<p>I want to pursue a career in gene therapy research and apparently that requires a medical degree. I'm ok with having to go to medical school but I really don't want to do a residency. In my opinion, an 80 hour work week is absolutely ridiculous. I don't know how I'd do that. I feel like I wouldn't even have time to sleep. Would I have to do residency in an MD/PhD program if I am more interested in doing research?</p>
<p>There are many MD/PhDs who never did residency. </p>
<p>The goal of residency is to allow you to practice as a doctor. If you want to stay in research, then it is not as important to do a residency.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.seas.harvard.edu/directory/sbhatia[/url]”>http://www.seas.harvard.edu/directory/sbhatia</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://ki.mit.edu/people/faculty/bhatia[/url]”>http://ki.mit.edu/people/faculty/bhatia</a></p>
<p>On a side note, if you are not prepared for 80 hour work week, MD/PhD is not a great career choice. Most medical students are spending about 100 hrs a week. Most PhD students spend 80 hours or more working.</p>
<p>Really? Isn’t MD/PhD just classes and research? I’m not interested in clinical work unless I’m providing a patient with gene therapy. I feel like residency is going to be pointless, long, and drawn out.</p>
<p>The standard term of MD/PhD is 8+ years. Both research for a PhD and studying for an MD take a lot of effort and total dedication. Otherwise, one graduates with neither.</p>
<p>Yep, fine with me. I don’t mind working hard for what I want. As long as I’m studying something I’m actually interested in. I think the best thing for me to do is to wait and experience it before making a decision.</p>
<p>Are you in high school or college?</p>
<p>dj</p>
<p>Many PhDs work in collaborative relationships with MDs. The PhDs are on the research side and the MD prescribes. The PhDs can certainly co-direct programs that involve clinical applications.</p>
<p>The last 2 years of med school are absolutely grueling clinical rotations; general surgery, medicine, OB/GYN, psych, peds. If you are not interested in clinical work they will be a waste of time and put you 2 years behind in your research. It is not possible to continue with any substantial research as a third and fourth year med student unless you take time off.</p>
<p>I suggest you check into PhD programs in molecular genetics which are affiliated with medical schools. No MD required.</p>
<p>I’m a college sophomore. Yeah, I know “it’s too early to be worrying about med school”. But I’m very proactive and I like having a plan.</p>
<p>2prepmom, so are you saying it would be possible for me to work in a hospital lab, present/collaborate with doctors on my research, and leave it up to them to carry out the actual procedure with a patient? If that’s a possibility, I wouldn’t mind that either. But then there’s the question, will I be competitive enough to get a gig like that with just a PhD degree as apposed to having an MD/PhD?</p>
<p>Dj - Actually no, you are behind the curve if you are a college sophomore. You do need to starting planning very seriously.</p>
<p>You need research, shadowing, volunteering, completion of premed requirements, MCAT prep, the list goes on.</p>
<p>MD/PhD is usually one of the hardest tracks to get into.</p>