Torn

[PinkIvy08]

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So as I sit and think about the direction I want to take my future medical career, I am torn and am wondering if anyone else is feeling the same way.

One part of me wants to use medicine to affect change within entire communities (i.e. something in the public health arena). But, another part of me wants to go into something academic and involving loads of research (i.e. neurodegenerative diseases).

Two seemingly divergent paths, right? Is there any way to unite these two desires? Anyone else having a similar internal debate? any med students or current doctors out there that can offer some advice?

 

[EulerianCircuit]

IMO, if you're any good at it, you'll affect a lot more change in research than in public health.

 

[Premeddie]

I'm in a similar situation, I think. I guess I'm more deciding whether I'd like to try and interact with sick people directly (as an M.D) and achieve some semi-certain gratification in helping them out, or try and study diseases as a PhD, and maybe make some cool science/progress, but maybe never accomplish anything at all.
I'd like to get a job where I at least tangentially help people and can get some satisfaction from that, but can't decide between doing neuro research (like as a PhD) vs. medicine (as an M.D.). I get the feeling I'd find the research more interesting/stimulating, but I suck so hard at the physical process of doing lab procedures (know what's going on but always lose focus and make lots of mistakes) that I'd probably end up wasting my life making and trying to correct careless errors, if they even let me get a PhD. The idea that I could work my whole career and never really accomplish anything worthwhile (help anyone, discover anything, etc.) is pretty scary. On the other hand, I'm alright at memorizing facts, and so I think I'd do better in med school and as a doctor. Problem is, I also think I'd get bored doing the same work for 30 years. I don't know which career path to pick, and personally (for my situation and not in general) MDPhD just seems like a way to avoid the decision and end up mediocre as a researcher and doctor.

 

[Mike7704]

I too was torn between a purely research career (PhD) and becoming a doctor. The way I see it is that you can do research with an MD but you can't practice medicine with a PhD. I know you were talking about public health but I think the same principle holds. You're not pigeon holing yourself with an MD degree, it can be used in many arenas including public health and research.

Have you thought of an MD/MPH program?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

we're a little late. she's already torn. OP, illusion will never change into something real.

 

[chreesteene]

we're a little late. she's already torn. OP, illusion will never change into something real.

hahahah, this is also the first thing i thought of.

OP, i agree with Mike7704.

 

[PinkIvy08]

As soon as I posted the thread, the song began playing in my head!

I too was torn between a purely research career (PhD) and becoming a doctor. The way I see it is that you can do research with an MD but you can't practice medicine with a PhD. I know you were talking about public health but I think the same principle holds. You're not pigeon holing yourself with an MD degree, it can be used in many arenas including public health and research.

Have you thought of an MD/MPH program?

I am thinking about, and leaning heavily towards, an MD/MPH. That would be great for the public health route. For the schools I am considering, I would go the community health track as I figure it would offer the most flexibility and applicability in practice. But, I don't see how this would be a beneficial move if I want to go the neuro-focused route, you know? Wouldn't my time be better spent gaining research experience rather than taking public health courses??

It's like my heart says one thing and my mind says another. It's frustrating right now because I don't know how to get the to in unison. Perhaps it will all work out in the end, but I love to prepare in advance and have a plan.

 

[ShinyDome19]

I was in your shoes not long ago. I started college wanting to be in microbiological research. I got to my Junior year and started getting interested in medicine..but still loved research. I sat down with one of my professors that I was doing undergrad research under and told him of my delima...he suggested that I do a masters degree under him, so that I could get a full feel of how research really works and also get a taste for teaching...Did my masters under him and still love research, and teaching was a blast. However I learned that I loved the research at the student level (undergrad/graduate student). Research changes a lot once you get past post-doc. In most cases, it becomes about writing grants and keeping the lab running so that your students or lab techs can do all the fun hands on research stuff..

I still have interests in research, and hopefully will be able to incorporate it into my future. But, without having gone through coursework during my masters, which taught me how to write grants and papers, I dont think I would have much chance at success in research in the future, especially with how difficult it has become to get funding and everything. So I would suggest, unless your medical school offers classes in research techniques and grant writing and what not, I would definately do the MPH degree along with it. Otherwise, I would say it would be very difficult to pursue research strictly as an MD.