phd after medicine

[bembo]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi! I hope that I'm posting in the correct position!

I'm in my last (6th) year of graduation in medicine in Italy.

In this period I think what to do after graduation. In my country after graduation 99,999% of MD take a residency in some field of interest (cardiology, gynecology, general surgery, etc.). No one consider to pursue a pure career in the field of the research.

My will is instead quite different, because I would like to work in a research lab an not in a hospital's ward. I think that I'm more prone to work with test tubes, PCRs, southern blots, etc. than to do anamnesis, objective examinations, etc.!

So right now I'm looking for info about PhD abroad (USA and Canada).

My questions are:

-Does A MD find more difficult that a biotechnologist (or a biologist, or others) to obtain a PhD in these countries?
-Is it considered (as in Italy) "unusual" for a MD to do a PhD and not a residency?

Thanks a lot for the answer!

(I hope that my English is understandable!)

 

[friendlybear]

Hi, I'm an MD/PhD applicant, and have met quite a few MD/PhD's who received their MD first, and then went to get their PhD's. As long as your GRE scores and grades meet the mark, you will be competitive.

 

[Singh]

Hi Bembo,

It sounds as if you are genuinely interested in research, and I think you should go for it. A ph.d. will help you in your further career as a scientist as well as a clinical physician.
I myself completed my internship a month back and now starting on a ph.d. project. After these 3 yrs I'll apply for residency.

-Singh

 

[bembo]

thanks a lot for the answers!

I wish you could reach your targets! I hope for me too! 🙂

 

[bembo]

Just another question!

I myself completed my internship a month back and now starting on a ph.d. project. After these 3 yrs I'll apply for residency.

Singh, don't you think that after 3-4 years of PhD the "regular" course is to continue in the research field, for example with a post-doc? What I mean is: you spent 3-4 years spent in a lab, without any patient (only mouses 🙂 ) obtaining a non-clinical experience. After that, why you should start a residency, that is a complete changing in what you are doing until that moment?
NB: I don't want to be unkind! I'm only trying to understand what to do of my life!

consider that right now I'm 28 years old. I am so "old" because prior to do medicine (6 years in Italy), I've gratuated in "laboratory technician" (3 year).

 

[Singh]

Hi Bembo,

You're NOT too old! I am 29, and this is considered very normal here.
Well, some people do continue with only a research career, but in my opinion the majority continue their career as part-time researchers and clinicians. A few never do research ever again, but continue with clinical work. I do not plan on only doing research (I love patients!).
No one says you have to do research with animals or cells. I'm using persons as subjects, so this way I learn some clinical skills too.
I am no expert in this area, but my advice to you is to go ahead with a ph.d. if you enjoy research and wish to acquire a thorough knowledge within a specific field. It's also a good idea if you're planning children, as you are (almost) your own master.
Which field are you considering?

 

[bembo]

Hi!

You're NOT too old! I am 29, and this is considered very normal here.

In your country how old are you when you start university? In Italy we have about 19-20 years old... plus about 6-7 years of medicine ... at 25-27 we are "ready" for residency...

Which field are you considering?

So, before starting to think at a PhD, I've considered the Pediatrics residency (however still not abandoned at all!), but also anesthesiology & intensive care (in Italy they are put toghether) and neurology...

Instead, if we are talking about a PhD, I think that neuroscience is a very interesting field, but I'm still in research of other fields which could be interesting too... If you have some ideas, I appreciate every advice!

And you? What's the field of your PhD?

 

[BozoSparky]

bembo, are you ready to give up all aspects of clinical work? if not, i would say stay in medicine and do a post doc...

so, if you are truly up for a change of career, and not just looking to become a physician scientist, but to become a scientist, then a phd is probably necessary.

getting in won't be hard, but finishing the phd will be. it's all possible, though.

 

[bembo]

Thanks of all for the answers! I've really appreciated!

So, it is a very hard choice... also because when I graduate, I probably will go in Canada (Quebec). What I've read made me a little sad: very very few IMGs obtain a residency (and usually not where they want)... So I've thought to a PhD because
I'm probably more prone to a "life lab"
I have more odd to enter in a PhD than in a residency (even though I have graduated with honours in the previous degree and I think that I will graduate MD with the same...) --- (but I don't want to go OT!)

 

[drummerboy]

heck you're almost never too old. i'm 28 and will be starting with MBBS next year...of course after completing a bachelors. so go for what u wanna do, never let age get in the way.

good luck bembo.

 

[JLC]

obtaining a PhD first depends on the school you're talking about, but regardless it is much harder for international students (usually individual graduate programs reserve less than 10% of the total class are international students although they are increasing the rate of accepted international students)

However having an MD can really help your application. It is very common for many international MD's to come to the US to pursue a PhD almost exactly for your reason or they wish to have more exposure in the basic sciences.

Good luck.

 

[bembo]

Thanks very much for the answers! I really appreciate!

Right now I'm considering to apply for a PhD in Canada... "love affairs" are bringing me there...

If someone has particular experience about doing PhD after MD in that (beautiful) country, please write here his opinion/suggestion!

 

[cyneuron]

why has nobody considered the option of going for a research based fellowship after completion of residency ?

there are so many benefits of this route for people like us who have already devoted quite good number of years doing their MD...

i have also been through the same questions and answers (well still in the process)....

you can check two posts i had made regarding same :

Phd Before Residency To Pursue Clinical Research in Neurology/Neuroscience

Psychiatry Residency As a Pathway to Research In Neuroscience

recently after lot of googling, one more theme seems to have emerged in my mind...doing one year of Masters of Research in neuroscience from Uk, to actually go through research (not talking about clinical research, already have enough experience in that; its the basic science research (thats what Phd is mostly, if not all, about) which we MD usually have very less experience of); will give an edge both in Phd or residency application (whatever you end up deciding after one year ); the only problem (in my case) is funding.....

hope it will helps...also looking for people's response here...

 

[bembo]

Hi cyneuron!

why has nobody considered the option of going for a research based fellowship after completion of residency ?

Because this is one of the problems: where I should go (Canada), IMGs usually don't obtain a residency in a field that they want...

doing one year of Masters of Research in neuroscience from Uk, to actually go through research (not talking about clinical research, already have enough experience in that; its the basic science research (thats what Phd is mostly, if not all, about) which we MD usually have very less experience of); will give an edge both in Phd or residency application (whatever you end up deciding after one year )

I think that I'll graduate with a thesis spent in a lab, in order to obtain some "research skills" that we MD don't have after 6 years of classes...


What can I say? Good luck to all!

 

[cyneuron]

Hi cyneuron!

Because this is one of the problems: where I should go (Canada), IMGs usually don't obtain a residency in a field that they want...

no offence but why are you so negative about securing a GOOD residency seat ? if you have correct credentials, it shouldn't be a problem....everything is difficult if you see like this...even getting Phd in top universities can be labelled difficult...working hard to make a good profile is the way to go....

I think that I'll graduate with a thesis spent in a lab, in order to obtain some "research skills" that we MD don't have after 6 years of classes...


What can I say? Good luck to all!

i guess getting back to clinics would be impossible after that...