MD vs. PhD

[177983]

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Hey, everyone. I hope I don't sound too ignorant here, but I was just wondering what kind of end-stage differences there tend to be between a MD vs. a PhD in a given subject.

For instance, if one had an MD, then did an EM residency followed by a Toxicology fellowship, would there be things that would be "off-limits" to the person vs. someone who had a PhD in toxicology? Or for a second example, someone who had a PhD in Immunology vs. someone who had a MD with an Int. Med residency and an All./Imm. fellowship that concentrated on Imm.?

Now, obviously, someone with a PhD can't do clinical work, but in the research arena, will only a MD not get you some places? I'm assuming so, otherwise MD/PhDs wouldn't exist, but if people could illuminate the differences, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[j-weezy]

So are you asking only considering RESEARCH, what are things a PhD can do that an MD can't do?

Short answer: nothing.

 

[RxnMan]

PhDs can not do clinical work. MDs (generally) do not have formal training in research - experiment design, grant writing, refining a hypothesis, etc.

 

[MedRower]

So are you asking only considering RESEARCH, what are things a PhD can do that an MD can't do?

Short answer: nothing.

How about: be more likely to understand human biology broadly?

 

[Scottish Chap]

PhDs can not do clinical work. MDs (generally) do not have formal training in research - experiment design, grant writing, refining a hypothesis, etc.

PhDs can become board certified in a couple of pathology subspecialties - clinical chemistry, toxicology, molecular diagnostics, and medical microbiology, for example. They can also become board certified in clinical pharmacology. I completed a two-year clinical chemistry fellowship as a PhD. I even had malpractice insurance. The other fellow that year was a U.S. MD, and he only needed to complete one year of the fellowship before being board eligible. We had the same duties: carrying the beeper, and occasionally visiting the floor. It did not involve direct patient care. That's the major difference between what MDs and PhDs can do.

OP: what a PhD learns is one inch wide and one mile deep. What an MD learns is one inch deep and one mile wide.

 

[j-weezy]

How about: be more likely to understand human biology broadly?

Well that would probably be on a case by case basis

PhD in physical anthropology probably has a better understanding of total human anatomy than does a psychiatrist 20 years out of medical school


p.s. check your mdapp profile!

 

[RxnMan]

PhDs can become board certified in a couple of pathology subspecialties - clinical chemistry, toxicology, molecular diagnostics, and medical microbiology, for example. They can also become board certified n clinical pharmacology. I completed a two-year clinical chemistry fellowship as a PhD. I even had malpractice insurance. The other fellow that year was a U.S. MD, and he only needed to complete one year of the fellowship before being board eligible. We had the same duties: carrying the beeper, and occasionally visiting the floor. It did not involve direct patient care. That's the major difference between what MDs and PhDs can do.

OP: what a PhD learns is one inch wide and one mile deep. What an MD learns is one inch deep and one mile wide.

Once again, you proved me wrong. I had no idea that such jobs existed. Well, I knew that there were PhD toxicologists, but I didn't know that they were board-certified (I'm assuming the clinical board that also oversees EM MDs) or had malpractice. Cool.