Do you know of any MD/Phd Programs in Anthropology?

[jeremmed77]

Right now I am pursuing a bachlor in Biological Anthropology, with a minor in Biology. If I decide to pursue the MD route, I would also want to get a Phd in Biological Anthropology. Right now, I am interested in paleo/bioanthropology or primatology. The only program I could find so far is in San Diego. The link is provided below. Unfortunately, the majority of programs I have found are only in culutural or medical Anthropology. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeremy


Link to program:
http://mstp.ucsd.edu/program/Pages/grad-programs.aspx

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[RogueUnicorn]

u chicago i think will let you

 

[BigEast55]

I would really question what benefit you will get out of getting both degrees, I don't really know but them seem really disparate and how will you do both things in your career? And if you can't then I would really suggest picking 1

 

[Neuronix]

We get asked this a lot at the program I attend because we have a big name anthropology department. The reality is that those are loooonnnnnnggggg PhDs, at least here, and you end guaranteeing yourself an over 10 year training program. Overall I just don't recommend it for that reason. You don't want to commit yourself to longer than 8 years of MD/PhD right off the bat.

Otherwise, the departments don't integrate well with the medical school. This creates headaches with funding, with trying to take courses while in medical school, forgiving some grad school requirements because you've been in med school, etc... I mean that sort of thing can be overcome, and it's been done for other social science departments. I just recommend trying not to be a trailblazer at this stage of the game, and trying to find a department that will support the kind of research you want to do while not keeping you forever or throwing a ton of requirements at you.

 

[ElChamaco]

We get asked this a lot at the program I attend because we have a big name anthropology department. The reality is that those are loooonnnnnnggggg PhDs, at least here, and you end guaranteeing yourself an over 10 year training program. Overall I just don't recommend it for that reason. You don't want to commit yourself to longer than 8 years of MD/PhD right off the bat.

Otherwise, the departments don't integrate well with the medical school. This creates headaches with funding, with trying to take courses while in medical school, forgiving some grad school requirements because you've been in med school, etc... I mean that sort of thing can be overcome, and it's been done for other social science departments. I just recommend trying not to be a trailblazer at this stage of the game, and trying to find a department that will support the kind of research you want to do while not keeping you forever or throwing a ton of requirements at you.

Neuronix, you are actually mistaken in that, at least as far as cultural/med anthro is concerned. Penn actually has recently instituted a combined MD/PhD program for anthros. It is one of the programs I will be applying to.

I don't know of such programs in bioanthro though. I've never heard of anyone wanting to combine a bio/physical anthro PhD with an MD

"In addition, candidates for Anthropology and History and Sociology will be asked for one additional essay about their interest in the Graduate Group at Penn. Those selected for interview will also be asked for other additional materials"

http://www.med.upenn.edu/mstp/admission.shtml

"Special Programs and Research Centers There are several special programs and research centers that involve the Anthropology Department to greater or lesser degrees:...MD/PhD Program; the Medical Anthropology Program..."

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/anthro/graduate/phd

Also, the anticipated length of the program is 9 years total. 9 years is also the time anticipated for the UCSF-Berkeley MD/PhD med anthro program.

Again I don't really know anything about bioanthro though.

 

[Neuronix]

I'm not sure what I was "wrong" about. Is the 9 year combined program guaranteed? Maybe it's possible to get done in 9 years. But it's supposedly possible to get done the MD/PhD program in 6-7 years and the AVERAGE is 8 years. Maybe that's why they're allowing it now--they got the anthro MD/PhD under a decade. But, I never said there was no program at Penn. I've been watching this evolution for years and talking to the few social science PhDs we have here. It creates its own unique frustrations and the ones who get out quickest and happiest are in certain departments. I will repeat: keep your options open in this regard. You don't want to be a MD/PhD student for a decade if you can possibly avoid it.

I know they've been trying to integrate the anthro and MD/PhD program better for a long time. I think they got a new anthro chair who was more friendly to it recently. I'm just saying my general advice is path of least resistance here. I'm a student, not an official representative of the school, and I'm giving you my personal advice. Not all anthro is created equal either, the cultural anthropology is generally less burdensome than going on digs or observing apes for years in Africa. But if that's the case, you might find another department in the social sciences will let you do the same type of research without as many graduate school requirements and get you out quicker.

 

[ElChamaco]

I'm not sure what I was "wrong" about. Is the 9 year combined program guaranteed? Maybe it's possible to get done in 9 years. But it's supposedly possible to get done the MD/PhD program in 6-7 years and the AVERAGE is 8 years. Maybe that's why they're allowing it now--they got the anthro MD/PhD under a decade. But, I never said there was no program at Penn. I've been watching this evolution for years and talking to the few social science PhDs we have here. It creates its own unique frustrations and the ones who get out quickest and happiest are in certain departments. I will repeat: keep your options open in this regard. You don't want to be a MD/PhD student for a decade if you can possibly avoid it.

I know they've been trying to integrate the anthro and MD/PhD program better for a long time. I think they got a new anthro chair who was more friendly to it recently. I'm just saying my general advice is path of least resistance here. I'm a student, not an official representative of the school, and I'm giving you my personal advice. Not all anthro is created equal either, the cultural anthropology is generally less burdensome than going on digs or observing apes for years in Africa. But if that's the case, you might find another department in the social sciences will let you do the same type of research without as many graduate school requirements and get you out quicker.

Sorry, I did not mean to be confrontational. I apologize if my post came off that way. It seemed like you were suggesting there was not a formalized program at Penn for this exact combination.

"the departments don't integrate well with the medical school" "trailblazer" etc

My understanding is that most of these kinks have been worked out. Including the issue of funding. And that Penn has a commitment to building this exact program.

I apologize if i misread/misinterpreted your post.

 

[jeremmed77]

We get asked this a lot at the program I attend because we have a big name anthropology department. The reality is that those are loooonnnnnnggggg PhDs, at least here, and you end guaranteeing yourself an over 10 year training program. Overall I just don't recommend it for that reason. You don't want to commit yourself to longer than 8 years of MD/PhD right off the bat.QUOTE]

Maybe it isn't such a good idea. In reality, I was just coining the possibility of studying two fields I enjoy. I wouldn't care about the time involved, but I doubt there is a combined program that is outside of the social department. I am only intersted in bio/paleoanthropology and primatology, so there really isn't a way to integrate it with my future (hopefully) medical studies. Anyway, thanks for the help!

 

[jckut10]

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[anthrovagabond]

Check out Melvin Konner @ Emory in the Anthropology department.

He got his PhD in biological anthropology from Harvard, and then he taught there for about seven years (i think). Then he got his MD from Harvard. He's done a TON of cool stuff concerning biological anthropology, and I believe his medical training helped him. He recently wrote a book (its either out or coming out) on the evolution of childhood, and it's 900+ pages.

http://www.anthropology.emory.edu/FACULTY/Konner/index.html

 

[bd4727]

Check out Melvin Konner @ Emory in the Anthropology department.

He got his PhD in biological anthropology from Harvard, and then he taught there for about seven years (i think). Then he got his MD from Harvard. He's done a TON of cool stuff concerning biological anthropology, and I believe his medical training helped him. He recently wrote a book (its either out or coming out) on the evolution of childhood, and it's 900+ pages.

http://www.anthropology.emory.edu/FACULTY/Konner/index.html

Yes, I know someone who did MD/PhD at Emory and enjoyed his experience there.

 

[Long Way to Go]

You can also get some ridiculous stories like that of Paul Farmer, who completed his MD/PhD (medical anthropology) from Harvard in 6-7 years while working more than full-time in Haiti. But I think that's an exception 🙂