<p>What's the difference between an MD and a PhD in medical research? Don't you receive both of these degrees from Medical Schools? My goal is to pursue the research, and attend a graduate school that will allow me to get a PhD to work in the lab. What exactly does "Medical School" refer to? I don't want to be a doctor or work in the clinic; so do I have to attend medical school?</p>
<p>Well, you can get both, but yes a lot of PhD’s in biomedical science tend to be in or near medical centers. If all you want to do is research and teach, you don’t need to get an MD. In fact, a PhD is better in a lot of ways (or both once again) because of the fact that it builds in a period of research mentorship and publication before setting out on your own.</p>
<p>If you come from another country there might be a difference in the way they award degrees. In the US and Canada an MD degree is awarded by a Medical School and it’s not the academic equivalent of a PhD. Look up Medical Doctor in Wikipedia and you’ll get an idea of how it works.</p>
<p>Both a PhD and an MD are graduate degrees. The MD you get from going to medical school for four years. MD means medical doctor, it means you are a doctor that practices. If you get a PhD, you are still called a doctor, but you are focused more in research and academia. </p>
<p>An MD and PhD are completely different. With an MD, you treat patients. With a PhD, you teach about a certain subject or do research in a certain subject. MDs can do research work but PhDs can not do what an MD does. It is much easier to get a PhD than an MD. To get a PhD you go to a graduate school that is part of a university, not medical school. Medical school is for people getting a medical degree.</p>
<p>hmm…thanks, but I guess, my question still remains unanswered. Do I have to attend medical school if I want to do medical research? I mean, what type of school, and what type of program, will allow me to get a PhD and pursue research?</p>
<p>No you do not need to attend medical school to do medical research. I believe you just attend a PhD program after a masters in your field of interest. The program you should attend is the one you want to research in. For example if you want to do research in Biochemistry, you should pursue a PhD in Biochemistry.</p>
<p>Remember, though, that PhD’s are sometimes awarded from a medical school, but they are not synonymous with medical degrees.</p>
<p>So basically if I just want a PhD, do I need to go through medical school admissions? Okay, let’s just use Harvard Med for example:</p>
<p>[Division</a> of Medical Sciences - Harvard Medical School](<a href=“Harvard Medical School Division of Medical Sciences”>Harvard Medical School Division of Medical Sciences)</p>
<p>It seems like the programs are part of their medical school. Is the application and admission criteria the same for pursuing an MD and for PhD, or are they seperate and evaluated differently?</p>
<p>Sorry 
Maybe I’m not suited for med school if I still can’t get this straight haha</p>
<p>No. For medical school admissions, you’ll fill out an AMCAS application. You won’t do this for medical school applications.</p>
<p>PhDs are from graduate school. You do not need a Master’s. An MD is always from a medical school.</p>