MD then teaching?

[Doc.Holliday]

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i have two passions and have always flip flopped between the two paths. i really enjoy medecine and everything related to it, but i absolutely love teaching. how does one go about teaching at med schools etc? anything special i would need to do? thanks.

 

[docquaker]

you should probably look into academic medicine. as for specific fields, one of my interviewers said she went into pathology so she could teach.

 

[SFAJess]

I'm really interested in this too, especially after being a study group leader for Chem, Human Phys and Genetics. I want to know more info about it, too. It's good to see someone else with the same goal! 😀

 

[TexPre-Med]

First off, learn how to spell "medicine!"

 

[All-Star14]

First off, learn how to spell "medicine!"

I noticed that, too! But that's the correct French spelling of the word 😉

But seriously, it's great that you're exploring all of your passions and are able to combine them into one single career. Going the academic route will allow you to realize your calling. Good luck to you along the way!

 

[ColoMD]

You can certainly teach with an M.D., but an MD/Ph.D. might serve you far better. Look into a joint program, commonly called MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program).

 

[davematthews]

If you dont like research and/or do not like the idea of doing 3-4 years of basic science research during medical school total=7-8yrs, do not even consider an MD/PhD program. If you want to teach once you are an md, seek employment at a teachig hospital and/or med school/hospital facility where there will be plenty of opportunity to teach med students and residnets- many MDs at acamedic institutions are also assoicate professors.
If you want to more info, I would highly encourage you to contact any medical school education department. They can either answer your questions directly or put you in contact with the right people. Go directly to the source for accurate info!
Hope this helps, if I can help any more just email me.
good luck.

 

[Medikit]

I want to teach but I want to have my own practice more than I want to teach. But I'd like to do both, I just don't know if it's possible.

 

[JumpingGenes]

I want to teach but I want to have my own practice more than I want to teach. But I'd like to do both, I just don't know if it's possible.

I know a Doc who teaches at Pitt and also practices just over half of the time, so it is possible. You just need to get some connections at a med school. Seems like you might try to get the practice going first, then branch out into teaching once you get established. Good luck in your future plans.

 

[Mumpu]

You need to become an excellent doctor. If you can't be a great role model for your students, you won't be a good teacher in the medical setting.

 

[KidDr]

I'm interested in teaching, too, so here's my two cents:

If you want to teach med students/residents:
As long as you end up practicing in a city with a medical school, there will be opportunities to teach, whether it's working in a primary teaching role at the medical school (with some clinical responsibilities too), working in the community as an associate professor (or whetever the title may be) of the medical school (hosting rotating medical students and residents, etc), or working in private practice (mentoring medical students, occasionally having medical students rotate with you).

If you want to teach people other than medical students/residents:
There will always be opportunities to teach for community ed, if you seek them out. Or, consider getting a master's in education and using all your science knowledge to teach at the high school or possibly college level (maybe as an adjunct professor). Or seek out local support groups for people with various medical problems, and volunteer your time with those groups. Or offer to go to your kid's school and talk about your job as part of career day. And so on...

 

[medtechv79]

I think after u gain experience working as a doctor you can apply to teach at some med schools. THey may or may not require a PHD depending on some of the classes. But did u check out a college website and see their qualifications? Do the professors have CV's? You could always talk to a med school professor and see what they have to say...

 

[All-Star14]

If you want to teach people other than medical students/residents:
There will always be opportunities to teach for community ed, if you seek them out. Or, consider getting a master's in education and using all your science knowledge to teach at the high school or possibly college level (maybe as an adjunct professor). Or seek out local support groups for people with various medical problems, and volunteer your time with those groups. Or offer to go to your kid's school and talk about your job as part of career day. And so on...

One of my instructors this semester (in History) is a pediatrician. 😉 BTW, it's a history of abortion course.

 

[Haybrant]

how do you find out if med schools will allow you to be a ta for an undergrad class at their school??? Does anyone know of any that do? I know UCSF will if you are in the combined UCB pub health program.

 

[kash_711]

At my University we got 2 md's teaching, and they mentor a lot of students. But thats at the university level

 

[oldbearprofessor]

i have two passions and have always flip flopped between the two paths. i really enjoy medecine and everything related to it, but i absolutely love teaching. how does one go about teaching at med schools etc? anything special i would need to do? thanks.

Dear Doc.Holliday:

This is a common question here and you've gotten some good answers but let me explain things a bit from the perspective of someone who is a "teaching faculty" at a medical school.

One can teach in a lot of different ways in medicine. Here is an incomplete list of things that come to mind.

1. Medical school faculty give preclinical lectures to medical students and other professional students. This is similar to college lectures. Often these are given in basic sciences by PhD's or MD/PhD's but not always, especially in the second year. Increasingly, there is effort to actually teach faculty how to do this properly, to give feedback to faculty, and to effect changes where there are problems. Unfortunately, this part of medicine is not well compensated and I think most preclinical students would say that it is hit or miss in terms of quality.

2. Both full-time and non-full time faculty (e.g. community or volunteer faculty) teach medical students, residents and fellows on teaching rounds. At first, this may not seem like teaching, but, in fact, again requires a substantial educational understanding to do this effectively. Once again, we are just beginning to see real efforts to teach faculty how to do this well and to have meaningful feedback to faculty.

3. Especially for private practicing doctors, as noted, there are lots of opportunities to be preceptors for medical students and residents.

4. Mentoring - My favorite form of teaching. Can occur in all sorts of forms, from one on one career guidance to answering questions on on-line medical student forums.

5. National and international lecturing and bedside teaching. Actually I lied, this is my favorite form of teaching, and can be combined with mentoring too!

6. Writing curriculum, books and chapters. This usually doesn't happen much until you get to a more advanced academic stage. Isn't as much fun, but is very effective. I think that I reached more people with an educational curriculum I authored that went to practicing pediatricians in the US than with any of my research papers, etc. If the goal is to educate, use all available methods.

7. Research mentoring, teaching, etc.

I'm sure I've left a lot out of this list, but I wanted you to understand that teaching can be an integral part of medicine and that it encompasses every form of educational methodology. We have a long way to go in teaching physicians to be good lecturers, bedside teachers and mentors, but there is a very active effort to improve this - so please, consider this route!

Regards

"oldbear professor"

 

[Senor.Frog]

You need to become an excellent doctor.

If you don't master medicine, then, how will you be able to teach it!