Getting a PhD separately after and MD

[thrombin]

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Hey I am a US citizen currently finishing up my MD at an international med school. By the end of the year I will have a BSc (BA) and an MD degree and wish to pursue a PhD in the USA afterwards. I am quite interested in research but also about going into clinical practice. Will the PhD gap of 4-5 years look bad while applying for residency?

Im not sure if there is any previous information on my situtation in the FAQ's but is there anyone else in the same situation as me that could perhaps guide me, like pre-requisites and admission information.

I know that funding is hard to get for international students but do I get put into the international students category as well or under the regular applicants.

Any information would be helpful thanks

 

[Cytotoxic]

Get the PhD during residency or fellowship.

 

[cyneuron]

this has been discussed in quite many posts across forums...everywhere recommendations seems to be that one should not pursue option of Phd after MD if you are serious about doing residency (and possibly fellowship) later on....one reason is that its very long track (yaa longer than Md-Phd)....also nobody can predict your chances of getting into a residency program after this long gap away from clinics (it isn't the same as Md-Phd even here....)

But if you are really really sure that you will be more than happy in a post-doctoral fellowship and a non-clinical life if you don't end up getting residency, then you should go ahead....

but balanced options is clearly that you do your residency straight after MD (look into research friendly residency programs) and far more importantly, you target for research based fellowship after your residency....

another balanced option is that you do MS than Phd in the field you are interested in...its kind of intermediate between the two options as it saves number of years and gives you the taste of formal research training you are aiming at (though its still not Phd) ....

Hope it helps...i have written what i gained from various people in posts...i am myself an IMG who was travelling in same boat as you, and i ended up deciding thats residency followed by research fellowship is better for me....you try to weigh various factors...every person is different....from my experience, others can only advice....ultimately you have to make a choice by yourself (and trust me, its the hardest part)....

 

[thrombin]

thanks for the advice I am quite interested about research and pursuing it later (physician scientist) on thats why I felt a PhD would would be a good route to take, but at the same time I wish to go into clinical practice and such a moratorium will look bad. Actually I want improve the research part of my CV (ie get some publications basic and clinical). If it comes to getting a PhD im definitely up for it, but you mention a good point about a masters I wanted to know if there room to boost up your publications in a masters program as well like in PhD program. Its just that with a PhD you come out as a greater authority in the field and far more substantial contribution research-wise in the field.


Also if you can find them please post the links to previously discussed topics like this one I searched though the FAQ but wasn't able to find anything. Thanks