to be the more valuable commodity.

Thanks.

 

[jjmack]

I personally don't see why someone would join an MSTP after finishing and paying for the first two years or med school. If you want to do basic science research there are plenty of oppertunities during fellowship or postdoc. Why do you feel like you need a PhD?

 

[QofQuimica]

I personally don't see why someone would join an MSTP after finishing and paying for the first two years or med school. If you want to do basic science research there are plenty of oppertunities during fellowship or postdoc. Why do you feel like you need a PhD?

Yeah, I agree.

OP, unless they're going to retroactively pay for your first three years of med school, finish your MD this year and then go into a research residency/fellowship if you want to do research. Having the school pay for your M4 year won't save you anywhere near the amount of money that you'll be making once you're a practicing cardiologist. 😎