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Physician Scientist

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Physician Scientist

A physician scientist is a professional who combines medical practice with scientific research. They typically have a dual degree in medicine (MD) and a PhD in a scientific field.

Physician scientists often work in academic research centers, clinical settings, or for both public and private organizations. Their responsibilities include conducting research, analyzing data, and applying their findings to improve overall patient care. The career path to becoming a physician scientist typically involves obtaining a bachelor's degree in a pre-medical-related field, followed by completing an MD/PhD program. Some physician scientists may also be trained through master's programs in clinical trials, epidemiology, or health services research.

Physician scientists have the opportunity to combine their passions for medicine and scientific research, making a direct impact on patient care by applying their research findings to improve treatment outcomes. They are driven by a strong desire to understand the underlying mechanisms of diseases and develop new treatments. As a physician scientist, you have the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of patients and the broader medical community through your research findings, which can lead to new treatments, improved diagnostic methods, and better patient outcomes. Physician scientists can work in various settings, allowing for a diverse and dynamic career path with numerous opportunities for growth and development.

The prerequisite courses for these programs mirror those for medical school.

Almost all medical schools require the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is a content based exam. Some schools also require situational judgment tests (SJT) such as CASPer and the AAMC PREview. These tests aim to assess how applicants respond to various situations and scenarios. You will need to review the requirements for each of school to ensure you are fulfilling their requirements.

More information about standardized tests

MD/PhD programs require substantial research experience before applying. While they often prefer wet lab research, this is not an absolute distinction. We recommend that you spend a consistent amount of time engaged in research as an undergraduate and/or through gap year experiences, ideally co-authoring a publication before you apply. It is expected that you will be able to show a strong interest and passion for research as well as an understanding of how research will blend with your work as a physician.

The application process for MD/PhD programs is very similar to that for medical school and applicants use the same common application (AMCAS). You can apply for only MD/PhD programs, or a combination of both MD and MD/PhD programs. For some medical schools, if you are not accepted into their MD/PhD program, your application will automatically be transferred to the MD pool of applicants. For other schools, you would need to apply to each program separately.

The application process for most MD/PhD programs has two additional requirements. The first is a pair of essays focused on your research: one essay asks you to explain why you are interested in the MD/PhD program and the other asks you about your significant research experiences. The second additional requirement is letters of recommendation from research supervisors who can attest to your skills and interests in research.