<p>What does working in academic medicine entail?</p>
<p>Research and teaching (medical students)?</p>
<p>Yup. There are some positions open for just clinical work and teaching as well.</p>
<p>I've wondered about this as well. Is the MD/PhD necessary for working in academic medicine? Or some sort of dual degree?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is the MD/PhD necessary for working in academic medicine? Or some sort of dual degree?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It's not necessary. Many (in fact, perhaps most) successful academic medical researchers have just one of those degrees. </p>
<p>As a case in point, take Andrew Fire. He doesn't have an MD. He holds just a PhD in biology. Yet that didn't stop him from not only becoming Professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine but also winning the Nobel Prize in Medicine. His Nobel co-winner, Craig Mello is Professor at UMass Medical School, and also does not hold an MD. He holds just a PhD. </p>
<p>Or take Richard Axel. He does not hold a PhD, he has just an MD. Yet that didn't stop him from becoming Professor at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (Columbia Medical School) and also winning the Nobel Prize in Medicine. </p>
<p>An MD/PhD can be helpful in a career of academic medicine, but it is certainly not required.</p>
<p>Of course if you only want to be a clinical instructor, you'd need the MD but the PhD portion would not be very necessary - as a third year, particularly in the non-surgical areas, most of the physicians I've had frequent contact with aren't doing research and are professors because of their interest in teaching.</p>