PhD / Residency / Both?

[snufkin002]

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Hey All,

Just wanted to gauge the forum for some life advice. A bit of background first: I'm a pretty dedicated med student + researcher, but I've only got a bachelor's degree (and ~5-6 good pubs). I want to become a clinician-scientist, and I'm in my 4th year of an MD program.

Next year is residency time, and I've got a number of things I'm thinking about and am wondering about your thoughts for each of them:
i) Apply/Accept a residency and do a PhD later.
ii) Forget about a PhD, continue to do research on the side, and do a residency.
iii) Apply for a scholarship like Rhodes, and residency, and if selected, perhaps delay residency? Has anyone ever heard of this?

Secondly, one thing of note is that I think my research and clinical interests are somewhat separate -- ie. my clinical interest is neurology, and my research interest is oncology. Is this a problem? Should I be considering only PhD programs related directly to neuroscience?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Neuronix]

Don't delay residency. The longer you wait, the worse your application for residency gets.

Did you have significant research during medical school?

Depending on the residency choice, your best bet is going to be PhD or several years of research as a resident and fellow. This is specialty dependent. Start looking now for opportunities and programs that have these sorts of pathways.

 

[snufkin002]

That's certainly a good point.

I do have significant research during the med school summers, and even a bit during the year. Do you know where I would start looking for these sorts of residency programs that would allow for a PhD during residency? I'm in Canada so this complicates things, but I have done Step 1, so the US is not outside the realm of possibility.

 

[Neuronix]

This is residency specific in the USA. In Canada I have no idea. You could search SDN, but I don't know that there is any web information source for Canadian physician-scientist pathways. You will need to start identifying mentors who can help you with this and potentially contact residency programs directly to ask.

 

[URHere]

I don't know anything about residency programs that offer PhD training, but I honestly don't think that you need a PhD at this point in the game. You can find fellowships that offer you a substantial opportunity for research and there are many MD-only clinician scientists who have been awarded K-awards during their fellowship years (and who have subsequently transitioned from a clinical to a research career).

As for area of interest, if you want to be a neurologist and you still have an interest in cancer research in a few years, neuro-oncology fellowships may be a good fit for you.

 

[snufkin002]

Thanks so much for the replies!

One more question though: let's say that one hypothetically is awarded a scholarship like Rhodes in their 4th year (find out in December), and must start their degree in Oct of the following year (which would be the PGY1/R1 year normally). Do you think residency programs would be willing to consider this applicant for the current cycle, like would they match in March, and then start from July-Sept and then finish the rest when they come back, or would this person remain unmatched then have to try again in ERAS/CaRMS?

Sorry if I seem neurotic.... I'm just trying to gauge whether I should apply for the Rhodes scholarship -- its something I've always wanted to do, and seems like an amazing opportunity, but I don't want to be unmatched in the end, because I do recognize that its really hard to match to residency if you delay it.

Thanks again 🙂

 

[wholeheartedly]

There are residency/fellowship programs where you can do extensive research and/or PhD. Here are some examples I've seen

http://www.dom.umn.edu/research/physician-scientist-training-program/index.htm

http://www.dom.umn.edu/research/phy...ist-program-subspecialty-fellow-phd/index.htm

Hopkins has a few different options

Clinical fellows can do this http://www.jhsph.edu/academics/graduate-training-programs-in-clinical-investigation/degree-programs/

Neurology specific

http://medicine.yale.edu/neurology/education/residency/#page5