Timing, length of programs, and research application.... Any opinions?

[BeachBlondie]

---

Members do not see this ad.

For the last... boy... 4 years or so, I've been mentored by researching clinicians. All orthopaedic surgeons. Some of them had MD PhDs, and others had MDs solely.

Research has been ingrained in me. I've published in 4 journals, and written 4 book chapters; given podium presentations, and stood by my posters for hours. Travelling around the world to present has also opened my eyes about the extreme LACK of researching clinicians in the U.S.

Long story made longer, I'm going to be researching while I practice. I think it's incredibly important. But, I'm unsure--based on my personal profile--which route would be best for me: obtain an MD and keep building out my CV, or work on a thesis with a joint program?

I'm applying next cycle, and I'm 27 years old. So, the time frame of putting 8 years into a dual degree, THEN specializing, seems somewhat daunting. OOH!... and here's another thing: all of my research experience is clinical. Are MD/PhDs only for bench work?

Does anyone here have any opinions on this matter? I'm just now embarking on MD/PhD program research, so I'm pretty green to everything. But, I'd really appreciate some opinions, here.

Thanking you ever so!

EDIT: I reached out to UC Davis (I'm a California resident), and they just told me that their average MD/PhD student age is just over 28. And they recently had a 41-year old graduate. I was definitely not expecting that!

 

[Maebea]

For programs that offer a PhD in clinical research, you will be a strong candidate if your MCAT and GPA are good. For programs that do not grant PhDs in clinical research, your application will be less compelling.

 

[Fencer]

Agree... You will be competitive for a PhD in Translational Science.

 

[BeachBlondie]

"Translational Science"

Thanks for the hit word. To the Google!

 

[Neuronix]

For programs that offer a PhD in clinical research, you will be a strong candidate if your MCAT and GPA are good.

This is very few programs. Note that a very high MCAT (36+) and GPA (3.8+) are recommended because these programs are scarce.

For programs that do not grant PhDs in clinical research, your application will be less compelling.

Most programs. Even the programs that do support clinical research have limited positions.

Fencer and Maebea, do either of your programs take students proposing PhDs in clinical research?

 

[Fencer]

Yes, but they need to be competitive in academic benchmarks, have a track record of pursuing that type of research, and have a passion for becoming a clinician scientist. This is a relatively new PhD program across the nation. Several MD/PhD programs repurposed Epidemiology or similar PhD programs into the "sexier" Translational Science PhD, which is encouraged by the Educational goals of the NIH CTSAs. Ours was created from the ground up. We recruit the best applicants, not for particular tracks. However, I have limited number of positions for each track, overall. I might need to change the emphasis from year to year.

In our case, we also have another non-traditional PhD, a Radiological Sciences PhD with 5 different tracks including Medical Physics, Human Imaging, and Neuroimaging. BME is more common among MD/PhD programs. The remaining PhD tracks for our institution are the typical wet-lab basic science PhDs.

 

[Maebea]

Our program does not accept applicants proposing to do clinical research.

 

[Underarchiever]

For the last... boy... 4 years or so, I've been mentored by researching clinicians. All orthopaedic surgeons. Some of them had MD PhDs, and others had MDs solely.

Research has been ingrained in me. I've published in 4 journals, and written 4 book chapters; given podium presentations, and stood by my posters for hours. Travelling around the world to present has also opened my eyes about the extreme LACK of researching clinicians in the U.S.

Long story made longer, I'm going to be researching while I practice. I think it's incredibly important. But, I'm unsure--based on my personal profile--which route would be best for me: obtain an MD and keep building out my CV, or work on a thesis with a joint program?

I'm applying next cycle, and I'm 27 years old. So, the time frame of putting 8 years into a dual degree, THEN specializing, seems somewhat daunting. OOH!... and here's another thing: all of my research experience is clinical. Are MD/PhDs only for bench work?

Does anyone here have any opinions on this matter? I'm just now embarking on MD/PhD program research, so I'm pretty green to everything. But, I'd really appreciate some opinions, here.

Thanking you ever so!

EDIT: I reached out to UC Davis (I'm a California resident), and they just told me that their average MD/PhD student age is just over 28. And they recently had a 41-year old graduate. I was definitely not expecting that!

You don't need a MD/PhD degree to do those kinds of research. MD is perfect for clinical research. There is no lack of physician-scientists in the US by that standard. Almost all physicians in academic do some clinical research. If you want to pursue clinical research, a MD/PhD does not give you an edge. The average age of the MD/PhD student body of UC Davis is about right, but not the first year students. It typically takes 8-9 years to get the degree.