Is this a reasonable answer for why MD and NOT MD/PhD?

[erenyeager]

Hi, in my ps I talk a lot about how I initially got interested in medicine through research. Also a decent amount of my activities (like 1/3rd) fall under research. All the research is clinical though with patients. So I'm afraid I'll be asked why NOT MD/pHD?

My reasoning for why not MD/PhD over MD is that while I am interested in clinical research, most MD/PhDs spend 50% of their time (or greater, some on here say 80-90%) of their time doing research. While I would want to spend the majority of my time doing clinical and maybe 10-30% of it doing research. Is that a fair answer? And are my assumptions about MD/pHD even correct?

 

[Seihai]

Yes, most MD-PhDs will spend the vast majority of their time pursuing research. In my experiences, I've met MD applicants with lots of research and they're generally not really asked about why they didn't choose to pursue an MD-PhD, but I think just saying you want to focus on clinical work and would be interested in contributing to research (but not necessarily running your own lab or dedicating the majority of your time to it) will be sufficient.

 

[deleted688779]

My PI said: MD-PhD isn’t an MD with a side of better research skills. MD-PhD is a PhD with a side of MD.

 

[M&L]

Hi, in my ps I talk a lot about how I initially got interested in medicine through research. Also a decent amount of my activities (like 1/3rd) fall under research. All the research is clinical though with patients. So I'm afraid I'll be asked why NOT MD/pHD?

My reasoning for why not MD/PhD over MD is that while I am interested in clinical research, most MD/PhDs spend 50% of their time (or greater, some on here say 80-90%) of their time doing research. While I would want to spend the majority of my time doing clinical and maybe 10-30% of it doing research. Is that a fair answer? And are my assumptions about MD/pHD even correct?

that is a GREAT answer. Your primary focus is to take care of patients, and you want to use research as an additional tool to advance your field and to give your patients the better care they deserve.

 

[HouseJC]

Yes, I agree with your answer! That is what I wrote in my PS for my current journey as a MD applicant (and I'm currently a PhD student). It was a challenge to switch gears in my PS to explain the transition from research to patient care, but my PS content is pretty much identical to yours Glad to see that and good luck to you in your journey!

 

[Goro]

Hi, in my ps I talk a lot about how I initially got interested in medicine through research. Also a decent amount of my activities (like 1/3rd) fall under research. All the research is clinical though with patients. So I'm afraid I'll be asked why NOT MD/pHD?

My reasoning for why not MD/PhD over MD is that while I am interested in clinical research, most MD/PhDs spend 50% of their time (or greater, some on here say 80-90%) of their time doing research. While I would want to spend the majority of my time doing clinical and maybe 10-30% of it doing research. Is that a fair answer? And are my assumptions about MD/pHD even correct?

You're more likely to be asked "why not PhD"?

 

[gonnif]

You are likely not to be asked anything