MD first, IM residency second and then PhD during fellowship?

[QuinnB]

Hello everyone, I've searched through the threads and haven't found exactly what I was looking for. I was wondering how common it is to do a PhD in a basic science (physiology, cell and molecular, etc...) as part of an IM fellowship. Especially for anyone who has done it, what is it like, how many extra years does it typically add on beyond the traditional 2-3 years for fellowship time, etc...

thanks.

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[Sulfinator]

I would say it's not very common and not the way to go if you really want to get a PhD. But maybe there is someone out there that can speak from personal experience. . .

 

[RxnMan]

I have worked with fellows in the Pulm/CCM fellowship at University of Colorado. The standard fellowship is 3 years, and you can stay an extra year and get a PhD. I believe most are in "Clinical Investigation", though, at that level, you can do what you want. Check out the website here.

 

[QuinnB]

I have worked with fellows in the Pulm/CCM fellowship at University of Colorado. The standard fellowship is 3 years, and you can stay an extra year and get a PhD. I believe most are in "Clinical Investigation", though, at that level, you can do what you want. Check out the website here.

Thanks - I appreciate it.

 

[howelljolly]

I have worked with fellows in the Pulm/CCM fellowship at University of Colorado. The standard fellowship is 3 years, and you can stay an extra year and get a PhD. I believe most are in "Clinical Investigation", though, at that level, you can do what you want. Check out the website here.

Thanks for finding this. I've been wondering about getting a PhD during fellowship myself, but never thought to ask. And IM/PCCM is right up my alley.

What about other programs in related fields (public health, psychology), or even basic sciences?

 

[RxnMan]

Thanks for finding this. I've been wondering about getting a PhD during fellowship myself, but never thought to ask. And IM/PCCM is right up my alley.

What about other programs in related fields (public health, psychology), or even basic sciences?

From my internet searches, most of the fellowship PhD degree options in epidemiology, public health, and clinical investigation.

The program I linked is just one example. Take a look at the APSA website for research residencies. You'll see that there are many options out there. Some allow you to match to a fellowship early-on in your residency. These follow the ABIM pathway - 2 yrs clinical IM, 3-4 yrs research, and 1-3 yrs of clinical fellowship, depending on which you're doing (CCM, Cards, Endo, etc).

Also, the curriculum of many the standard research fellowships (like after EM or IM) includes you getting a masters in epi or public health.

Psychology? I don't know.

 

[JDWflash44]

copy and pasted my answer from a similar thread on page 2:

Here's what I have found looking into such a plan(PhD after an MD). My mentor did this and is now the chairman of a prestigious Orthopedics department.

I plan to finish my medical school training and apply to residency. Do my residency in my field and possibly a clinical fellowship, followed by getting an position where I can work 1.5 days per week clinically, while getting my PhD 3.5 days a week (plus some weekends I'm sure). The biggest problem with this is finding an institution that is willing to support you getting your PhD (and obviously you will be making considerably less $$, given your lack of clinical time).

My mentor did this and the way that he said he achieved it was he had this plan going into residency and found a program that supported it. He had a research year in his residency and continued working on some things from his project in the waning years of his residency (before the 80hr rule), as well as getting some graduate seminars out of the way. He used this data to apply for an NIH career development award that funded his PhD time. So he had this all ready to go right when he finished his residency. He then took 3.5 years to get his PhD while working as a clinician/surgeon 1.5 days per week. He said that this way he was able to make approx $100,000/yr while getting his PhD as well.

This is my plan going forward. There are definetly roadblocks along the way, but we will see how things will work out...

Hope this helps