DO/PhD

[divinity09]

hi. i want to know if anybody is currently pursuing a dual D.O./PhD., or if you have finished. if you could please share your opinions and/or experience i would greatly appreciate it. please indicate your institution.

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[stoic]

I am not nor do I know anyone pursing a DO/PHD degree. I will, however, venture to give you the small amount of knowledge how I have about DO/PhD programs.

1.) DO/PhD programs are not (to the best of my knowledge) actually considered medical scientist training programs by the NIH. The result of this is the, unline MD/PhD's, DO PhD's are not funded positions (IE the canidate gets to pay for 6-7 years of med school for a DO/PhD while MD/PhD's get a free ride)

2. There are not many DO/PhD programs. I think that the Texas, Oklahoma, and Michigan programs have them. There may be more, but not many.

3. If you want the degree to pursue academic research in the allopathic world, you're *probably* better off trying for a MD/PhD or straight PhD. DO's have made enormous strides in equality in almost ever field except bench research.

4. If you want to teach/research at a DO school, then more power to you. IMHO, DO's need more researchers at their med schools.

I *think* what I've written is correct. Some may disagree with me about the worth of a DO/PhD in an academic allopathic setting... It is possible to do, but it will be harder for a DO/PhD to chair department X at MD school Y than for an MD/Phd.

Good Luck.

 

[Teufelhunden]

Originally posted by daveswafford
DO PhD's are not funded positions (IE the canidate gets to pay for 6-7 years of med school for a DO/PhD while MD/PhD's get a free ride)

Not entirely true. One of my classmates is pursuing a DO/PhD and has received funding through the school to pay for the remainder of his education (he paid for his MS-I and MS-II year).

So, what daveswarfford is saying is essentially correct; however, there are schools out there with the funds to support students wishing to pursue a dual degree.

I know that in our case (at OUCOM), the dean is very active in promoting student research and has encouraged students, and has made it known that funds are available to interested students.

 

[divinity09]

at many of the schools offering the programs, there are financial incentives for participating in the program. typically, there is a stipend granted during the research years, just like regular grad school work. sometimes it requires you to teach, etc. you've basically been pulled out of the medschool for awhile to pursue the graduate degree, and then you're reintegrated to complete your final two years of clinicals. other schools will switch your residency status to "in state" if you enter the combined program.

the reason i am pursuing the dual degree is so that i can teach at a D.O. school. i think that the quality of the program does not lie in if it is M.D./PhD. vs. D.O./PhD., but rather on the quality of the graduate program at the school.

 

[Ms. Dawson DO]

UMDNJ-som has a DO/PhD program. I believe free tuition and stipend during years 1 and 2....of med school....stipend during grad school years 3-5 and although free tuition the last 6-7 of med school..no stipend. Or so it SEEMS this way according to their site. very confusing though.


if someone could post the schools that offer do/phd that would be great.

 

[divinity09]

the handbook offered for free from aacomas, as well as the website notes the special programs at schoos such as mph, ms, mba, phd, etc. it isn't detailed about the programs. you have to contact each school for details, or their website.