What is DO Ph.D.

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What exactly does the PhD involve? What other benefits would I get by pursuing this path? Is there more schooling involved? Or just a different curriculum?

The PhD will involve whatever area you wish to pursue. Usually it's within the area of biomedical sciences.

Benefits: having the experience of doing bench work that may or may not allow you to pursue a career as a physician scientist (a clinician who also runs a lab as well).

The DO/PhD is just like the MD/PhD in terms of length, it can range from 6-9 years depending on your project progress during your PhD years.

It's a different curriculum for each school, MSU has sort of an integrate curriculum where you start your bench work while in your preclinical years of the DO part. Most will follow a traditional: 2+4+2 type curriculum which is 2 years preclinical DO, then your PhD (this can range from 4-7 yrs), then you go back to the DO part ti finish up the clinical portion.

You can go to MSUCOM's website and see the current DO/PhD students and email them if you want a better description of what it's like.
 
The typical path is

OMSI, OMSII -> PhD -> OMSIII, OMSIV. Total time will be as mentioned 6-9 years.

I know of MD schools where the PhD part is a glorified MS equivalent (in terms of time expended), but other schools will demand a full blown PhD, just like any other PhD grad student.


What exactly does the PhD involve? What other benefits would I get by pursuing this path? Is there more schooling involved? Or just a different curriculum?
 
Well that sounds very appealing to me. I actually am talking about MSU since I got their secondary app asking if I wanted to do it. The thing is I wouldn't be starting school until I'm 27 if I get accepted this cycle, so the idea of more schooling doesn't sound really appealing to me.

I do however love the biomedical sciences and would love to be an "expert" in the subject so to speak. I'm gonna have to think about this one.
 
Well that sounds very appealing to me. I actually am talking about MSU since I got their secondary app asking if I wanted to do it. The thing is I wouldn't be starting school until I'm 27 if I get accepted this cycle, so the idea of more schooling doesn't sound really appealing to me.

I do however love the biomedical sciences and would love to be an "expert" in the subject so to speak. I'm gonna have to think about this one.

Inwould def suggest asking a few of the MD PhD physician and students on the research scientis section of sdn 🙂 they will have great advice.


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