Combined Degree Program/Veterinary Career Options

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TopGun86

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Hey Y'all,

I am a second time applicants and I am applying to the DVM/PhD combined degree program.

I would hope to work for the federal government or the U.S. Army Corps/U.S. Air Force, and also join the global veterinary medicine.

If interested, please tell me more about you.

What combined degree are you interested in pursuing? DVM/PhD, DVM/MPH, DVM/MBA, DVM, or DVM/MS? What's your desired future goals?
 
I'm a DVM/PhD student at Minnesota. My research is focused on characterizing the molecular drivers of a couple different cancers that have poor outcomes in both human and veterinary medicine. Career-wise, I think I want to go into clinical research and practice some as well, but I'm still years away from that and who knows where I'll really end up. I know I want to stay in academia.

What is your research interest/where are you applying?
 
I'm trying to cobble together a DVM/MS Entomology dual program. I don't know yet if it will work out (I'm thesis hunting) but I'm hopeful. I already have an MPH and currently work for my state as an epidemiologist in a surveillance program. I want to return to public health after I finish this next round of schooling. I'll consider my work options when I'm closer to graduating, but right now I wouldn't mind staying in Ohio and contributing to the state's zoonotic disease program, either as a public health veterinarian, epidemiologist, entomologist, or some other upper level administrator. I also wouldn't mind working for the federal government as long as the work interested me and had some actual impact. The same goes for non-profits and academia. Mostly, I'll be happy if I can get a decent wage, comprehensive health insurance, vacation time, retirement, paid leave, etc. all while doing something that is at least a little bit enjoyable.
 
I'm a DVM/PhD student at Minnesota. My research is focused on characterizing the molecular drivers of a couple different cancers that have poor outcomes in both human and veterinary medicine. Career-wise, I think I want to go into clinical research and practice some as well, but I'm still years away from that and who knows where I'll really end up. I know I want to stay in academia.

What is your research interest/where are you applying?[/QUOTE

Hi Suppershorty, thank you for your response,


For the past 15 years I have been involved in many cancer projects (Medulloblastoma, Ganglioneuroma, Osteosarcoma, and Glioblastoma) but I am interested in finding an alternate to reverse the interaction of the virus in MERS. I have a few rule models for my approach and once get accepted into a dual degree, I would hope to start immediately on my project. I am very eager to get started on it and get it done.
 
I'm trying to cobble together a DVM/MS Entomology dual program. I don't know yet if it will work out (I'm thesis hunting) but I'm hopeful. I already have an MPH and currently work for my state as an epidemiologist in a surveillance program. I want to return to public health after I finish this next round of schooling. I'll consider my work options when I'm closer to graduating, but right now I wouldn't mind staying in Ohio and contributing to the state's zoonotic disease program, either as a public health veterinarian, epidemiologist, entomologist, or some other upper level administrator. I also wouldn't mind working for the federal government as long as the work interested me and had some actual impact. The same goes for non-profits and academia. Mostly, I'll be happy if I can get a decent wage, comprehensive health insurance, vacation time, retirement, paid leave, etc. all while doing something that is at least a little bit enjoyable.
Well, best of luck to you my dear! I'm sure you'll do great things 🙂
 
Hi Supershorty, thank you for your response,

For the past 15 years I have been involved in many cancer projects (Medulloblastoma, Ganglioneuroma, Osteosarcoma, and Glioblastoma) but I am interested in finding an alternate to reverse the interaction of the virus in MERS. I have a few rule models for my approach and once get accepted into a dual degree, I would hope to start immediately on my project. I am very eager to get started on it and get it done.

Take this with a grain of salt, as I only applied to a limited number of programs, but you'll really want to research the school(s) that you're applying to and see if starting a project/rotations immediately is even possible. At all of the programs I applied to, you would start in the DVM curriculum and while you'd do summer rotations with labs, you wouldn't be working on your PhD full-time until 2-2.5 years into the DVM program. I've been lucky in that I already know who I'm working with for my PhD, and so even though this is my first "rotation," I'm starting the early work on what is likely to be my thesis project, but it still will have to go on hold in the fall when the vet school starts up again.

Just some food for thought. Like I said, I only applied to a few programs and so have a limited knowledge base, but you'll probably have to start in the DVM part first.
 
Take this with a grain of salt, as I only applied to a limited number of programs, but you'll really want to research the school(s) that you're applying to and see if starting a project/rotations immediately is even possible. At all of the programs I applied to, you would start in the DVM curriculum and while you'd do summer rotations with labs, you wouldn't be working on your PhD full-time until 2-2.5 years into the DVM program. I've been lucky in that I already know who I'm working with for my PhD, and so even though this is my first "rotation," I'm starting the early work on what is likely to be my thesis project, but it still will have to go on hold in the fall when the vet school starts up again.

Just some food for thought. Like I said, I only applied to a few programs and so have a limited knowledge base, but you'll probably have to start in the DVM part first.
Hi thanks for your respond and your consideration, I have already done all my research as I am a second time applicant. With regarding the DVM/PhD program, some schools start with two years of PhD then two years of DVM, then two years of PhD, and then two years of DVM. Other schools, start with two years of DVM, then two years of PhD, then two years of DVM, and then two years of PhD. It varied from school to school.

So how do you like Minnesota? I wanted to apply there but I graduated from college back in the dark ages so most of my classes were already too old oh well
 
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