MD and PhD?

I want to be a neurosurgeon but I also want research in Theoretical Physics and Biochemistry. Is it possible to get an MD and then try out for a PhD program? I will be done with the medical process at the age of about 31-33 so would it be too late to apply? Or is there a way for me to work for PhD and MD at the same time?

There are joint MD/PhD programs, but they are highly competitive.

Based on your other threads it doesn’t appear you are a super ■■■■■ so I will treat this as a serious question:

This career path is basically impossible because it doesn’t really make any sense (although maybe I’m just failing to see the synergy between neurosurgery and theoretical physics/molecular biochemistry). Let me answer some of your more basic questions first about MD and PhD training more generally:

Yes. It’s very rare but becoming slightly more frequent as some residency programs have started doing residency/PhD programs (e.g. http://medschool.ucla.edu/star-career-tracks). Generally, once you have an MD, you end up just doing postdoctoral research and doing just enough to launch your career because the paycut/work hour increase from board-certified physician to PhD student is simply too large. The much more common pathway to MD, PhD after your name is the medical scientist training program where you spend 7-9 years getting your MD and PhD prior to any residency and/or postdoctoral training (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_Scientist_Training_Program)

Now, more specifically onto neurosurgery and basic science work: Neurosurgery is one of the most competitive specialties to get into so even getting into medical school does not guarantee one a career in neurosurgery. Surgical specialties in general are very difficult to do as a physician scientist because surgical practice requires a very large time commitment. As a neurologist or any medical specialty for example, you can easily maintain your clinical acumen seeing patients as little as half a day a week with the rest of your time spent running your lab. As a neurosurgeon (or any surgeon), the case volume is key to your abilities. The more you do a procedure the better you are at it and surgical procedures are complex. It’s very difficult to be a part-time surgeon and if you put too much effort into maintaining your surgical practice then you won’t have enough time to spend running your lab and writing grants. It’s much easier to be a neurologist or neuropathologist (maybe even a psychiatrist) and do research that involves neurosurgery than to actually be a neurosurgeon who does research.

My program does have a decently famous ENT/cancer biology researcher and his description of his life sounds miserable to me personally. He loves it, but if you aren’t willing to give up all your vacation/free time outside of your clinical duties and essentially never see your family ever it’s not a good path.