Laboratory Medicine

[bunglebong]

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Has anyone else considered laboratory medicine? I just read an interesting article that talks about how MD/PhD trainees are exceptionally suited for that specific practice.


Here's a quote from the article:
"Most graduates of MD/PhD programs seek to incorporate scientific methods or technologies into the practice and art of medicine. In laboratory medicine, this goal is met by the increased transfer of scientific and technical knowledge to help diagnose and manage disease and by the development of increased scientific understanding of the pathobiology of disease. Laboratory medicine physicians are well positioned to deepen the understanding of the cause of disease and use this understanding to develop better methods or techniques for diagnosing and managing disease."


Just thought I'd throw that out there. Any thoughts?


FYI, laboratory medicine is also know as clinical pathology.

 

[reine1jb]

Has anyone else considered laboratory medicine? I just read an interesting article that talks about how MD/PhD trainees are exceptionally suited for that specific practice.


Here's a quote from the article:
"Most graduates of MD/PhD programs seek to incorporate scientific methods or technologies into the practice and art of medicine. In laboratory medicine, this goal is met by the increased transfer of scientific and technical knowledge to help diagnose and manage disease and by the development of increased scientific understanding of the pathobiology of disease. Laboratory medicine physicians are well positioned to deepen the understanding of the cause of disease and use this understanding to develop better methods or techniques for diagnosing and managing disease."


Just thought I'd throw that out there. Any thoughts?


FYI, laboratory medicine is also know as clinical pathology.

where is the article from, just out of curiosity? Seems to be pretty solid logic to me. It sounded very appealing but I think that MD/PhD graduates are probably pretty well suited for a lot of diverse clinical careers..Sounds like a physician in laboratory medicine might not get a lot of patient interaction though, which I guess could be a plus or minus depending on your personality..very interesting indeed

 

[GWD]

I agree. Where is this quote from?

Terribly benign.

Did that come out of Time or Reader's Digest or something?

They certainly used a bunch of words to say basically nothing.

 

[gbwillner]

Has anyone else considered laboratory medicine? I just read an interesting article that talks about how MD/PhD trainees are exceptionally suited for that specific practice.


Here's a quote from the article:
"Most graduates of MD/PhD programs seek to incorporate scientific methods or technologies into the practice and art of medicine. In laboratory medicine, this goal is met by the increased transfer of scientific and technical knowledge to help diagnose and manage disease and by the development of increased scientific understanding of the pathobiology of disease. Laboratory medicine physicians are well positioned to deepen the understanding of the cause of disease and use this understanding to develop better methods or techniques for diagnosing and managing disease."


Just thought I'd throw that out there. Any thoughts?


FYI, laboratory medicine is also know as clinical pathology.

I am going into CP (as you said "laboratory medicine"). I am also training in AP as well and hope to do molecular pathology with my PhD in human genetics.

I agree that it is a perfect field for MD/PhDs (at least those with similar backgrounds as me) who are interested in a great blend of dedicated research time, clinical exposure at your convenience, and salary.

There are some drawbacks, however. As of right now there are only a small handful of good CP training programs (very small). At most institutions CP training is comprised of "here is a book- go read it for the next month and prepare for the boards".

If you have additional questions about this field, I suggest you post in the pathology forum, or you can PM me.

 

[JHopRevisit]

Also, you might consider if this is the form you want your clinical practice to take. CP patient interaction is limited, to say the least (though you get to spend a lot of time with parts of patients, so at least that's something).

After an MD/PhD some students realize they want to minimize traditional clinical practice (ie "Tell me about your anal warts, Mr. Johnson") and do as much lab work as possible, this seems a good option for someone like that. Others want to spend at least part-time doing more patient care oriented stuff.

 

[gbwillner]

Also, you might consider if this is the form you want your clinical practice to take. CP patient interaction is limited, to say the least (though you get to spend a lot of time with parts of patients, so at least that's something).

After an MD/PhD some students realize they want to minimize traditional clinical practice (ie "Tell me about your anal warts, Mr. Johnson") and do as much lab work as possible, this seems a good option for someone like that. Others want to spend at least part-time doing more patient care oriented stuff.

CP training is variable. At good institutions there is significant patient contact. CP runs apheresis clinics as well as the blood bank. The only patient "parts" you are likely to contact is their blood.

AP on the other hand deals with patient "parts". Their patient role is traditionally more behind the scenes and mostly limited to FNA clinics. Of course at some institutions AP has hematopathology (at some it is CP) and requires you to do mone marrow biopsies on patients. All pathology clinical work is "patient care", even if you don't actually tell the patient what their diagnosis is but do so through an intermediary, much like radiology.

Compared to other specialites the physician-patient interaction is significantly reduced (Again, you are not really a PCP) but is present if you desire it. I always enjoyed patient care, and still found that pathology was a great fit and could still accomodate those interests.

 

[bunglebong]

Here is the article I quoted:
Santoro A, Mosse C, Young P. The MD/PhD Pathway to a Career in Laboratory Medicine. Clinics in Laboratory Medicine 2007; 27: 425-434.

Sorry it took so long to respond...busy day in the lab.

gbwillner, thanks for the feedback. You said that at some institutions there is significant patient contact. Will you elaborate a little?

 

[Neuronix]

The 3 most common residency choices for MD/PhD students is and has always been, in order:

1) Medicine
2) Pediatrics
3) Pathology

Those three specialties often pitch themselves as perfect for MD/PhD students, and indeed the information posted for Pathology is nothing new.

 

[JHopRevisit]

CP training is variable. At good institutions there is significant patient contact. CP runs apheresis clinics as well as the blood bank. The only patient "parts" you are likely to contact is their blood.

AP on the other hand deals with patient "parts".

Sorry, confused AP and CP. As you said, though, less patient contact.

 

[gbwillner]

gbwillner, thanks for the feedback. You said that at some institutions there is significant patient contact. Will you elaborate a little?

Yes. At the "top" CP training programs there is a lot of hands-on training. Of course there is some subjectivity in this, but for me these institutions:
1. Have daily didactic lecture series
2. Run the apheresis clinic. At other institutions this is handled by nephrology or other service. This includes seeing patients (H/P's included) and overseeing the process. It also means being on-call for emergency situations.
3. Run the blood bank.This means approving blood products for use (done at most institutions) but also rounding on and caring for patients that have transfusion reactions.
4. ID/micro... not really much patient contact here regardless, but some places you round with the ID team.
5. Chemistry... again, rarely direct contact here. Really this is approving rare/expensive/send-out tests and responding to critical values
6. Hemepath- includes signing out smears and bone marrow Bx and aspirates, but can also be doing the Bx yourself.

If you want details on specific institutions you are going to have to PM me.