Hi, I would like to know more about the MD/MS

[FuturaDocta]

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From your personal experience....

I know how to do a google search. But, I would like to know more about a combined masters with medicine from your experience. I am equally interested in clinical research and medicine. Not only that, I do not want to get a PhD just to do research. Are there any things that a perspective student should know before choosing a masters over a PhD if he/she wants to do research?

 

[JulyMorning]

From your personal experience....

I know how to do a google search. But, I would like to know more about a combined masters with medicine from your experience. I am equally interested in clinical research and medicine. Not only that, I do not want to get a PhD just to do research. Are there any things that a perspective student should know before choosing a masters over a PhD if he/she wants to do research?

Are you really set on getting masters? It isn't necessary if you want to do research:
just do research in the area(s) of interest during the summers (before M1 and between M1-M2). After your residency, if you wish, you could do a research fellowship. You will end up an MD who does research in addition to his/her clinical responsibilities. Masters isn't a bad idea, but I'm just not sure why it's necessary in your case... Just my $0.02

 

[FuturaDocta]

good point. and I grant you it is worth more than two cents btw.

That is another question. What will I be gaining by getting a masters? Would it give me more authority to conduct my own research?

 

[CCLCMer]

From your personal experience....

I know how to do a google search. But, I would like to know more about a combined masters with medicine from your experience. I am equally interested in clinical research and medicine. Not only that, I do not want to get a PhD just to do research. Are there any things that a perspective student should know before choosing a masters over a PhD if he/she wants to do research?

What exactly do you want to know? I am in an MD/MS program (CCLCM) at Case Western, getting my MS in clinical research. There is a similar program at Pitt called CSTP. It's also possible to get a clinical research MS at other schools on your own (i.e., not part of a formal program). But the benefit of doing a combined MD/MS like CCLCM or CSTP is that they are tuition-free, or very close to it.

I think a major reason why people might want to do an MS instead of a PhD (besides it taking less time) is that PhDs are generally done in basic sciences. That's why if you want to do clinical research, getting an MS in clinical research would probably be more applicable training for you than getting a PhD.

If you want to see what my day-to-day experience has been like, you can check out my blog (link in signature). I'm taking Step 2 on Monday, and then I will finish posting all of Year 3, so sorry in advance that it's several months behind. 😳

 

[achamess]

If you'd like to get some research (basic science) under your belt but don't need to get a PhD, you could just take a research year (at some schools, such as Duke, it is required), or you could do a fellowship afterwards. However, you'd not get the tuition support as in MD/PhD or the CCLCM program.

I was just visiting UPitt, however, and learned about their Physician-Scientist Training Program. I spoke to a girl who was in it and she sounded quite happy with the program. My understanding is that you get your tuition paid for and you do a one-year research stint between 2nd and 3rd years. She even had extra HHMI funding, and her research was definitely more of the basic science sort. You don't get a degree, but you get the experience and the tuition waiver. So this might be another option for you.

https://www.pstp.pitt.edu/index.asp

Good luck.

 

[FuturaDocta]

Wow, thanks guys.

I am feel more interested in clinical research than basic sciences. But, I have a feeling I would like to do both in my career.

I may just apply to ms/md just because I feel I would have better training. I really just want to be as independent as possible so I am not left in the dark with research.

Nice blog by the way. 🙂