DVM to PhD... Options?

[LBDVM]

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I'm a DVM, did a residency and am a boarded specialist. I worked in a research lab in vet school and considered going the research route at the time, but went into clinical medicine instead.

I'm now 7 yrs out and am considering a career change out of clinical work. I'm wondering if I would have any options for getting into a research type career. I'm suspecting it would require a PhD, and I'm wondering if I would even be accepted into a PhD program at this point... The other option I think would be to go into a comparative medicine residency program... am I insane to be thinking about this?

Just in the thinking stage right now and researching what options would be available....

Thanks

 

[secondguesser]

Check out Hopkins (CMM or BCMB programs) - they seem to have a good number of people who had their DVM do their programs - or at least that was what I remember... (I know I have met a decent number of people who have DVMs in grad programs - it is a possibility!)

 

[GellaBella]

I'm a DVM, did a residency and am a boarded specialist. I worked in a research lab in vet school and considered going the research route at the time, but went into clinical medicine instead.

I'm now 7 yrs out and am considering a career change out of clinical work. I'm wondering if I would have any options for getting into a research type career. I'm suspecting it would require a PhD, and I'm wondering if I would even be accepted into a PhD program at this point... The other option I think would be to go into a comparative medicine residency program... am I insane to be thinking about this?

Just in the thinking stage right now and researching what options would be available....

Thanks

It is definitely possible! I'm kind of doing the opposite of you. I graduate with my PhD this month and then I'm off to veterinary school. You can definitely get accepted to a PhD program, I'm sure.

But (and this is a big 'but', coming from someone straight out of their PhD program) WHY?!

I love research, but seriously, the PhD thing is just so so hard. I've never heard of a graduate program that has so many others leaving the field after they get their degrees (I think I know only a handful of people in this program and in others at other schools that actually intend to stay in academic science).

You can do research with your DVM so why are you feeling the need to go for a PhD now? What do you think it will help you with and are you prepared to live on the low salary (stipend) for the next 6-7 years?

Sorry, I don't mean to be so negative. I think research is just a different beast. here it is, 4th of July weekend and I intend to spend 10 hrs/day each day in the lab doing experiments. Then I'll go home and try to write up my dissertation. no fun at all. 🙁

 

[Build]

Or you could become this BA. He's a DVM, MD, PhD. Seems to have done well with his training...

http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/people/bios/badylak1.asp