PhD VS Specialization

[Fromss]

I have just started med and am pretty much confused. Is a PhD course the same as specialization? Or let's say you do PhD in neurology and someone does specialize in neurology, aren't the 2 the same? Which one has more weight ( in terms of recognition n $$$) and why?

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[cpants]

I have just started med and am pretty much confused. Is a PhD course the same as specialization? Or let's say you do PhD in neurology and someone does specialize in neurology, aren't the 2 the same? Which one has more weight ( in terms of recognition n $$$) and why?

A PhD has nothing to do with your clinical privileges, specialization, or the amount of money you make as a doctor. The PhD is an academic research degree, not a clinical one and it can be completed before or after medical school or in a combined MD/PhD program. You specialize by doing a residency after medical school. You don't get any additional degrees by completing a residency, just the right to practice in that field.

 

[Fromss]

A PhD has nothing to do with your clinical privileges, specialization, or the amount of money you make as a doctor. The PhD is an academic research degree, not a clinical one and it can be completed before or after medical school or in a combined MD/PhD program. You specialize by doing a residency after medical school. You don't get any additional degrees by completing a residency, just the right to practice in that field.

Would you advise someone to do a PhD course after medical school or rather not waste time with it and go straight into specialization. By the way, both of them usually take 3 yrs.

 

[Perrotfish]

Would you advise someone to do a PhD course after medical school or rather not waste time with it and go straight into specialization. By the way, both of them usually take 3 yrs.

1) A PhD only takes three years if you do it as a combined MD/PhD program. Otherwise it will take 5-6 years, unless you're in the liberal arts in which case it will take 10 years.

2) A PhD is only remotely useful if you want to make a career out of doing research, and even then I'm not sure of it's value compared to just starting to work with an MD. If you don't want to make a career out of research don't waste your time.

3) You will not do a PhD course after medical school but before residency. Taking a break between medical school and residency is really frowned upon. You would do it either before medical school, in a combined MD/PhD program, or after you specialize.

 

[Fromss]

1) A PhD only takes three years if you do it as a combined MD/PhD program. Otherwise it will take 5-6 years, unless you're in the liberal arts in which case it will take 10 years.

2) A PhD is only remotely useful if you want to make a career out of doing research, and even then I'm not sure of it's value compared to just starting to work with an MD. If you don't want to make a career out of research don't waste your time.

3) You will not do a PhD course after medical school but before residency. Taking a break between medical school and residency is really frowned upon. You would do it either before medical school, in a combined MD/PhD program, or after you specialize.

Thank you Perrotfish. You made some valuable points up there. For sure, I wanna be a Dr for the patients, I'm not much into research. Maybe I should just rule out PhD and focus on the hardships of getting into a residency program of my choice.

Any advice?

 

[C5toC9]

PhD is for research.
MD is for clinical practice.

 

[njbmd]

I have just started med and am pretty much confused. Is a PhD course the same as specialization? Or let's say you do PhD in neurology and someone does specialize in neurology, aren't the 2 the same? Which one has more weight ( in terms of recognition n $$$) and why?

Neurology is a clinical specialty and as such, requires residency (post medical school graduate training). People who complete a neurology residency do not have a Ph.D (Doctorate of Philosophy). In this country, clinical specialties require a doctorate of medicine (allopathic or osteopathic) before entry.

In some countries, people may be granted Ph.Ds in clinical specialties but that does not translate into practice in this country or even clinical work (which generally pays better than non-clinical work). Ph.Ds without doctorates in medicine are not going to be granted clinical licensure to practice medicine in this country.

What carries more "weight" is generally in the eye of the beholder. If you are interested in research and non-clinical practice, then a Ph.D is fine. Again, most (but not all) people who earn Ph.Ds in biomedical sciences will definitely head toward research but cannot practice clinically in a specialty without completing clinical residency training.

 

[Perrotfish]

Thank you Perrotfish. You made some valuable points up there. For sure, I wanna be a Dr for the patients, I'm not much into research. Maybe I should just rule out PhD and focus on the hardships of getting into a residency program of my choice.

Any advice?

If that's your goal yes, you should rule out a PhD.

As for getting the specialty of your choice, get great grades, high board scores, good letters of rec, and if possible (though this isn't necessary) a publication or two.

Are you in medical school? If so are you in the US?

 

[web2linc]

lol PhD in Neurology..... I'm assuming you meant neuroscience.

 

[Guyton Killah]

Neurology is a clinical specialty and as such, requires residency (post medical school graduate training). People who complete a neurology residency do not have a Ph.D (Doctorate of Philosophy). In this country, clinical specialties require a doctorate of medicine (allopathic or osteopathic) before entry.

In some countries, people may be granted Ph.Ds in clinical specialties but that does not translate into practice in this country or even clinical work (which generally pays better than non-clinical work). Ph.Ds without doctorates in medicine are not going to be granted clinical licensure to practice medicine in this country.

What carries more "weight" is generally in the eye of the beholder. If you are interested in research and non-clinical practice, then a Ph.D is fine. Again, most (but not all) people who earn Ph.Ds in biomedical sciences will definitely head toward research but cannot practice clinically in a specialty without completing clinical residency training.

👍👍👍

Many people think that PhD is useless and waste of time.