I actually have come across MD only neurosurgeons (of all specialties..) who are able to secure big grant money and protected time, and are actually respected as researchers among phd colleagues. And like, there are a number of neurosurgeons who manage this, perhaps more than even neurologists in my field of interest (comp neuro). So i suppose I’ll defer to earlier comments that theres no right answer.
Purpose of my facetious reply was that to just blanket cast one answer as wrong with that explanation isn’t really a satisfying reason to discount said answer.
I apologize if I was not clear in my comment; I feel, as someone who has been in the path to become a physician scientist for 12 years, that the earliest academic appointments you can find are likely clinical, and full time research appointments are more likely to occur earlier even, as a bright PhD having finished a 5 year program can apply for a K award in a productive post doc (2 years) and obtain startup package offers in 8-9 years after initially beginning training as a full time researcher. A straight MD out of residency—even neurosurgery where you have an 80/20 split for a year or two—could not achieve this.
Now; an MD-PhD has the possibility to do either earlier, in theory. However, the gap between PhD and return to lab is at a minimum 4 years; believe it or not, it is really difficult to transition, be productive and have gathered all the acorns you need for that K. This will take later than either degree alone, in terms of achieving an academic position.
The pay off is that the MD-PhD or the MD with additional research training and independent funding is an attractive candidate out there, but even at that point you have to fight for a time split that actually works with the job. This is usually more than 70% of the time protected for research, which is difficult for medical schools and universities because your clinical work is going to be the lucrative part of employing you, and your colleagues will have to pick up all the patient care you can’t do, patient care that pays the bills.
I made it clear when I interviewed in 2010 that I would “apply again”. I wrote my honest opinion based on my personal experience and wisdom gathered, having gone from MSTP to PSTP, now on to fellowship—with the goal of having that 80/20 split. If you are applying to be a physician scientist, you should know that it is a career where it’s very difficult or impossible to split your time 50/50. All students reading this need to consider what being a physician scientist means. It is not as easy as choosing either.
I hope this answers your question and maybe gives you a little bit of wisdom.
