MD vs MD/PhD - How to Decide Which Is Right for You | Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A

Should you go MD/PhD? Or just MD? That's the question we're tackling on today's Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A! We discuss the differences between MD and MD/PhD, and who each path is really meant for.
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Our student this week is a premed who had a research experience she really loved. Now she's looking into MD/PhD programs. However, she's not super competitive for those programs yet, and she's looking for some feedback on her plans going forward.
She's interested in having a career where she practices in the hospital a few days each week and works on research a few days each week.
It's always worth considering that MDs can do research, too-you don't need a PhD in order to do that. The MD/PhD dual-degree programs are mostly for students who are super interested in research and focusing their career around that specifically.
Our student is a bit concerned about her 3.4 GPA if she's applying to MD/PhD programs, so we talk a bit about that. Fortunately, she has an upward trend in her grades, finishing undergrad with close to straight A's, so her 3.4 GPA may not appear as weak as she's worried about.
However, I do encourage her to pursue a Master's program that allows her to get more research experience and gives her some more time to make the decision.
We also discuss some of the other differences between the MD and MD/PhD admissions process.
At the end of the video, I also answer a question about shadowing: What kind of doctors should you be trying to shadow in order to get a full view of the different specialties available in medicine?

[@ucheakoma863]

"Don't try to play the comparison game cause you'll always lose" -Dr. G 2020. That cuts deep.

[@gregoriogurda3420]

Dr. G, you are coming at this from a surgeon's perspective... though your advice about NOT shadowing primary care docs is spot-on. For most MD-PhD applicants, I would strongly recommend shadowing an internal medicine subspecialty, a pathologist or someone who is a prototypical MD-PhD with an R01-funded research lab and a least 80%+ time dedicated to research. In fact, if an applicant's heart & soul are in surgery specifically, I would strongly DIScourage him/her from pursuing research training thru MD/PhD programs. In a large, academic medical center where I trained, I can count on one hand how many MD-PhDs in surgery were actually doing basic science or translational research with an independent free-standing laboratory (i.e. less than 5, though a lot more collaborate) versus 80+ in non-surgical specialties. And 2 of the 5 surgical MD-PhDs got their PhD either before medical school, or after medical school in a research-oriented residency (UCLA star residency program is one example, but far from the only one).

[@leorio7416]

Bold of you to assume we want to do surgery AND basic research. I just want a PhD for a possible exit career from the monotony of surgery. Like do 6-10 years of surgery, then when it gets boring/routinely go into research. Don't know how really feasible it is to establish a lab 10-15 years after graduating PhD though... I maybe live in wonderland idk.

[@gregoriogurda3420]

@@leorio7416 Doesn't work that way. Surgery requires constant vigilance to keep up your manual / operating skills and stay current with medical know-how and modern techniques. Conversely, running a lab is 100%+ full time job, and in the research world change is even more rapid, with "what have you done for me lately" mentality. You can't just jump between one and the other. You can do clinical research, but doing basic science research which is what MSTPs were designed for is exceedingly difficult for any procedural specialty. Not impossible, just very, very, very hard.

[@kmaster57]

I know this is late..but I agree with @gregorio as it’s not wise to get into both surgery and PhD. Your more likely gonna have spend more time in surgical environment than in a lab.

[@Matthewholst00]

What if you want to do a non basic sciences PhD? Like exercise science?

[@gregoriogurda3420]

@@Matthewholst00 Yeah, you'd be better off doing rehab (physiatry) or neurology. Can have a procedural component, but probably not ortho and probably not anything else surgical. And among non-MDs who can perform surgery, I know of one (1) podiatrist in the whole US of A who has a R01 funded lab.

[@PHILLYMEDIC69]

it sounds like she's saying "I've done a bit of research, it seems cool, I want to try it".

[@thefenerbahcesk4156]

I think MD/Phd is attractive cuz most programs pay for your med school. But I know some people who've been through MD/Phd programs and they absolutely hate their lives cuz they dont care for basic science and they still havent done residency. Also you can do basic science research with just an MD as well.

[@PHILLYMEDIC69]

I personally don't understand the MD/PHD or even the MD/MBA route. Because most schools where I live (Canada), you need to be accepted to medical school first and then you apply for the PHD or MBA after first year (if you chose to do the program from the beginning). Then you HAVE to finish the PHD or MBA (5+ years in addition to med school so residency gets delayed). But lets be honest here, who cares about the PHD or MBA if you're already in medical school? That's where I get caught

[@kmaster57]

It’s honestly about whether or not you want to dedicate a lot of time running your own lab.

[@finneyhamster9106]

I want to be a MD/PhD and I did NOT know this. I thought everyone had to pay the full amount to go to medical school wtf

[@jayrollo1352]

This is the channel I needed. Subbed. I don't usually sub to channels unless I have been viewing their videos for weeks. Gold Star over here

[@dkerrtty1220]

Can we get a guest who or was on an MDPhD committee 👀 please

[@oziomai]

What about MD/MPH? Could you do a video about that?

[@vaishnavisathiyamoorthy7025]

Can you do a video on MD/MS programs?

[@PunkForever-yu1fg]

I'm a cna and I have worked in hospitals for years. I also have mental illness. But I'm fully recovered. I would love to try a md/phd in psychiatry

[@khushipatel6254]

Can a MD/PhD be used to go into academia?

[@Russianboyz95]

Yes, that is basically the purpose of MD/PhD programs.

[@noraotaku-cn4jh]

​@@Russianboyz95so it isnt about being able to work in hospitals? Or try being a doctor?

[@martin22336]

She is a happy chick. The Phd really makes sense for her. I think she will do well.

[@mikegordon1759]

I am in my first year back to college after 12 years being out of school. I am currently taking 3 classes, English 101, Bio 101 and Computing 100. I have an A in computing, and a C in both other classes with the slim possibility of a B in both, I emphasize slim. If I finish with a C in both should I take the pass/fail option to avoid already starting in the hole with my GPA?

[@lfckaran]

You should quit your college and stick to whatever you were doing before

[@Ahn-mu3db]

@@lfckaran shut up

[@drfifteenmd7561]

Sounds necessary but I feel you should just retake those courses all together unless the medical schools you want don't count redone courses.

[@amandavaldez2462]

Pull it through you will get it right

[@andrewvalentino9406]

Sooo is going for a masters program generally recommended for someone who isn't exactly sure what they want to do? What about in the case of someone who doesn't have the premed science classes? I have a pretty strong undergrad background in psychology (although my major is business) and I am ready for next level work in psychology. However I want to become a psychiatrist..the thought of taking science classes for a year and a half for the premed part without studying psychology seems absolutely boring to me. But if there were a way to take the science classes and at the same time advance in studying what I love, psychology and mental health, I would do that.

[@theecon867]

can you do an MD/PhD in public policy or economics or is biology/chem related the only options

[@kmaster57]

You can do md PhD in more than just biology and chem. There is a bunch of schools offering studies behavioral science as well.

[@Swbbboy]

The majority of programs are really designed for biological sciences (cell&molec, genomics, biochem, bioengineering, etc.) but a decent amount are accepting of applicants looking for nonscience PhDs. What it really comes down to though is why? You have to be able to really argue your case and convince admissions committees that your English/Economics/History PhD is important to your career goals alongside the MD. It's also good to keep in mind that there are other dual degree programs like MD/MPH for people with a public health/epidemiology interest, and MD/JD for people interested in the legal and political aspects of medicine.

[@Mukawakadoodoo]

Hey Dr. Gray, what’s your opinion on regenerative medicine?

[@Russianboyz95]

give it time, it'll grow on him.

[@Mukawakadoodoo]

@@Russianboyz95 lmao

[@ahmedazzawi5011]

I’d love to come on your show and discuss Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.)

[@lillygonzalez9754]

I like her ❤️ go girl

[@sunnydays405]

Unless you're a genius....don't do MD/PhD. It's designed for a different caliber of intellect.

[@Mediacriti]

@Sanjoy Kundu work it ❤

[@gregoriogurda3420]

@Sanjoy Kundu Agree. It has more to do with grit/resilience and some luck than genius per se. You have to be smart for sure, but genius level is an exaggeration.

[@DrCureAging]

I've worked with MD's,phD's, and MD/phD's for 7 years. I can say that out of all of them, the MD/phD's I've delt with have been the biggest and most disconnected morons. ex: Removing sterile drugs from a BSC, opening the bottle, and sniffing it and contaminating it ex: Asking for "sterile alcohol"... ex: Asking for "powdered HCl". This is what happens when you stick your nose in books your entire career. The phD's are by far the smartest, yet they suck the dick of MD's.

[@drfifteenmd7561]

@@DrCureAging I believe you...but the MD/PHD person is more likely to be a recent graduate among their MD and PHD peers who have been practicing for longer, residents are notorious for feeling their incompetence and PHDs are just as likely to get overwhelmed in their schooling but I can definitely and easily see how a PHD would be the smartest of the lot.

[@rei-dr5wl]

This is such a lame and reductionist take.

[@atticusjackson722]

I don’t want to be mean but her eyes are hella creepy but really good information

[@Ahn-mu3db]

"Dont wnna be mean" yet u are being mean! Wht wa the point of his comment? Migjt s well have not said anything at all i hate bitches like u

[@scopez4910]

@@Ahn-mu3db A comment is a comment lol. Could’ve been worst

[@user-eo1nt2xs6b]

dr g looks scared as well...