Ph.D after D.O.?

[rjgennarelli]

Hello all. Long time member here, though most of what I do is just read others' posts.

Several years back I worked in a lab with an M.D. who was able to take an extended hiatus from residency in order to pursue a Ph.D, which he was able to complete in around 3 years. He was not on an MD/PhD track. The shortened time was due to him having already earned his MD at that medical school, and the school, having an MD/PhD program, accepted his medical school coursework.

Being at a DO school without a PhD program, I was curious as to whether or not it would be possible to do this sort of thing after completing my DO as I have very specific research interests in translational medicine; I also believe this would be a great opportunity to bring more research into the field of osteopathic medicine, as it could surely benefit from.

Obviously my school does not have a DO/PhD program or I would otherwise be enrolled. However, based on what my above-stated colleague was able to do, I am curious of the possibility or prevalence of major research institutions being willing to accept credit from a COM in lieu of some (if not all) graduate lecture coursework.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thank you

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I honestly don't see why anyone would do this. You'd be far better off doing a research fellowship where you work in lab 4 days and 1 clinical. You'll probably get as many publications as PhD alone but earning as much money as a fellow. Alternatively, you can simply do a post-doc where you'll get paid more than a grad student. Getting a PhD is honestly a waste of time unless it's in a concurrent DO/PhD or MD/PhD program.

 

[DrZed]

If you like research, do a post-doc. I'm not super familiar with DO's researching, but I know MD's are able to conduct their own research without needing a PhD. Just do a post-doc at a research institution and voila.

 

[notbobtrustme]

Bear in mind that research comes with a 50-75% pay hit (more if you aren't clinical faculty) as compared to practicing medicine.

 

[HoboCommander]

It's much less money, and you're not really practicing medicine, which was why people go to med school in the first place. What's the point?

 

[TriagePreMed]

It's much less money, and you're not really practicing medicine, which was why people go to med school in the first place. What's the point?

Some of our greatest scientists have been physicians. Sometimes medicine is not as satisfying as one thinks it'll be.

 

[guydudcl371]

So I will be getting a PhD after I complete medical school (the "long track" since my school does not have a DO/PhD program). I have two masters degrees. In the fields I am interested in (sociology and women's studies), one CANNOT simply use their medical degree to become a researcher in these fields because medical school does not prep you well enough for the theory and qualitative/quantitative work that these fields do. My goal is to help bridge the gap between social sciences and medicine, and I have been advised and have grown to believe that one needs to be an "expert" in both fields before one can draw solid/valid connections between them and be taken seriously. My biggest piece of advice is to find someone who is performing the type of research you are interested in (or a few people) and pick their brains about it. They are already in the field and probably know what you would need to do to be successful.

 

[TriagePreMed]

So I will be getting a PhD after I complete medical school (the "long track" since my school does not have a DO/PhD program). I have two masters degrees. In the fields I am interested in (sociology and women's studies), one CANNOT simply use their medical degree to become a researcher in these fields because medical school does not prep you well enough for the theory and qualitative/quantitative work that these fields do. My goal is to help bridge the gap between social sciences and medicine, and I have been advised and have grown to believe that one needs to be an "expert" in both fields before one can draw solid/valid connections between them and be taken seriously. My biggest piece of advice is to find someone who is performing the type of research you are interested in (or a few people) and pick their brains about it. They are already in the field and probably know what you would need to do to be successful.

You know that sociology PhD is about 7 to 9 years long, right? How are you going to pay for your DO degree?

 

[guydudcl371]

Yes I am well aware of how long the PhD programs are, thank you for your concern...I know several people who have done it and I have received advice on how to best handle it. As I said before, your best advice is to find someone in the position you want and pick their brain(s). I would not give much weight to career advice given on SDN...lol

 

[TriagePreMed]

Yes I am well aware of how long the PhD programs are, thank you for your concern...I know several people who have done it and I have received advice on how to best handle it. As I said before, your best advice is to find someone in the position you want and pick their brain(s). I would not give much weight to career advice given on SDN...lol

Well, good luck. That takes some serious tenacity to spend 7+ years in a PhD after med school.