MD/postdoc

[caetano]

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does anyone know about programs where you can do med school and apostdoc at the same time just like an MSTP program but for someone that already has a PhD?
I will be finishing my PhD in a while and I'd like to go to med school. however, I do not want to distance myself from research. I thought about joining an MSTP program but most of them wouldn't take me with a PhD and I'd definitely rather do a postdoc than a second PhD for financial reasons and because of the time. I also thought about getting a loan and go to Med school but, as I said, I really don't want to stay away from the lab for too long. Also, I don't think I can afford to go to school for 4 years without making any money.
does anyone have any ideas or suggestions that could help me?!?! anything would be appreciatted. I really want to go to med school and I'm afraid that I might not be able to because of these logistic issues.
Thanks!

 

[MasonPrehealth]

I sincerely doubt there are programs like that, and I don't know if you want to be in a program that will allow you to do both like that. You basically should just go back to medical school, take the MCAT, and go through the interview process like everyone else.

Even so, I don't know if you want to be relegated back to being a "student" in a research lab while you are a medical student. You should probably focus more on the clinical experience than "research." Besides, you're going to get asked why you want to get an MD after having gotten a PhD in the first place.

 

[thos]

I'm sure most people on this forum can tell you of several PhDs in their med school class, that is, it's a common situation. In my class some were even instructors and/or faculty when they started. However, the prospect of doing much in the way of significant research during med school seems unlikely to me. In our MSTP, research rotations are scheduled the summer before med school starts (if possible), the summer after first year, and the summer after second year if another rotation is needed; this third summer doesn't really exist for regular med students, since third year starts about one month after second year ends and you're studying for boards during that time. Bottom line, you could certainly use the summer between MS1 and MS2, and if you're very organized, a great student, and don't much like your free time, you could work a little during those years. However, come third year there's not much hope. About half of fourth year is cush, so you might be able to get something started again. Since you have a PhD, there's not much way around having to borrow large sums of $ to fund your education short of scholarships, military, etc. I think MasonPrehealth is right that you'll need a convincing reason you want to go to med school, i.e. what do you want to do that a PhD alone can't achieve (don't worry, there are plenty of good answers). On the bright side, you might get some credit for one or two basic science courses, but this probably doesn't get reflected in tuition. I'm not trying to sound discouraging, but keep in mind the med school administrators expect it to be a sacrifice to some extent.

 

[QofQuimica]

I'm in the same position as you. I just finished my PhD, and I'm starting med school (straight MD) this summer. As far as I know, there are not any formal programs for people like us. However, most if not all schools will allow you to take a fifth year for research if you want to do that. Some trad students will choose to get an MD with, say, an MS, in five years. But you can use that fifth year to do the post doc instead. However, you will have to weigh whether you feel it is worth spending a fifth year as a student in order to do this; the school may still charge you tuition. (In my experience, most only charge a token fee.) Another option you might consider instead is to finish your MD in the normal four years, and then do a residency with an extra year of post doc. I think the finances would probably work out better that way.