Getting a PhD before MD?

[wildesfeuer]

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Somewhat of a weird question, but ...
I'm a chemistry major and eventually want to become a physician scientist. I've also wanted the opportunity to live in either Germany/Switzerland, something that isn't possible if I get my medical degree here. Does it make sense if I get a PhD in either of the two countries (3-5 years, planning on chemistry) and then apply to medical school here? Paying for med school isn't an issue so I'm not worried about not having the MSTP stipend that I would be getting if I applied to a typical MD/PhD program.
Thanks!

Edit: should also mention that I will be graduating with a masters in chemistry.

 

[Lucca]

It really is up to you and the kind of training you want to get. I suspect you at least speak German fluently. The international language of science is English but you’ll need German for daily life, obviously.

Practically speaking, it throws a big wrench in things. Because of the length of the PhD, you won’t be able to take the MCAT until you know that you are 2.5 years out from finishing your thesis. European/UK PhDs are more compressed than US PhDs and the end is a bit more predictable but still a tough thing to interrupt research to prepare for the McAT. Also there’s paying for med school. But if you truly have the means to not worry about that, then i guess that’s fine too.

@JJRousseau did his PHD before the MD and could probably offer better advice.

From a personal life perspective, Europe >>>>>>> U.S. it’s not even close. Transit and travel is cheap and easy. Politics are more active and participatory. The work culture is also much better. The lab I’m a part of in the UK works like half as much as the labs I was a part of in UG and is twice as productive. US work culture is honestly toxic (always work for someone who doesn’t care when you’re in lab!). If I didn’t want to become a medical doctor I might never leave lol. Everyone in my lab thinks I’m insane for wanting to work in the US, most don’t even bother applying for jobs outside the UK/EU.

That said, i don’t know if I would advise choosing PhD to MD from the get go. I seriously thought about it after being offered a PhD position, but decided against it because I wanted integrated training, not to pay for med school or go into debt, and didn’t want the key postdoctoral research period to happen at a point where i haven’t decided my clinical interests yet.

On the other hand, if you are considering straight PhD vs MD, living in europe night give you a different perspective. For me, I’d rather see patients than not be in academic research should I fail to stay on track for a faculty position with just a PhD. That might be different for you. Doing the PhD in Europe could give you the opportunity to stay in europe long term if you don’t feel that practicing medicine is still essential for you towards the end of your PHD.