Time-limits for doing a non-biological PhD for MD/PhDs

[SaltySqueegee]

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See this for reference... http://www.usmle.org/news/timelimits.htm

Of note, all three steps need to be completed within a seven year time period. If a graduate degree is being worked on outside of the MD, a waiver for the seven year requirement may not be obtainable;meaning you have to retake all the steps again (each state's requirements are different):

"[the waiver can be obtained if it is in the following fields]...These fields include but are not necessarily limited to anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, and molecular biology. Fields explicitly not included are business, economics, ethics, history and other fields not directly related to biological science..."

Please keep this in mind if you are considering a non-traditional MD/PhD. Time could become a critical factor. Also, do not think you are the exception to the rule, as the average MD/PhD is approximately 8.8yrs (uncited). An MD/PhD in the Humanities could take a considerable amount of time more than an MD/PhD in Molecular Biology.

Food for thought, as I find that this comes up as a topic of discussion on the physician-scientist forums every now and then. Hope everyone is having a good Fourth of July Holiday, and is finding there transfections to be successful! 👍 😀

 

[Hard24Get]

See this for reference... http://www.usmle.org/news/timelimits.htm

Of note, all three steps need to be completed within a seven year time period. If a graduate degree is being worked on outside of the MD, a waiver for the seven year requirement may not be obtainable;meaning you have to retake all the steps again (each state's requirements are different):

"[the waiver can be obtained if it is in the following fields]...These fields include but are not necessarily limited to anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, and molecular biology. Fields explicitly not included are business, economics, ethics, history and other fields not directly related to biological science..."

Please keep this in mind if you are considering a non-traditional MD/PhD. Time could become a critical factor. Also, do not think you are the exception to the rule, as the average MD/PhD is approximately 8.8yrs (uncited). An MD/PhD in the Humanities could take a considerable amount of time more than an MD/PhD in Molecular Biology.

Food for thought, as I find that this comes up as a topic of discussion on the physician-scientist forums every now and then. Hope everyone is having a good Fourth of July Holiday, and is finding there transfections to be successful! 👍 😀

A little beside the point, but why would a humanities PhD take longer? Don't you just research facts that are already out there (no growing cells or mice) and write about it? 😕

 

[SaltySqueegee]

A little beside the point, but why would a humanities PhD take longer? Don't you just research facts that are already out there (no growing cells or mice) and write about it? 😕

From my wife who chose not to go on to finish a PhD in history, you essentially need to write a book on a fresh historical perspective of something that has already been beaten to death. This entails finding primary accounts on a very detailed portion in time/space that may be very difficult to obtain.

This is often more time consuming than doing a project in molcular biology, wherein information/tools are more readily available. This is just one example, but can be applied to many of the humanities. I.e. How can you possibly come up with something new within ethics that has not already been beaten to death.

Just some thoughts.