Why You Should be MD or PhD?

I Want to Become a Medical Researcher... Any Suggestions on Why I Should Be MD, MD/PhD or PhD?

Okay.. .my tip is the fact that prior you decide to set yourself on one of these paths perform some clinical shadowing and several lab research.

Some definitions first....

MD: Indicates Doctor of Medicine, a doctor's qualification in medicine

PhD: Is the highest education obtained at a college, usually requiring 3-5 years of original study in a particular field of study.

MD/PhD: refers to an education consisting of both the medical training of a doctor (MD or DO) with the rigor of a scientific analyst (PhD).

You can also like to try to get involved in some clinical research. This can offer you a taste of the different fields. Some MDs do clinical research, if you decide to get interested in that, you would not need an MD/PhD.

You certainly have to gain some upfront exposure prior to make any decisions. Neither clinical work nor lab bench effort is what it really might seem like in theory. You need to get your hands dirty. Make an effort to request information, learn about them, and have a number of tastes of each one.

I believe it's more easy to find a personality niche when you are content with the specific work you're doing each day, rather than attempt to enjoy doing work you hate, even though you fit the "typical profile" of the job.

Generally a double degree is perfect for people who find themselves interested in both, basically. However, you do not want to turn out doing most of the actual bench work if you are an MD/PhD. The MD/PhD who's the P.I. of the science lab I currently work for NEVER does some of the actual experiments we currently do, he simply manages administrational stuff and discusses problems/ideas together with his henchmen.

All his time in the week is spent on clinical work. I am not sure that could be the way it always works, but this really is my own experience. In case you might be equally interested in both, then I would still think an MD/PhD will probably be worth considering.

MD/PhD will place you at some advantage in grant-writing if you are a new researcher. (Eventually, the degree matters less because research interviewers assess you according to your actual accomplishments.)

Imagine that studying scientific research can be easier if you have been trained as being a physician. This advantage isn't definitely worth the extra 3 years, however it is somewhat of an advantage. It provides you with the flexibleness to determine patients if you'd prefer. A slight majority of the MD/PhD's I have seen usually do not, but some do and in any case all of them could. It will aid in the pursuit of an academic position too.

And also you? Exactly what are your positives and negatives of selecting a MD, MD/PhD or PhD profession?

About me: Sandra Ochoa is writing for the clinical research training courses blog, her personal and non-commercial in nature hobby blog to produce free recommendations for clinical research training newbie's/experts to help them find a new occupation.