Research/clinical correlation for MD/PhDs

[Kalevipoeg]

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I keep hearing from people that it is very important to correlate your research area with the clinical interests that you are pursuing. I am in the second year of MD/PhD, trying to find a lab to do my PhD in, and I don't know how much of a factor it really is. If, for example, if you're interested in ophtho, and your school has a PI who is a leader in ophtho research, it makes total sense for you to work with them. But what if your school is not strong in your area of clinical interest? Is it better to do a mediocre PhD in a related field or a much better PhD in a different area? Can anyone please offer a perspective on this.

 

[StIGMA]

I'm applying to med school this cycle, but I've been told repeatedly by many PhD's who are respected in their field that you want to pursue a quality PhD with someone who can challenge you/make you into a successful scientist, rather than pursue a field you simply find interesting.

IMO, superior training is more important than what you choose to learn your training in. It is much easier to pick up a field later (post doc, research fellowship) than learn to be a good scientist.

I can't offer you any specific advice, but I'm sure it is easy to match into anywhere with superior training even if you are not versed specifically in that field.

 

[gbwillner]

I keep hearing from people that it is very important to correlate your research area with the clinical interests that you are pursuing. I am in the second year of MD/PhD, trying to find a lab to do my PhD in, and I don't know how much of a factor it really is. If, for example, if you're interested in ophtho, and your school has a PI who is a leader in ophtho research, it makes total sense for you to work with them. But what if your school is not strong in your area of clinical interest? Is it better to do a mediocre PhD in a related field or a much better PhD in a different area? Can anyone please offer a perspective on this.

The PhD is more important, IMHO. Find a topic you are interested in, and if you get a "quality" PhD, you will be excited to continue your work and may find a clinical field that fits in with your research interests. Of course this is not essential as there are many out there who go on to a career in a field unrelated to their research interests. However, I think if you want to be a successful scientist you can use your clinical work to enhance your research, not detract from it. Don't forget that the specific topic you do your PhD in does not have to be what you do for the rest of your life, but you should learn the tools you will need for the rest of your career.

Hope that helps.

 

[Neuronix]

This is such a complicated question with so many potential answers that it comes down to you have to do what you feel best. IMO you can make it work either way or you can make it not work either way.

 

[Fencer]

The area of your current research does not matter as much as the area that you will be doing research while a junior faculty. At that point, the question would then be whether you want to be 50%/50% or 85%/15% (research/clinical)?.

If you become a stem cell researcher and your clinical work is on migraines, there is a huge disconnect between the two fields. Even in areas such as stroke, or other. Perhaps, Parkinsons' disease or neurorehab would be ok.

In my case, epilepsy bench and clinical research is considerably closer to each other. The real issue is as faculty your are competing against other investigators who are doing 100% effort in those areas. If you are trying to do 50%/50%, the amount of literature that you need to read, your research, and grant/paper writing efforts would be synergistic in one area. However, if there is too much distance between your bench research and clinical activities, the 85% research and 15% clinical is the only way to go.

Right now while getting your PhD, do the stuff that is most interesting to you. It might be the case that later you will not have that opportunity. Don't worry, you can apply the lessons and approaches that you learned doing cell-cycle transcriptional control (or other truly basic area) to many neurological areas later during your postdoct/instructor year that gets you ready for your K08.