Question

[USArmyDoc]

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Hey guys,
So here is the deal. I have 4 acceptances and one school is offering me a PhD which would mean the following:

1. 5 years of tution remission (2 DO, 3 PhD)
2. Monthly stipend
3. Obviously, the PhD which I want


Negatives:
1. Not crazy about the cirriculum
2. Not crazy about the facilities
3. Not crazy about the rotations
4. PhD is not guarranteed. I must apply second year however I was told there was no way I wouldn't be accepted to the program. (haha....I sound like a sucker)

* The three negatives about the school are definitely not deal breakers but are making me think about it.


In the end, I would have a DO, MPH, PhD in Health Policy


Would that entice you guys to go to the school?

 

[Claymore]

It depends on what your priorities are. Are you 100% certain you want the PhD? Unless you are planning a hardcore career in research, you can certainly be involved with academics and some research just as a DO/MPH. Keep in mind the opportunity cost of doing a PhD is three fewer years of income as an attending, which depending on your specialty, will be several hundred thousand dollars. The negatives you mentioned (curriculum, rotations, facilities) would all be pretty important to me.

 

[HunterGatherer]

Hey guys,
So here is the deal. I have 4 acceptances and one school is offering me a PhD which would mean the following:

1. 5 years of tution remission (2 DO, 3 PhD)
2. Monthly stipend
3. Obviously, the PhD which I want


Negatives:
1. Not crazy about the cirriculum
2. Not crazy about the facilities
3. Not crazy about the rotations
4. PhD is not guarranteed. I must apply second year however I was told there was no way I wouldn't be accepted to the program. (haha....I sound like a sucker)

* The three negatives about the school are definitely not deal breakers but are making me think about it.


In the end, I would have a DO, MPH, PhD in Health Policy


Would that entice you guys to go to the school?

ummm...No. You do not have the bird in the hand.

I can actually understand them saying you won't be denied a PhD. DO schools are not known for research. Maybe you can talk to students at this school offering the DO/PhD.

are DO/PhD's 5 year programs? I always thought it was 3 years minimum for a PhD so a DO/PhD would be 7 years?

are you done interviewing yet?

 

[USArmyDoc]

ummm...No. You do not have the bird in the hand.

I can actually understand them saying you won't be denied a PhD. DO schools are not known for research. Maybe you can talk to students at this school offering the DO/PhD.

are DO/PhD's 5 year programs? I always thought it was 3 years minimum for a PhD so a DO/PhD would be 7 years?

are you done interviewing yet?

THe program would be 7 years. I am not looking for a career in hardcore research. I am looking for a strong background in the areas I want to work in (Health Policy and Public health). Huntergather, so you are pretty set against it huh? Why?

 

[HunterGatherer]

I would not dare tell you to not follow your dreams. it's possible that the setup you have at this school is SOP for DO/PhD programs and is a good bet for you. Just based on what you said I would not go for it personally. Are other DO/PhD programs setup like this?

THe program would be 7 years. I am not looking for a career in hardcore research. I am looking for a strong background in the areas I want to work in (Health Policy and Public health). Huntergather, so you are pretty set against it huh? Why?

 

[dr.z]

THe program would be 7 years. I am not looking for a career in hardcore research. I am looking for a strong background in the areas I want to work in (Health Policy and Public health). Huntergather, so you are pretty set against it huh? Why?

I don't think you need Ph.D for this. You may just be better off with MPH.

 

[Nate]

I considered a PhD/DO program this year and decided against it. But before I get into that, do know that these programs are very competitive, at least in my school, so if you turn it down it will be difficult to go back.
I spoke to someone in the program and he asked me, "where do I see myself in ten years, what do I want to do". I told him what I thought I wanted to do which was clinical, but I told him that I loved research and would enjoy doing it and it would make me more competitive for X competitive specialty. He said that is all of the wrong reasons. 7 or more years are a long time at this stage, especially for me, and that doesn't include residency. The only time the dual degree is worth it is for two cases. One you want to teach medicine at a university, and two, if you want to practice clinical medicine part time and spend the rest of your time doing research. For any other scenario a masters degree is sufficient but even that is not necessary. Think hard about it.

 

[USArmyDoc]

I considered a PhD/DO program this year and decided against it. But before I get into that, do know that these programs are very competitive, at least in my school, so if you turn it down it will be difficult to go back.
I spoke to someone in the program and he asked me, "where do I see myself in ten years, what do I want to do". I told him what I thought I wanted to do which was clinical, but I told him that I loved research and would enjoy doing it and it would make me more competitive for X competitive specialty. He said that is all of the wrong reasons. 7 or more years are a long time at this stage, especially for me, and that doesn't include residency. The only time the dual degree is worth it is for two cases. One you want to teach medicine at a university, and two, if you want to practice clinical medicine part time and spend the rest of your time doing research. For any other scenario a masters degree is sufficient but even that is not necessary. Think hard about it.

Yea, after doing some more research I came across a DrPH. It is an advanced public health degree and I think that might be more worth it than a PhD. Btw, the school is UNECOM. It is a brand new program and all. It is just hard to turn down 5 years of free school.

 

[drusso]

Dual degree program (especially MD/PhD and DO/PhD) will boost your marketability significantly. The field itself is less important than the *process* of learning and earning two degrees. That said, it certainly helps to be studying something you truly love. I'd encourage you to strongly consider the dual degree option. You'll see that when enter into your clincal phases of training, the research and critical thinking components will pay nice dividends and rewards.

--DR (triple degree!)

 

[USArmyDoc]

Dual degree program (especially MD/PhD and DO/PhD) will boost your marketability significantly. The field itself is less important than the *process* of learning and earning two degrees. That said, it certainly helps to be studying something you truly love. I'd encourage you to strongly consider the dual degree option. You'll see that when enter into your clincal phases of training, the research and critical thinking components will pay nice dividends and rewards.

--DR (triple degree!)

Yea, that is what I am thinking. In addition, I know I want to practice public health.