PhD vs MD/ PhD

[piquenique01]

Hi everyone! I'm a junior in college interested in medical microbiology research. I'm trying to decide whether I should apply to an PhD only program or an MD/ PhD one, as this will involve studying for different tests. I've got extensive research experience and I've volunteered in hospitals a lot. I know that I really want to be a scientist who works in medical research, but not necessarily deal with patients. Would it be to my advantage to go to an MD/ PhD program anyway, just in case an MD might be useful in the future.
Thanks so much for your advice and opinions.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Goofyone]

If you're solely interested in research and don't care about patient contact, I can't see what benefit an MD will give you over a PhD, unless you change your mind later.

Do you want to be a doctor, or a physician? Big difference. Your choice, but med school gives you both.

Then there's always MD/PhD, or DO/PhD, in which insanity is a prerequisite.

Good luck

 

[DW]

Originally posted by Goofyone
Then there's always MD/PhD, or DO/PhD, in which insanity is a prerequisite.

that needs to be the tagline of this forum

 

[piquenique01]

what's the difference between being a doctor and being a physician?
-Thanks

 

[KirsteenB]

Hi there,

Doctor=PhD; Physician=MD or DO.

Cheers,
Kirsteen

 

[pathdr2b]

Originally posted by piquenique01
what's the difference between being a doctor and being a physician?
-Thanks

Ahem, but a "Doctor" is also an MD, DO, PhD, PharmD, PysD, EdD, DMD, DDS.

 

[Goofyone]

Doctor = teacher

Physician = healer


MD, DO = both

PhD = doctor only

 

[piquenique01]

IF the OP is at all interested in translational research however...

What does OP stand for?