How to do research without getting PhD?

[LACMA]

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Hello 🙂

Just wondering, how do I go into academic medicine without getting a PhD? I heard you can do a post doc after med school, but I'm not really sure what the "path" is. Can someone please explain this to me?

Thank you.

 

[22031 Alum]

"Academic medicine" simply means being involved in medical education in some capacity- mainly through the education of students, residents, or fellows. You can do that with just an MD. It is also possible to be involved in clinical research with an MD only. Now if you use "academic medicine" to mean basic science/bench research, you can do that with just an MD, but usually have to do a fellowship of some sort either as part of your training, or after completing it.

 

[LACMA]

"Academic medicine" simply means being involved in medical education in some capacity- mainly through the education of students, residents, or fellows. You can do that with just an MD. It is also possible to be involved in clinical research with an MD only. Now if you use "academic medicine" to mean basic science/bench research, you can do that with just an MD, but usually have to do a fellowship of some sort either as part of your training, or after completing it.

Thanks! I meant for basic science/bench research. Are these fellowships like the fellowships you do after a residency? Just with a research component added to them?

 

[Guero]

I'm on an HHMI (Howard Hughes Medical Institute) physician scientist path, a privately funded path that begins as a summer fellowship between the first and second year of medical school, and then if successful, an additional year either between second and third or third and fourth year. These paths are an alternative to MSTPs (medical scientist training programs leading to dual MD/PhD degrees). They typically cater to the same quality and character students as MSTPs, meaning a heavy research background and a passion for a career in bench science after residency. I plan to pursue a research oriented residency, meaning an additional year or two of residency with committed research time, kind of like having a post-doc intertwined with your residency.

All that said, there are many ways to do bench research with an MD. Even if you just do research on the side, so long as it's productive, meaningful, and yields lasting skills, you can continue those pursuits throughout your career and compete for grants as an attending at an academic institution. The best advice is to find a mentoring attending at your local institution and follow that physician's advice to reach your goals. There are a million ways to skin a...culture. 😉

 

[LACMA]

I'm on an HHMI (Howard Hughes Medical Institute) physician scientist path, a privately funded path that begins as a summer fellowship between the first and second year of medical school, and then if successful, an additional year either between second and third or third and fourth year. These paths are an alternative to MSTPs (medical scientist training programs leading to dual MD/PhD degrees). They typically cater to the same quality and character students as MSTPs, meaning a heavy research background and a passion for a career in bench science after residency. I plan to pursue a research oriented residency, meaning an additional year or two of residency with committed research time, kind of like having a post-doc intertwined with your residency.

All that said, there are many ways to do bench research with an MD. Even if you just do research on the side, so long as it's productive, meaningful, and yields lasting skills, you can continue those pursuits throughout your career and compete for grants as an attending at an academic institution. The best advice is to find a mentoring attending at your local institution and follow that physician's advice to reach your goals. There are a million ways to skin a...culture. 😉

Haha! Thanks 🙂