MD, then PhD

[bigneonglitter]

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Would it be pointless to apply to grad school afer med school, or even after residency? I am an MSII right now and I really don't think I want to make a career out of clinical medicne. I know it would probably mean an extra five or six years, but time is not a big deal to me.

I posted this question in the allopathic forum, but I thought maybe it would be better to pose this question to people who have expereince/know a little more about the whole grad school process and what someone can do with an MD and a PhD.

 

[izibo]

Probably a much better idea to go for a research post-doc. Like many people have said, you don't need the PhD to do research and you could probably be more productive with your research then going back and doing the PhD.

 

[dr.z]

Probably a much better idea to go for a research post-doc. Like many people have said, you don't need the PhD to do research and you could probably be more productive with your research then going back and doing the PhD.

Just go do a post-doc.

 

[Phil Anthropist]

There are also some accelerated PhD programs for MDs. Some may be completed concurrently with residency programs for a few additional years.

 

[beary]

Probably a much better idea to go for a research post-doc. Like many people have said, you don't need the PhD to do research and you could probably be more productive with your research then going back and doing the PhD.

I agree with this. I am just finishing MSTP, and love research, but there is no way just finishing med school I would go back to grad school now. You will have to spend some years with dedicated research training time, but you can do that without getting a Ph.D.

 

[kwizard]

I agree with this. I am just finishing MSTP, and love research, but there is no way just finishing med school I would go back to grad school now. You will have to spend some years with dedicated research training time, but you can do that without getting a Ph.D.

I agree w/ going the post doc route. You could potentially get the same kind of training as a PhD program, but possibility w/ more "hands on" training and production at an earlier stage in your career. You may want to start pursuing research interests (if you haven't already done so) sooner than later via internship, part time lab work, and/or inquire about how much time during elective portion of residency training can be devoted to research. This will help you develop a skill set to prior to applying for the post-doc so you can realistically express what you have done and what you would potentially like to do while pursuing post-doc training. Secondly the more research experience you have will further help you decide that you really want to do research vs just wanting to do research as an alternative to clinical medicine (just a thought). Post doc would also provide you w/ option to get paid as a fellow while also receiving loan repayment at up 35k/yr via NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP).

 

[roygbasch]

This thread applies to me...I am out of residency in full-time hospitalist practice, and like bigneonglitter, I don't want to stay in clinical practice. (He/she is lucky to realize that sooner than I did!). My background and interest is in engineering, and I would be trying to go into biomedical engineering. Do you think I too would be better off pursuing a postdoc? I have a BS and MS in electrical engr, but it has been some 10 years ago. I also am not sure if postdocs are as common in engineering compared to the basic sciences. I have really been planning to go for a PhD, but maybe that's not the best approach. What do you think?

 

[kwizard]

Do you think I too would be better off pursuing a postdoc? I have a BS and MS in electrical engr, but it has been some 10 years ago. I also am not sure if postdocs are as common in engineering compared to the basic sciences. I have really been planning to go for a PhD, but maybe that's not the best approach. What do you think?

I would still lean towards doing the post-doc as you would fall into the "late-bloomer" category given your desire to pursue research interests having already completed didactics and residency training. There is a MD (Robert Buchanan, MD http://www.mprc.umaryland.edu/directory.asp?tp_ID=20 ) at the Maryland Psych Research Center (MPRC) who has a degree in chemical engineering. I'm not sure how close this would be to bioengineering or if you have any interests in psych, but I would explore a means by which you could apply your knowledge in engineering in combo w/ knowledge base in medicine (possibly in imaging studies??). If you could fine a way to apply both to a research topic than that may give you an idea of what types of fellowships may be worth pursuing.

Possible other site for some info: http://www.umassmed.edu/biomedeng/postdocs.cfm

I hope this helps and good luck!!

 

[roygbasch]

Thanks for the info kwizard. And the encouragement.