MD/PhD female student questions- PLEASE HELP!

[H0mersimps0n]

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Hey everyone. Any situations, suggestions, help, insight, links you could provide would be great.

Here's the situation:
-my girlfriend is interested in doing research AND is also interested in clinical medicine. She's not sure if she only wants to do one or the other, but she definitely has an interest in both.

-She also wants to have kids/family in late 20's or early 30's

-She's not sure whether to do research as JUST an MD or go MSTP MD/PhD.

Some questions:
-Is the PhD really necessary to do research in neurology? Can she do both clinical practice AND research with JUST an MD?

-If in an MD/PhD program, can she do the 4 yrs of MD, then have kids during the PhD, then go back and do residency?

-What have other female MD/PhD's done about planning families? Are you one or do you know one?

-Would it be ridiculous for her to get her MD, finish residency and then do PhD in early 30's while she has kids? The degrees would be separate (not an MD/PhD program) so she'd end up paying a lot more...

-Finally, if she's not completely sure whether or not to do research or clinical practice, should she just apply to MD programs and will going through med school help her decide if she needs her PhD?

 

[uofchopeful]

why are you posting this instead of your girlfriend?

 

[AnnK73]

I could say alot about this subject. Im a MD/PhD student finishing up this spring. First of all, I think that the reason to do a MD/PhD is because you really want to do basic science research and be a doctor. If one would be happy with clinical research in academics then just do the MD. It is a unique problem for women that almost by definition you are going to have to wait until mid to late 30s to get pregnant or have a baby during your training - neither of which are ideal. Lots of people do it. A few things about the MDPhd can make it more doable. First, the grad school years can be better but you still have so much ahead of you that that is not great either for getting pregnant. The lack of debt is a major advantage so if at all possible I would recommend doing the degrees in a combined fasion to get the financial benefits. Lastly, you can have a lot more choice in the field of medicine that you are going into after getting an MD/PhD. Since the "lifestyle" fields are so hard to get into these days that is another thing that can make it more doable. Working this stuff out is definatly a challenge for everyone doing an MD/PhD, but esp for women. Its good shes planning ahead. Its all possible if you want it bad enough. Good luck to her.

 

[Vader]

-Is the PhD really necessary to do research in neurology? Can she do both clinical practice AND research with JUST an MD?

The PhD is certainly not necessary, but can help substantially in several respects. The graduate training teaches one to think scientifically and to take on independent research. With an MD alone, one would need a few years doing postdoctoral research to reach the same level of independent ability. I would highly recommend going the MD/PhD route if your girlfriend is sure she wants to both practice medicine and conduct basic research.


-If in an MD/PhD program, can she do the 4 yrs of MD, then have kids during the PhD, then go back and do residency?

Yes, this is possible at some programs. However, this route has many disadvantages and there can be problems with the match, medical licensing, and especially the shock of starting residency after being out of clinical medicine for so long. In addition, doing the 2-3-2 plan allows one to gain a fundamental biomedical knowledge and to explore interests in various areas before deciding on the PhD, while providing a more natural transition from 4th year medical clerkships into a residency program.


-What have other female MD/PhD's done about planning families? Are you one or do you know one?

Yes, there are at least two MSTPs I can think of at UCSF who have had children while in the program. They both had their children during the graduate portion since time is more flexible during this period. Of course, you would want to have an understanding PI. They both seem happy and do not regret their decisions. The thing to remember is that there is no "best" time to plan a family, and you shouldn't feel that you have to put life on hold until you are done with the program.


-Would it be ridiculous for her to get her MD, finish residency and then do PhD in early 30's while she has kids? The degrees would be separate (not an MD/PhD program) so she'd end up paying a lot more...

That is VERY difficult to do and expensive, as you noted. If she just wanted a research career, then maybe. However, if she already knows that she wants to do both medicine and research, then MD/PhD is probably the best pathway toward that goal.


-Finally, if she's not completely sure whether or not to do research or clinical practice, should she just apply to MD programs and will going through med school help her decide if she needs her PhD?

If she is not completely sure, then it would be best to apply MD and then see if research sparks her interest while in medical school. She could then apply second cycle to the MD/PhD program if interested.

Hope this helps! 😀