Research training after MD

[Furai]

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A few of questions:

1. What are the formal training opportunities available for MD-only graduates who want to eventually establish his or her own lab? Research fellowships? Post-docs? PhD/Masters after MD?

2. Is it possible and/or reasonable for a MD-graduate with >$200,000 student loans (assuming $50,000/year X 4 years) to pursue a research fellowship/post-doc during internship to attain research training?

3. Is is possible to obtain a PhD while being a resident or attending?

I realize these questions are immaterial if one pursues a MD-PhD directly, but I am curious to know about the pathways towards a research career (while practicing) that exists for MD-only graduates. For full disclosure, I'm a college senior.

Many thanks for the input!

 

[RxnMan]

1. Yes to all of these.

2. If by internship you mean 1st year of residency, then that 1st year is for clinical training, not research. If you mean a month off here or there, there are some internships (IM mostly, IIRC) that will help you do this, but that time is not enough to get the experience to start a serious research career.

There are loan repayment programs through the intra- and extramural program at the NIH. There's also the loan forgiveness program started by the US gov't, which will forgive your loans if you stay in non-profit hospitals for 10 years.

3. You can get one as a resident (research residency) or attending/fellow (fellowship or beyond).

Basically MD's can take time off at any time point along the way to get research experience. I'm doing a research year at the NIH between my 3rd and 4th year. (Check the Research Forum FAQ for links and descriptions of these type of programs) The next best time in the training pathway is via a research residency (generally 2 yrs residency + 3-5 years of 80% protected research time for PhD +/- fellowship) or in fellowship.