The physician–scientist track (MD/PhD) in academic medical centers has become one of the great illusions of modern science - a path that promises to unite medicine and science but rarely fulfills either goal. Training stretches on for years as one person is expected to learn two
@LocasaleLab Skip Brass, the head of Penn’s MD/PhD program sometimes does research in this area but it’s pretty laughable, and most of his research exists to just confirm whatever opinion is coming from administrations. One of his studies looks at the correlation between MCAT/GPA and MD/PhD
@LocasaleLab This is rather interesting, but aren't the preferential treatments given to them worth the many years spent in training? Also, isn't the question of productivity is a bit hard to debate on? Unless there is some yardstick, such as volume and value of research output or hours
@LocasaleLab Its good in providing a single full research study experience to clinicians, who learn to think better about science from it. But in my experience the phd theses are rushed and more minor of studies, so is basically "phd-light", not the same thing. But better than clinicians who
@LocasaleLab This system is like a cheat basically in the US…same as the MD programs. Less than four years isn’t enough to be a doctor. What it is enough is to become a robot on meth which is what they teach.
@LocasaleLab You are brutal!
@LocasaleLab Damn
@LocasaleLab Don't need it!!!!!!
@LocasaleLab Anecdotally though, it’s nice to be treated by someone with a PhD who considers a diagnosis a hypothesis rather than an absolute certainty, and who has a firm grasp of statistics (though for my parents, one MD, the other MD/PhD, it’s the other way around…).
@LocasaleLab The lack of debt is nice too. Is there data on the number of them who did not complete the PhD componente but still got tuition free
@LocasaleLab Perhaps, then, one might think of this as the track for those who want to be "gatekeepers", the defenders of the Kuhnian "normal science"? 😀🙋
@LocasaleLab Here’s the most recent NIH breakdown of PIs by degrees. You state concern about MD/PhD training. Tell us about trends & the 15% of MD-only PIs. I have proposed the first step to reform NIH is to remove medical education and administration, & primary care to a separate institute.
@LocasaleLab The running joke among scientists in basic research. Half ass physician half ass clinician. IMO they are given considerable slack in terms of what is required for their dissertation.
@LocasaleLab Fair
@LocasaleLab So true. Most end up incompetent researchers who can’t practice medicine
@LocasaleLab Does the PhD offer any genuine scientific value? For many students, the answer is no.
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