Academia's not really my goal, clinical practice is. Academia is just sort of like an ex that I still have feelings for and keep considering getting together with.
Then don't get a PhD.
It sounds like you might not have the background for a successful PhD application if you're 23 and all of your research experience is in your past.
Although most schools handle the PhD and DO or MD application separately, osteopathic schools are generally more interested in producing caregivers and the school you want to attend is particularly committed to increasing the # of caregivers in the state. Since you have your heart set on one school, I would find it foolish to present yourself as someone who might possibly take an entire medical education and then just dive into bench research.
I know two top physician researchers in my field and neither has a PhD, just an M.D.. If you are really driven to do research, you don't need the PhD. It just makes school protracted.
If you need further education in a certain field to prepare yourself for doing research in your career, then it would make more sense to pursue a relevant Masters degree or possibly just take the necessary courses piecemeal.
A PhD thesis is a huge endeavor for someone who doesn't feel compelled to research a certain topic...you don't sound like you feel that. Some schools require you to pay tuition to get the Masters if you drop out of a PhD program before completing it...so you could get part way through and get nothing for your work.
If the type of research you want to do is CLINICAL RESEARCH, you absolutely don't need the PhD--most physician investigators are
only physicians. (If you want to do physician initiated protocols, you might still find it helpful to get a Masters to expose you to biostatistics, principles of trial design, etc.)
