I'm 9 months away from completing MD/PhD and considering foregoing residency/clinical practice in favor of postdoc/research career. I think the latter pathway is likely to yield far greater benefit to patients in the long-run, and will be a far better fit for me. But I'm hesitant to transition from a path that provides excellent job security to a path that does not. We don’t need a physician's salary, but I do need some income. Ideally I’d work in research full-time, but I’d be willing to do other things as a backup, such as medical writing or statistical consulting (I’m qualified for both). I realize that this may be necessary at times, as research grants are highly competitive. I've been quite successful in, and am passionate about, conducting clinical and translational research; in contrast, I'm an average medical student. Could use some advice before making the huge career decision of foregoing residency and applying to postdocs. I'm really not excited about practicing medicine though there are aspects of it that I like. I struggle with the question of whether or not I have an obligation to complete a residency and practice, particularly given the increasing shortage of providers. Thoughts?
Postdoc vs residency for MD/PhD
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Worst idea ever. At least, that's what an MD/PhD faculty member at my med school who took this route told me.
If you do a post-doc, you're looking at somewhere between 4 and 6 years before landing a faculty job (if you're lucky). If you do a residency+/-fellowship (under the research pathway), you're looking at somewhere between 5 and 7 years before being guaranteed of landing a job (clinical or research based, likely both) with a salary about double that of the research faculty, as well as job security.
If you do a post-doc, you're looking at somewhere between 4 and 6 years before landing a faculty job (if you're lucky). If you do a residency+/-fellowship (under the research pathway), you're looking at somewhere between 5 and 7 years before being guaranteed of landing a job (clinical or research based, likely both) with a salary about double that of the research faculty, as well as job security.
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I do have a couple of friends who did it, but it is a seriously difficult and anxiety-prone road. The current proportion of US PhDs in the basic science who eventually obtain a tenure-track faculty position hovers between 1 and 5%, depending on your particular area of research. That is shockingly bad odds. If you can stomach a residency-- any residency-- your path towards a "90% research" faculty job is so much easier, especially given that the clinical faculty appointment greases the wheels a bit re: grants (everyone wants genuine translational research, and it's easier to sell that if you're an MD with a clinical appointment, even if your work is as basic science-y as it gets).
Are you dissatisfied with clinical medicine in particular? Have you thought about pathology?
Are you dissatisfied with clinical medicine in particular? Have you thought about pathology?
I say do what makes you happy, but it seems like doing a residency would give you more options in the long run than just going the postdoc route. Would you consider doing family, medicine or peds so you could be finished in 3 years? You could incorporate research in to any of those pathways, plus it would still leave the door open to more clinically related jobs down the road.
QofQuimica
Seriously, dude, I think you're overreacting....
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Yeah, you sound like you might be a great candidate for a fast track (research track) residency. If the issue is that you don't enjoy clinical med, consider path or preventive med. one of my MD/PhD friends wound up doing that. Not the usual path for MD/PhDs, but it's only a one year internship, and she had her PhD in health policy anyway, so it was a good fit.
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Off the top of my head, I guess I would question the value of a MD/PhD who hasn't done a residency. To me it's like asking if a MD without a residency has much value, which is minimal. A PhD degree is nice but isn't that uncommon.
Completing a residency is a pain, but it adds a significant amount of value and gives you an 'out' in any type of situation. Doing something like IM is 3 years is relatively short. Honestly it is the difference between making a reasonable 6 figure income versus struggling to find a job.
Completing a residency is a pain, but it adds a significant amount of value and gives you an 'out' in any type of situation. Doing something like IM is 3 years is relatively short. Honestly it is the difference between making a reasonable 6 figure income versus struggling to find a job.
