This is my first time posting so hopefully this thread is OK. Basically I've been thinking about if I wanted to apply for MD/PhD program. I am pretty sure I want the PhD in something like bioinformatics and genetics and go into research. If I had an MD degree I probably would not practice. However since my experience in biology is limited I feel that perhaps taking med school classes would open up my view and give me more ideas for research. I could foresee myself in the future wanting to do something more 'relevant'. I guess since I'm already not sure at this point it wouldn't be a good idea to apply especially since it is such a long program. But I just wanted input on what you guys think about my situation and if an MD degree would help with that kind of research. (my assumption is that having an MD degree would help with translational research and anything disease-related) Thanks
input on what degrees are needed
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Yes, it would help. That's the reason they came up with the MSTP in the first place. I don't think they intended people to use the program to get free tuition and then never do research again. It is to train physician scientists.
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I've heard of programs where graduate students take the first two years of med school classes and get a masters in medicine. If you're sure you don't want to practice at all, I'd look into them. Why put yourself through clerkships if you don't have to? On the other hand, you might consider contacting a medical geneticist and see if you can't shadow them. It's an inherently academic field, and you might find the patient interactions enjoyable.
Can you do MSTP, do the first two years of med school, do the PhD, then bail out of the last two years of med school? I hear about people bailing out of the PhD, then paying for the last two years of MD ("gaming the system"). Why not "game the system" to get the MD classwork?
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Of course you COULD do that. It did used to happen occasionally 10+ years back. People would do their PhD, like grad school better, feel the MD wouldn't add much for them and they would just do post-doc anyways, and thus not finish their MD.
However, with the funding and job situation in the PhD world, that has become extremely uncommon. I also wonder if PhDs towards the end of grad school are more pissed off now than they used to be. No matter how gung-ho about research, I haven't seen anyone seriously considering not finishing medical school due to negative experiences in grad school and perceived difficulties in the job market.
However, with the funding and job situation in the PhD world, that has become extremely uncommon. I also wonder if PhDs towards the end of grad school are more pissed off now than they used to be. No matter how gung-ho about research, I haven't seen anyone seriously considering not finishing medical school due to negative experiences in grad school and perceived difficulties in the job market.
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Academia is a word that means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. The vast majority of physicians within academics do zero to very little research. The reality is that grant funding and positions within research are extremely competitive. Also, for most, the majority research lifestyle is typically harder and often pays less than a 100% clinical gig.
