Anyone know of any docs who both have a MD and RD? I am very interested in becoming a RD before going to med school and was just wondering if anyone had more information. Would it be better to do the RD before or after med school? Thanks!
Medical Doctor + Registered Dietitian (RD)
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What would be the point/purpose of getting it afterwards? If you use it as your undergraduate degree that's fine, but doing it after makes zero sense.
So I already have a BS in Dietetics. In order to become a licensed dietitian (RD), I will have to do a one year clinical internship and pass the licensing exam.
I am really passionate about nutrition and still want to become a physician. Do you all think it would be a smart move to get my RD before I start med school?
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The dietitians who have lectured/led small group discussions with our class seem to border on having an anorexic personality--and wanting everyone else to have one too. I don't know if that's part of the way they were trained, or did their personality lead them to the field in the first place.
Either way, I gotta go with the motto, "Eat food, not too much--mostly plants."
Otherwise, there's a new "health food" every week... Not saying you shouldn't be a dietitian, but not saying you should either.
Either way, I gotta go with the motto, "Eat food, not too much--mostly plants."
Otherwise, there's a new "health food" every week... Not saying you shouldn't be a dietitian, but not saying you should either.
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Sure you could do it...and it might help you if you chose a primary care specialty or something, but there really isn't much of a point for it. You send patients to the RD to deal with that stuff in order for you to treat their other 140 problems and do things that will net you more...
You mention a good point and one that I have been wondering about. If it is worth it or not? I am currently waiting to hear back from two schools I interviewed at and was thinking that if I don't get in this year, it might be a good idea to do the RD internship (assuming I match into the program this year). But I am still wondering if the RD behind my name would possibly help me in the future as a medical doctor? I am not entirely set on a specialty yet, but based on my limited exposure and experience, I seem pretty interested in becoming a gastroenterologist or surgeon.
I have only been able to find one person on google who actually has a MD and RD : http://main.uab.edu/shrp/default.aspx?pid=79589
I appreciate all your thoughts. Please feel free to add.
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lol, that's 1 yr physician's salary you'll lose there just to get an RD after your name that most likely no one would even notice, unless, you want that RD in order to work as an RD during med school, which sounds nuts but whatever
So basically you believe that there is no point in getting my RD if I plan to go to med school? How about doing it if I don't get accepted to med school this year as a plan B?
Would others agree with myhandsarecold that it's just a waste of time,money,effort, etc to become a RD if my ultimate goal is to become a MD?
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If you don't get in, it sounds like a solid plan in your gap year. Unfortunately when/if you become a physician, there just won't be time to truly counsel patients using your knowledge. You would refer them to see an RD for a full consultation while you saw other patients.
I agree, it would be a good plan if I don't get in this year.
Honestly, the RD is something I would really like to do for my own interests.
If I can possibly incorporate my RD knowledge in the far future into private practice or just maybe something unique to have on my CV, then that would be considered an added bonus to me.
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i really don't know how far along you are in ur med school prep, although you make it sound like you're about to start med school, which from what i'm realizing now is probably not the case. i suppose if you have are short of med pre reqs and have not taken the MCAT then you're probably still years away from matriculating to med school rather than what i was imagining to be months to a year at the latest. in light of this new realization, if i were you, you should probably then do the internship while u're putting together your apps for med school. i was under the impression you're getting ready to matriculate
Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear. I have already applied to med school and currently waiting to hear back. If I don't get accepted this year to start in August of 2011, I was thinking of doing the RD internship.
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I think it won't really help your future career as a doctor. However, if you don't get accepted now, I think doing the 1 year internship and getting registered is a great idea. It might be another 2-3 years before you get into med school (or never, it happens). Having a plan B is smart. Also, you're already 80% of the way there (4 years of college), so, if you have to take a year off before starting med school (ie re-apply), getting the RD would be the best use of that time IMHO.
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I'm going to disagree with everyone else. A think a nutrition/dietician license CAN be useful to a doctor, particularly in family med or internal med. If you're diagnosing a patient with new diabetes or a new heart condition, it would be feasible to schedule a nutrition appointment with them. You can charge accordingly for it. I think it would be convenient for patients to see their doctor about these things and it isn't like you'd have to counsel the patient right then during their regular med appointment. Nutrition consultation can be something you do one day a week or one morning a week and the rest of the time, you can see patients.
I think one DO school offers a master's in nutrition with their DO degree, if I'm not mistaken, the same way some offer MD/MBA, etc.
I think one DO school offers a master's in nutrition with their DO degree, if I'm not mistaken, the same way some offer MD/MBA, etc.
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This is something I have been wanting to hear from someone to kind of support my decision to become a dietitian.
So you came onto a forum, asked a question just to hear the answer you wanted to hear? What about the vast majority of other answers?
Whatever you do good luck, keep in mind everyone's situation is different and you have to analyze the situation and kind of go with your gut feeling on what is best for you.
I have been debating this same question, and am very excited to see that it isn't unheard of. I am in my first year of medical school currently, and even after talking with many of my professors, it is the consensus that physicians in general would benefit from more nutritional education.
I am also strongly considering becoming an RD, but am not sure at all how or when now that I have begun the MD program. I agree that particularly for primary care (I am interested in pediatrics), this would be a worthwhile undertaking, both as a physician (incorporated coding) and for the patients.
Not that I provided any solid answers for you, but I think pursuing an RD is a great idea, whether on your year off or another time. If you are passionate about it, I don't think it would be a waste of time at all.
I am also strongly considering becoming an RD, but am not sure at all how or when now that I have begun the MD program. I agree that particularly for primary care (I am interested in pediatrics), this would be a worthwhile undertaking, both as a physician (incorporated coding) and for the patients.
Not that I provided any solid answers for you, but I think pursuing an RD is a great idea, whether on your year off or another time. If you are passionate about it, I don't think it would be a waste of time at all.
D
deleted311769
I think it's a perfectly sensible way to spend your year (or a few years) if you don't get into med school.
There are some fields where it would be most useful - mostly as a point on your CV than the actual license (the MD will grant you the ability to do whatever kind of counseling or research you chose). But, if you are interested in clinical or research work in areas related to nutrition (specifically: ICU settings, pediatric nutritional conditions, adolescent med/eating disorders), I don't think it can hurt. You will be at an advantage compared to your peers with the extra nutritional knowledge, but the extra year internship isn't what will give you that, your classes did.
It is important to be aware that as an MD you won't be able to refer to yourself and bill as a RD in an outpatient setting. So you will either have to see your diabetic patient for their usual 15 minutes, or eat the cost of an extended visit (in addition, you likely wouldn't be making any more money for the hour-long RD visit, anyway). There is a major financial disincentive to practice that way.
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I have a similar interest in nutrition and have looked into a few options...
2 Medical schools in Ohio offer combined MD/MS in Nutrition programs.
Also, some schools (ie-Colorado) have Nutrition fellowships (Pediatric Nutrition) that you could complete after residency.
I'm glad others share the same medical/nutrition interests!!
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OP--
Not sure if it's helpful, but one of our GI lecturers last week was a MD/RD. I think she did her RD first and then went to medical school, but if you'd be interested in talking to her about the benefits of having both degrees, PM me and I'll give you her name/e-mail address.
I don't really have an opinion on the subject, as nutrition has never really interested me and I don't have enough experience to understand what benefits the RD would or would not give you in an actual clinical sense. That said, I say pursue what interests you and try and find a mentor who has similar interests -- I'm looking to go into quality work, and my mentor has given me great advice on the pros/cons of doing a MPH for my field and when/where to do it.
Not sure if it's helpful, but one of our GI lecturers last week was a MD/RD. I think she did her RD first and then went to medical school, but if you'd be interested in talking to her about the benefits of having both degrees, PM me and I'll give you her name/e-mail address.
I don't really have an opinion on the subject, as nutrition has never really interested me and I don't have enough experience to understand what benefits the RD would or would not give you in an actual clinical sense. That said, I say pursue what interests you and try and find a mentor who has similar interests -- I'm looking to go into quality work, and my mentor has given me great advice on the pros/cons of doing a MPH for my field and when/where to do it.
Hi! Im a dietitian and I've completed my internship, though its different in our country. I have the same dilemma, of whether to become a doctor or not. At first, I aimed of taking graduate studies in nutrition but decided otherwise, quite spontaneous actually, I just couldn't help not becoming a doctor, considering the knowledge, the training and the credibility once you completed the degree but I know that nutrition would still be at the forefront of my practice. I also did the same, looking for idols and found that there are a lot, I tried sending them emails and some replied, the majority suggested to take up medicine before establishing a nutrition practice.
Right now, I'm still at the crossroads, I applied to two medical schools here in our country, got accepted in one and waiting for the other. I might enroll this school year. I have no idea where to go after completing the degree or after the internship.
Right now, I'm still at the crossroads, I applied to two medical schools here in our country, got accepted in one and waiting for the other. I might enroll this school year. I have no idea where to go after completing the degree or after the internship.
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I think it would boost your medical school application greatly because it makes you unique and med schools like different perspectives. As a doctor though, you would probably not use that knowledge all that much but you never know, it's always good to think outside of the box.
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Only way it would make any sense is if you did it before med school because you had an extra year to fill.
To do it after med school would be lunacy. There's nothing an RD can do that you couldnt do as a physician. If you are that motivated about nutrition there's nothing stopping you from obtaining the knowledge on your own, the MD is all you need.
To do it after med school would be lunacy. There's nothing an RD can do that you couldnt do as a physician. If you are that motivated about nutrition there's nothing stopping you from obtaining the knowledge on your own, the MD is all you need.
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You have the undergraduate degree so you have the main knowledge base. Getting the RD makes sense as a gap year plan but otherwise it is a waste of time. It will not pay enough to be worth you seeing a patient as an RD instead of an MD even if you schedule a special "dietary appointment". Maybe it would help you market herbal supplements to anorexic middle-class women. Beyond that you're just giving into this asinine culture we've built up where we need a certificate to say we're capable of wiping our own butt.
If you're passionate about a subject then pick up some books, keep up on the literature, and incorporate it into your practice. You don't have to be an RD to provide accurate and helpful dietary guidance to a patient especially not if you already got an undergraduate degree in the subject...
If you're passionate about a subject then pick up some books, keep up on the literature, and incorporate it into your practice. You don't have to be an RD to provide accurate and helpful dietary guidance to a patient especially not if you already got an undergraduate degree in the subject...
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Newusername
This is the same thing I was thinking.... correct me if I'm wrong but its completely within the rights of a FM or IM Doc to offer nutritional counseling if they want to which would mean your RD would be for show and marketing but not really licensure.....
IMHO a lot of doctors don't spend enough time looking at nutrition, especially GI and FM docs.... we need more of your perspective in future docs
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As a new member and dietetic intern/master's student, I thought I'd add to the discussion. I've had some excellent opportunities with my internship and learned quite a bit, primarily that I want to do more than be a dietitian (studying for the MCAT). Cellular nutrition courses have probably been the most helpful, as well as medical nutrition therapy combined with experience; it's given me the ideal vs realistic view of patient compliance. Overall, I think that everyone could use at least a basic nutrition class; I'm sure medical school discuss cellular nutrition, etc. I'm assuming getting the RD would boost an application, but it would be relatively minor as a practicing MD or DO.
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deleted103644
Haha, one of the nutrition workshops we had was given by two people who each must have had a BMI > 30.
You'd think that would be a disqualifying factor.
Most dietitians i've encountered in my UG have lectured along the lines of "do as i say, not as i do". I find it puts them in a pretty bad light as far as the ones I've encountered. There is a reason personal trainers try to stay in good shape, it's not just because they are taking their own advice, it's because they want people to trust that they know what they're talking about.
D
deleted103644
The other thing they said which made me raise my eyebrows was that diet drinks don't help people lose weight.
Sure, you're probably better off not drinking soda, but if someone is drinking a liter of coke a day, switching to diet coke is better than nothing.
Sure, you're probably better off not drinking soda, but if someone is drinking a liter of coke a day, switching to diet coke is better than nothing.
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I think the prior education you have in nutrition + what you'll learn in medical school will prepare you to counsel patients on nutrition, provided you keep up with new research. I know it won't be the case everywhere, but my school had an excellent nutrition course and I feel very capable of sitting down with a patient and creating a nutrition plan, in fact I did it for my newly-diabetic father. Even if your future school has a crap nutrition course, what you will have learned in your basic sciences courses will enable you to understand all the new research as it comes along. Your knowledge and skill in that field is going to be dependent on how much time you put into reading and practicing it. I find it hard to think of a good reason to get that RD after your name if you're going to be a physician. If you don't get into med school and want to fill up a gap year, sure. But otherwise, don't waste your valuable time.
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Agree to disagree. Between premeds, fellows, etc. I know, are they capable of talking about nutrition? Yes. Can they do it extensively in order to develop a plan for someone with diabetes? Not as much. Not saying physicians cannot do it, just saying experience is a big factor in trying to help difficult/non-compliant patients, which seems to be the case 4/5 times. Of course, I'm a bit biased being in a dietetic internship.
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It's a little sad with the amount of people in the field that don't practice what they preach. I've been disappointed by it for years. In all fairness, it exists in most health professions. I've seen overweight physicians, NPs, etc. complain about obese patients. I really do agree with you though, but it's a person-to-person perspective because you can always do one better in nutrition like many things.
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OP has a bachelors in dietetics which is 99% of the education needed for RD.... only thing missing is a clinical internship and a test score 👍
And dietary non-compliance is not in any appreciable for different from medical non-compliance. The "experience" that you seem to suggest is important would not be lost by simply maintaining the BS and getting the MD. If the OP is MD caliber to begin with s/he should be able to apply the undergrad education using the medschool experiences.
I have an undergrad degree in nutrition and had I not gotten into med school for next year, I definitely would have gone for a one year internship and get an RD designation before reapplying.
However, I got into med school and that was that.
However, I got into med school and that was that.
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I respectfully disagree with it being 99% of the education but again I'm just going from my experience. It's certainly a good chunk but nothing makes up for clinical experience. I do agree with you that physicians or really anyone with healthcare experience has a good understanding for non-complicance. I was speaking more about detailed experience from a nutrition perspective rather than general knowledge of the ideal that is taught.
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Glad to hear it and good to know. I had a pretty crappy 1.5 semesters of undergrad that brought my science GPA down. I'm hoping graduating with the RD and MS this December will help balance me out, along with a great graduate assistantship experience.
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Christine Gerbstadt, MD, MPH, RD, LDN, CSSD, CDE
I suppose if want to be able to spell the alphabet with your initials it's a feasible plan. I don't even know what the last three are...lol
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I saw that earlier, so it's nice to know someone out there took that route. Her profile mentions 'detox diet', which I personally do not agree with nor understand, then again it's just a title of something written so who knows.
LDN: Licensed Dietitian and Nutritionist --> it's a state certification only required by ~30 some states I think? It basically says within that state 'Average Joe' cannot claim to be a nutritionist. It's in part because the profession is insecure about others trying to talk about nutrition and part because there really are people out there making potentially dangerous suggestions.
CDE: Certified Diabetes Educator (anyone can apply for this)
CSSD: Certified Sports Dietitian (don't know why there's an extra 'S'). It's one of a few specialized certifications beyond RD just like CDE.
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deleted103644
If she's talking about detox diets, then all her degrees just add up to BS...
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So you're comparing the hypothetical abilities of a physician with little experience in nutrition planning to a dietician with much experience? I think you missed the point of what I said. I mean to say that the EDUCATION the OP will get, on top of her prior education, will be enough to act as a nutritionist for her patients if she chooses to do that regularly. Obviously practice and experience is important.
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Hey there
I am in a huge confusion right now and I am glad I stumbled into this post. I am a RD, graduated in 2010 and now I feel like I want to go to medschool however I do not have all the prereq. I am 25 and it might be another 2 years before I apply. Do you think it is a bad idea now?
I am in a huge confusion right now and I am glad I stumbled into this post. I am a RD, graduated in 2010 and now I feel like I want to go to medschool however I do not have all the prereq. I am 25 and it might be another 2 years before I apply. Do you think it is a bad idea now?
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Someone's been reading Michael Pollen's "The Omnivore's Dilemma". Good book by the way.
As to becoming a dietician, I'd like to do the same thing but I see two problems with it.
First of all is the fact that the dieticians are beholden to the ridiculous "scientific" recommendations being handed out by the Big .GOV. As long as we keep telling people that they need to make grains the base of their calorie intake we'll have obesity. After all, two slices of whole wheat bread will spike blood sugar faster than two tablespoons of sucrose which will lead to increased insulin level which lead to energy being shuttled INTO fat cells but prevented from flowing out of them. If you're not actively running or doing intense (not long-n-slow) cardio exercise, then eating carbs is a bad idea. Diet should consist primarily of protein and fat (derived from grass-fed animal sources) with green vegetables (potatoes and corn are not vegetables) filling out the rest. You're not going to hear this in RD training and thus whatever you learn there will be bad info that you're more than likely to pass on to people who will end up being unsuspecting victims.
The second reason I'm not pursuing this path is because of time. You've only got so many years and becoming a physician takes up a lot of them. No need to extend out the process.
I'm seriously considering having my wife pursue RD certification. Once she has the qualifications, she'll toss most of the bunk being sold in those classes and actually give people good advice. (i.e. - cholesterol & saturated fat intake are beneficial unless you are eating high glycemic foods)
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Sir, with all due respect, I think you're information is grossly incorrect. Please cite your sources behind grains being bad and sat fat being good. There are millions of people without insulin resistance eating grains, which do not spike blood sugar faster. See glycemic index, it's based on the comparison to sucrose. Glucose does not make people gain adipose, hyper caloric feeding makes people gain adipose. Also, see gluconeogenesis and report back to me.
There is without question a flawed government system. The government mainly affects school foods and other public affiliated sites. They are merely laid out suggestions that I by no means have to suggest to my patients. Not one dietitian I know holds themselves to government set standards, they are not experts. People are obese because they don't care, have never gotten help, or are likely grossly undereducated.
Not every dietetics program spoon feeds you bull**** information. I without question loathe the Association of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly American dietetic association), so yes, there is bad information out there. I corn a vegetable? Yup, a starchy one though.
I went to grad school in nutrition to improve my application, and am about to start MS1. I decided not to take the extra time to do the RD, but I'm going to get my CN (no additional time required, just have to show the state my MSN degree/transcripts and cut a check). I figure extra letters behind the name never hurts, and I may see a few clients to supplement my loan "income".
Depends on the state you live in, but in general, I don't see the point in going through a dietetic internship only to see patients as an MD. I value my nutrition education, and think it will serve me well as a PCP (even if it just reminds me that referrals to nutritionists can be useful). But I don't feel like the clinical aspect would have added value.
Depends on the state you live in, but in general, I don't see the point in going through a dietetic internship only to see patients as an MD. I value my nutrition education, and think it will serve me well as a PCP (even if it just reminds me that referrals to nutritionists can be useful). But I don't feel like the clinical aspect would have added value.
Just because been a doctor is what I always wanted, although I couldn't before because of life circunstances. I became a dietitian instead (in my country) and I am amazed by the lack of understanding you have about this amazing carreer. Nutrition is a wonderful field that has given me a deep perspective in health, disease prevention, social equality, development and even History and Anthropology. Food was the motor of human development from a biological and social point of view. Medical staff that can't identify this will fail in their preventive interventions. We all know how drugs alone are not improving the non Non-communicable Chronical disease epidemy in the western world. Let alone the problems of child chronical denutrition that are the basis of human capital loss in so many third world countries... hunger, GMO's, agriculture, industry... name a field where a competent dietitian is not involved in modern world... It's not just about easy "eat vegetables, don't drink soda" stuff... I am worried you, as med students are failing at seeing a wider spectrum. Well, nothing that can't be improved in your following training years. I work in research on community health, metabolomics and genetics (yup, as a dietitian and I'm only 27, meaning only dietitian training gave me the tools I needed to go ahead in so many fields) and will start my work to persue the MD, not because Nutrition is "not enough" but because MD is what I always wanted and I think a RD with a MD degree can be a better physcian for her patients.
