Thread: MD

**micky** · 17-10-2003, 08:16 PM

hi,

is an MD the American version of MBBS/MBchB or something completely different?
micky

**RobM** · 21-05-2004, 02:56 AM

Yeah MD is American for MBBS/BMBCh, etc. Makes it confusing when to us an MD is a two-year (usually clinically oriented) research degree. You have to pass the USMLE to get the American MD, which is in 3 parts.

**Bumblebee** · 02-06-2004, 01:40 AM

Like Abby did last week in ER! :wink:

**Singh** · 18-08-2004, 08:24 PM

Hello.

Also in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries, one achieves the M.D. title after having completed med school (i.e. after 6 yrs in Denmark). This is in Danish called Cand.med. (Candidate of medicine) and is equivalent to the english M.B.B.S.

Some doctors choose to do a PhD before or after internship and thus achieve a research-degree. The highest title is the dr.med. which is given after having done a massive project (called disputats in danish), and is far "bigger" than the PhD. '

It's funny how some countries use M.D. while others use MBBS.. just makes it confusing I think.

**indi** · 18-08-2004, 09:20 PM

kiddha singh!

you chose the best name!

inderpal singh

**caster** · 19-08-2004, 03:57 AM

The difference between the American MD and the British MB ChB is that an MB ChB is an undergraduate degree, taken as a first-degree by school-leavers in Britain. The American MD, although a qualifying degree in medicine, and therefore equivalent to MB ChB in some ways, is a post-graduate degree - in the US, students do an undergraduate degree first in another subject, and then can only study medicine, and get the MD, as a 4-year degree taken after they have finished their first non-medical undergraduate degree. There is no direct equivalent of an MB ChB in the US.

As RobM has said, MD is also used in the UK in modern times to indicate a certain kind of postgraduate medical research degree (kind of similar to a PhD) and this is different from the US use of the term "MD" as in the UK, an MD is taken by a student who is already a qualified doctor who wants to do some research, whereas in the US it is taken as a way of qualifying as a physician, and does not involve all that much research.

**Sparkee** · 08-05-2005, 01:22 AM

Ok, I like this discussion, hopefully you guys can help me.

I'm applying to MSc and MPH programs in the UK and have already been admitted to a few. I'd like to get my MD after my year in an MSc or MPH. Is this possible? I've read the prospectus books for UCL and they have MD programs but do not have specifics on what the courses entail- Such as the "Institute of Child Health". They also do not specify entry requirements except to say that they require a medical or science degree (which is what the MSc would qualify for- I believe)

Is it naive of me to think I can attain an MD in the UK without this MBBS that you guys have mentioned? Or, am I going about this wrong- I am unsure of what to major in if I want to practice medicine and specialize in something like child and maternal health.

I realize that I should contact the school but I hardly make any sense yet and am not sure who to ask what...

**theoworld** · 11-05-2005, 06:32 AM

Correction: MD is the degree conferred after medical school. (which is after 4-5 years of university). You need to pass USMLE step I and II in order to graduate medical school. USMLE Step III is taken during your 1st year of internship/training.

T

**fatcat** · 11-05-2005, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by Sparkee

I'm applying to MSc and MPH programs in the UK and have already been admitted to a few. I'd like to get my MD after my year in an MSc or MPH. Is this possible? I've read the prospectus books for UCL and they have MD programs but do not have specifics on what the courses entail- Such as the "Institute of Child Health". They also do not specify entry requirements except to say that they require a medical or science degree (which is what the MSc would qualify for- I believe)

Is it naive of me to think I can attain an MD in the UK without this MBBS that you guys have mentioned?

Yes

. It's not possible do an MD without having an undergraduate medical degree first (MB ChB, MB BS etc), though I'm sure there have been one or two rare exceptions in the past.

Originally Posted by Sparkee

Or, am I going about this wrong- I am unsure of what to major in if I want to practice medicine and specialize in something like child and maternal health.

Even if you were allowed to register for an MD it wouldn't allow you to practise medicine since it is a research degree only. By the way, I'm assuming you don't already have a medical qualification from the US or another country, in which case things would be different.

**k240** · 03-11-2005, 03:18 PM

I'm currently completing a Master's in Physiology, here in the USA - and I'm a US citizen.

I've been looking into attending medical school in the UK (personal reasons), and I was wondering if anyone here knows anything about how a person might go about becoming eligible to be a physician in both countries.

I know that I could take the USMLE exams, but I'm unsure if I'd have to do a residency in the US, or could I potentially practise in the UK, then pass the final USMLE if I decide to move back to the US?

and since this is the USMLE forum, I don't know if anyone will know the answer to this, but - what are the exams needed in the UK in order to practise medicine? Is it a similar setup as USMLE?

If I were to get an MBBS, take the USMLE exam to do a residency in the US, then become licensed here... could I then go back to the UK and practise?

Lots of questions.... I know.... But I'd thought I'd start casting the net out there to get some answers before it's time for me to start making the decisions!

Thanks!

(oh, and if I were to get a MBBS from the UK, but came back to the US, passed the USMLE, did residency and all that good stuff.... would I then be called an MD?)