Any crypto transaction is just a random sequence of 1s and 0s stored in some where.
Somehow, your questions manage to trigger a response from me 
I think itâs because they are excellent questions. There are many things I have thought deeply about when looking at Medicine, the MD/PhD is one of them. Although this is a well intentioned program meant to produce the next generation of researchers whose work could be translated into something useful, it is usually not what it is hyped up to be. Something is wrong with the way it is currently organized.
-
A student with BS is admitted to a concurrent MD and PhD program. The student spends the first 2 years in the MD program and then takes time off to do research in the PhD program (it usually takes 4 -5 years to do meaningful research to write a PhD dissertation). The student defends their PhD and then returns to complete the remaining 2 years of the MD program.
-
You ask; whatâs the problem with this? It turns out that you are not qualified to be a physician until you do a residency, meaning you have to continue your medical training by doing a residency that lasts at least 3 years (e.g. Internal Medicine). A residency training is intense and difficult to combine with research work. So, this means that by the time your D completes their residency, they have been out of research for 5 years! To be a specialist, your D has to do another 2-3 years of fellowship (e.g. in Cardiology). This means they would be out of research for 8 years by the time they are a specialist clinician! In the meantime, developments in research are very fast and 8 years out means a lot.
-
Now, you ask, what can we do differently? I would say, any intending physician who is interested in a translational research career should complete a BS (+premed requirements), go to a 4-year MD program, complete a residency, and become a licensed physician. They can now start a fellowship thatâs combined with a PhD program (if they still think research is what they want to do).
-
The MD/PhD program is funded because administrators can justify it by saying it is a pipeline for producing translational researchers. But, because of the problem stated in (1), many graduates of these programs are lost to research or clinical practice. I once met a well respected professor (an MD/PhD graduate) who had to go back to do a residency in Dermatology after 25 years as a highly cited researcher in Immunology! He was approaching retirement and realized that he was losing a lot of money being paid as a professor of Immunology for those years. His best ten earning years would be as a dermatologist, and that would be good for his pension.
Iâm sorry my replies are always long. I just want you to know that CC is a very effective educational tool for ambitious and driven young people. Many schools will advertise the good part of their programs. I think we owe the next generation a duty to provide balanced information as they make life changing career decisions. Thatâs why I love this platform.
So, for your D, I would advise they complete a BS program or BS/MD program with a lot of research experience. They can then go ahead to do a residency and cap it with a fellowship where a concurrent PhD is possible (e.g. infectious disease). It is even possible that a PhD may not be needed since a good fellowship training (usually at reputable academic medical centers) will contain a healthy dose of research experience.
4 Likes
IMO, The issue may be more related to funding of MD/PhD.
Actually, one can get a MD and do a residency/specialization necessary, then come back to do a PhD if feel necessary.
Is 70 % Clinical and 30 % academic medicine a right career goal for a Physician ?
1 Like
Did you not select one of the majors listed by TCNJ for this 7-yr program?
âComplete the three-year curriculum for an approved major, such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Economics, Philosophy, History, English, Spanish, Mathematics, Engineering Science, or Biomedical Engineering.â
That is only one student and a very small sample set IMHO.
Lehigh is actually a very good University and its engineering program is especially great.
I have many friends that went there and had very good things to say.
One (who is now a professor) did a double masters in mathematics on top of his PhD just cause he liked it that much!
2 Likes
Those of you who received NJIT admission, did you receive full ride for BS/MD ? ours covered tuition and partial housing only.
Thank you
I believe this is a âworkableâ career goal. However, a researcher with 30% research workload would be seen as a kind of ârecreational researcherâ by most colleagues! At that level of research FTE, you will not be expected to bring in a lot of research fund. And, the way things work, youâre not considered a serious researcher if youâre not pulling in millions of dollars in funding. Research is as tough as clinical practice, if not tougher. However, we definitely do need clinician-researchers.
The point I was trying to make is that everyone looking at this path should be very well informed about the huge sacrifice they are making. Thankfully, over 70% of people who take this path stay in research. But the 30% lost is a huge cost to the system and the individuals involved.
It just has to be more than a passion; it must also be a calling. Itâs something akin to being called to be a priest; you must know that you are giving up some pleasures and be ready to give those things up with your eyes wide open. This is what I want these ambitious future doctors to know!
1 Like
Is it even possible if one works in academic medicine - it is more like 70% research, 30% clinician.
Tuition ride yes, I was not sure about housing. Ours say, on campus âNAâ. Not sure why it would say NA. We are OOS and need on campus option.
It is still a good deal for an OOS. There are many others who will accept the offer. They have estimated that how many will eventually join NJIT. NJIT is a public institution.
You may have to foot the bill for room and board. It is not usually given by most universities. You only get full-tuition scholarship at most places. You can always take a better deal if offered somewhere else, may be in NY. There are many others who will accept the offer. They have estimated that how many will eventually join NJIT. NJIT is a public institution.
Hi Everyone! I have been watching this thread for a while now behind the scenes and with the commitment date coming up in a few months I wanted to ask for advice. I was accepted to REMS and was wondering if it is âan elite BS/MD programâ like Brownâs and BUs. I am having trouble analyzing the match to residency rates and dont know if I should pass it up for schools like Stanford, Emory or any IVYs if I do indeed get in. Thank you so much for any advice, I am very grateful for my acceptance.
1 Like
It is one of the good BSMD programs. If you want to be a MD, take it. BU SMED is not an elite program, IMO.
not necessarily. but if someone was attracted to research, then itâs more likely that they will incorporate that as part of their career. but it is not required. some do PHD to increase their credentials to increase their likelihood of matching at certain competitive specialties (e.g. dermatology). afterwards, they do clinical practice if they prefer.
Rankings wise i see the med school does well, but I am not sure for matching or why PLME would be better if i got it
REMS BSMD is a very good program. If your final aim is to be MD, I would say take it.
2 Likes
Any take on the Hofstra BSMD program
C had couple of interviews for last summer internships at a major global pharma. Neither of the medical directors on the interview panels had PhDs. Only MDs. (Got into one of the positions).
Also in their BA/MD program they were made aware of the MD PhD option well ahead, like almost a year up front (as also about Army etc). Only one opted for it and got into the PhD program.
1 Like
Alright, thank you - just getting confused with prestige since i got Berkeley and LA and waiting for Stanford and ivies but needed some advice in efforts of differentiating the best option for
me. If others have advice as well, Iâd greatly appreciate it