What happens after med school?

<p>Hey all,</p>

<p>To my understanding, after med school, graduates would go to hospitals and find a residency program. After that, they become full time docs in that specialty. </p>

<p>Is that the basic plan?</p>

<p>I've heard from people that iinternship comes before residency. And then there's also a fellowship, what is that anyway? </p>

<p>I've worked in the Dept. of Emergency Med. and from my understanding, most of the residents there graduate from med school, come straight to our residency program, graduate after 3 years, and become attendings in the ER. </p>

<p>Can someone just give me the basic timeline?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Once one graduates from med school, one begins training with a year of "internship". This is almost never a program unto itself anymore, but rather an anachronistic term applied to the 1st year of a multi-year "residency" program. In most states, finishing this year, regardless of its composition, makes the physician eligible for unrestricted licensure, assuming they have passed all 3 parts of the boards. [example: General Practitioner]</p>

<p>Residency then is the heart and soul of the post graduate training system, with many different types of programs leading to the many different specialties. Typically, residencies are between 3 and 7 years and involve a very deep commitment of time and effort (and sleepless nights) for very little recompense. Successfully finishing an approved program makes one "board eligible" in that specialty and the graduate may then begin to practice wherever they have become licensed. Any time down the road they may take the board and if successful, convert their designation to "board certified". [example: Pediatrician]</p>

<p>For those specialists who wish to become more narrowly focused, they may then go on to another level of post graduate training known as "fellowship". The fellowship period is generally an additional 2-4 years of residency-like existence; its successful completion allows the physician to become a subspecialist. Another set of boards is involved at this level as well. [example: Cardiologist]</p>

<p>What if I want to get a PhD in addition to my MD degree? I know there are dual degree programs out there. How long would it take to get a PhD?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p><a href="http://www.aamc.org/research/dbr/mdphd/programs.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.aamc.org/research/dbr/mdphd/programs.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>OMG PSedrishMD, are you really 99 years old?</p>

<p>Yes, why? Does that seem old? I'm just hanging in there 'til my med school loans are paid off.</p>

<p>lol you're too much PSedrish.</p>

<p>what exactly is the benefit of having a phd and and MD. In other words, what can you do with the dual degress thta you could not do wiht say just an md or a phd</p>

<p>Good question, I was also wondering...is it true that phd/MD people usually do lectures, write articles, and research instead of doing the patient-related work?</p>

<p>i think that MD/PhD people are usually in academic medicine. People in academic medicine can do research, teach, and do clinical rotations if they want I'm pretty sure (if they teach at a university that has its own/an affiliated hospital it's easier to do everything)</p>

<p>It's true that most MD-PhDs are non-clinicians involved in research or teaching. Many are PhDs who go back to school (sometimes needing only 2 addnl yrs) for their MD degrees.</p>

<p>I worked with an MD-PHD over the summer. He did both surgery and research in a lab. The MD-PHD is good I think for those wanting to have both clinincal and non-clinical experiences. This is alot harder for those with just an MD, and the clinical half is impossible for those with just PhD.</p>

<p>Hey. I study in India. And it would be really nice if you’d help me out.
Once I’m done with medical school, and say I want to start with my internship in a place like(johns hopkins or something)! So do they consider my GPA in med school only? Or even before that? Could you please suggest some activities or things i could do to get there.</p>

<p>1) Johns Hopkins does not consider internationals for residency programs. (Too much paperwork involved in sponsoring a visa.)</p>

<p>2) To find out about the process of getting certified to apply for a US medical residency, please head over the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates and educate yourself about the process. It’s fairly complicated.</p>

<p>[ECFMG®</a> | Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates](<a href=“http://www.ecfmg.org%5DECFMG%C2%AE”>http://www.ecfmg.org)</p>

<p>9 year old thread.</p>

<p>Thankyou. :)</p>