Considering MD after Phd

[johnsmith416]

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Hey everyone.

I am finishing up a PhD in clinical pharmacology from a top 3 research institution in the world with a world renowned PI. I am very strongly considering a medical degree following this as I have learned that, while I love the science of clinical pharmacology, oncology clinical pharmacology and drug development, I don't like being behind the scenes. Having that abstract work become real through patient contact is necessary. My goal long term would be to run early phase trials.

These are my stats:
Graduated from undergrad around 8 years ago. ugGPA: 3.54 terrible first year GPA at 3.3, great second year GPA at 3.9, and then junior and senior year both hovered in the 3.5-3.6 range.

All my grad school classes were P/F and there were no failures.

Research: 3 first author research papers, 1 first author review, around 10 middle author papers, multiple national and international conference presentations and posters.

Clinical experience: around 1000h volunteering in an adult oncology clinic at the research hospital connected to my institution.

Other volunteering: around 150-200 hours across various endeavors over multiple years. Mostly volunteering at a soup kitchen during undergrad and an english learning institute for refugees in my city.

MCAT: 523

What do you guys think?

 

[Med Ed]

PhD applicants often fall into the same trap, with their enumerated motivations coming off as self-centered and self-serving.

Medicine is huge, you've only seen one tiny piece of it. Consider that tiny piece an inspiration rather than a destination.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Yeah, PhD grad school classes should mostly be A's, B's, or Passes. The grad GPA is rather meaningless because the true measure of your degree is shown by your peer-reviewed pubs and your thesis (which should include that).

It's not impossible to get into an MD program after your PhD, but you will need to get used to being low person on the totem pole... something that most PhD students don't like after years of being given some freedom and responsibility.

The major question you must answer is why your pivot, why patient care must be part of your career plan, and can you handle the nuances of being collectively evaluated through frequent exams or preceptor recommendations? No one will care that you worked under a famous PI; scutwork is still scutwork.

Running clinical trials may just require a little more training to get a masters in clinical research. There may even be a PhD in clinical research at a couple of places. Do those programs require an MD? Could you get some training in regulatory research to line up a "postdoc" or a real job in clinical research so you know the nuances of that career path?

Training & Education Resources for Conducting Clinical Research

Learn about NIDCR training opportunities designed to help researchers conduct clinical studies safely and effectively.

www.nidcr.nih.gov

PhD in Clinical Research Admissions | Icahn School of Medicine

Learn more about the PhD in Clinical Research Admissions process at the Icahn School of Medicine, including requirements and deadlines.

icahn.mssm.edu

Check out being a Medical Science Liaison or similar medical affairs careers. Start networking with people already working who are interested in mentoring new people. There are quite a few such bridging programs for PhDs. You should want to get paid six-figures in the field you want to be part of rather than sink further into a 30+ year payback of medical school tuition. I want to know why that option is not on the table.

 

[Dral]

I did PhD before medical school. There are advantages and disadvantages that I can expand on if necessary.

As pointed out, you can run clinical trials and be very much involved with them without an MD or DO after your name. Medical schools want to train people who primary want to be physicians who treat patients in a clinical setting. You have to prove that this is at least a very large part of your desire in becoming a physician.

As long as you have kept up on the volunteering, your app looks like it would be pretty well rounded, depending in what you score on the MCAT. However, you are going to need to get some shadowing time in there. Only about 50 hours or so should do. Try for a few specialties optimally with a large chunk of the hours being primary care.

If you're taking practice MCAT exams and doing well, are we to assume all your prereq courses are good to go?

If you do well on MCAT, you are within striking distance of DO. You could get some MD depending on your state of residence and where you apply.