Yes, I'm jumping the gun and the system might well be completely different by the time I apply for ST3, but I'm going to ask anyway.

Basically, I know that medical oncologists have historically been considered as more academic and research-oriented than clinical oncologists. And I'm finding a lot of information that says that medical oncology trainees must do an MD or PhD, that >90% of medical oncologists have got an MD or PhD, and that applicants for many consultant posts in this specialty have to have an MD or PhD. What I don't know is how much this has changed under the new system. Some of the information that I'm reading goes back to 1997, and I don't know if it's still relevant (or is still going to be relevant).

I don't actually mind the idea of being in a research-oriented specialty; my issues have more to do with the requirements for the pursuit of a higher degree. I have no idea how that works. I mean, I know that you take two or three years at some point in your career to pursue the higher degree, but does that involve being completely out of clinical practice for those years? That's the part that I think I would have a problem with.

Any pearls of wisdom or experience most gratefully received.