Medicine after a PhD? Not working in the NHS?

**Singh.Simran** · 08-02-2010, 09:13 PM

This is a very negative thread.

Given
1. We need both clinical medics and medical researchers
2. To do research, especially in certain fields, both a PhD and MBBS will be very useful, if not necessary (I say PhD, obviously many do it the other way round and do an MBBS followed by an MD or something. Anyway, a research doctorate and a clinical doctorate).
3. So to study both courses makes sense, especially to facilitate greater crossover between the two professions.

Admittedly, with the very close linkage between our state monopoly university medical courses and state monopoly immediate medical training, it must be very hard to avoid the NHS, and some years will probably be inevitable.. but I don't see that unis here won't see the benefit of someone who doesn't want to be a clinician.

Perhaps the solution is talk to both the unis and maybe people who have done similar things? There's plenty of double doctorates around here but most are of the teaching variety.. less so experimenting (i think some do though, no real contact with that side but i think my director of studies Emmanuel College - Teaching & Research - The Fellows used to and still does look into various things)

**gammaknifed** · 09-02-2010, 01:41 AM

Above post is good.

Suellen Walker - WellChild Pain Research Centre

I worked in the same lab as this lady during my Neuroscience BSc, she is awesome, and HIGHLY prized. My point is... this overlap between clinical and academic work can certainly be achieved in the UK. I would imagine the best people to ask about such overlap are those who are currently doing just that.

Best of luck.

**Nurse_to_doctor** · 09-02-2010, 10:05 PM

Hi,

I work as a Research Nurse at a Reserach Unit for Imperial College London and have also worked in a similar role at Imperial College Healthcare (NHS). In both roles, I have worked with SpRs who take time out of rotation to carry out a PhD. Two of the SpRs I work with now are completing PhDs. I don't know how many hospital doctors do this. However, the ones I come accross, as a research nurse, do so, before going back to rotation and then (in say 2 years) Consultant.

So, not sure if this helps...

N2D

**GoPlayer** · 22-02-2010, 01:07 PM

Thanks for the good replies, everyone. Sorry it's taken me so long to respond. BeMyEnemy described exactly what I was thinking. It's great to have some more pointers. I'll take a closer look at the Academic Foundation Programmes as a possible post-MBBS route and try to make contact with people who have already gone down similar paths.

Thanks!

**yazoo** · 22-02-2010, 04:52 PM

A medical degree is NOT required to do basic (as in fundamental) medical research. A research degree is. Anyone who has 3 science degrees can teach themselves any aspect of medicine required to do basic scientific research. Medicine as a degree only provides a very basic education in science, one which is not even vaguely in the ball park with the knowledge required for research.

By this reasoning, why would you fund someone to do a medical degree if they primarily wanted to do medical research? To want to lead translational research is an excellent argument. But to lead translational research requires medical expertise and research expertise. And this requires specialist training, which, IMO, requires a desire to work as part of a team and to work with patients. It will require mucking in and getting the boring jobs done (or free-loading - certainly not unheard of!).

As I said more than once above, if someone in GoPlayers position wants to look after patients and develop into a translational researcher, then a medical degree is the way ahead. If not, I can see benefits for the individual to do a medical degree, but not for society or for the someone else who looses out on the place at med school.

Education has costs as well as benefits. Both should be considered.

**Witch** · 22-02-2010, 09:46 PM

GoPlayer - you don't have to return to Uni & go through Med School to lead a Research Programme in the Translational Field. It is perfectly feasible for a PostDoc/Researcher to sidestep if they can prove that their skills are transferrable.

My PhD is in Zoology (!!). I now lead the science in a Translational Medicine group at the Institute of Cancer Research/Royal Marsden Hospital.

I want(ed) to go to Med School (which is why I joined this forum). I now know that it isn't an option for me. I also know that I can possibly help more patients by doing the research I am now, than by retraining to become a hands-on Doc.

Good luck with your choice!