Dear Cindy,

I'm in my third year in pre-med, and I'm interested in MD-PhD programs. Do physician-scientists only work in laboratory research?

Thanks, Joe

Dear Joe,

MD-PhD programs provide training in both medicine and research and are designed for those who want to become research physicians, or physician scientists. They spend most of their time in research, in addition to caring for patients and may become faculty members at medical schools, universities and research institutes.

Here is the Web site of the Association of Medical Colleges, www.aamc.org, and a page that might answer your question about the pros and cons of such programs. Here is an excerpt:  "According to a recent study from the National Association of MD-PhD Programs, about 75 percent of U.S. MD-PhD graduates are in academic medicine or pharmaceutical company positions that make use of their interests in both patient care and research."

I would advise you to also talk to your career counselor at your school to get more information. There are definite advantages to combining your MD with a PhD while in medical school. The increase in the number of MD-PhD training programs nationwide has created an alternative to the old option of completing medical school and residency training before doing an extended period of supervised research via a postdoctoral fellowship.

You also might find this fact sheet from the Yale career services office helpful.