Hi,
I’m currently in grad school doing my Phd in neuropsychology, and I’m considering going to med school for neuropathology after getting the degree. Any advice for psychology grad student going to med school? Or any general advice on Phd to MDs?
I’d recommend the standard advice of knowing what you’re getting yourself into before you get yourself into it (ie shadow in specific/various fields). It’s important to recognize that you’ll have to learn all of the standard stuff about medicine which has everything and nothing to do with neuro all at the same time. It’s a lot to ask of yourself depending on what it is you’re actually planning on doing with your training.
Just out of curiosity, do you mean you want to go into pathology with an emphasis in neuro or general neurology? Those are 2 very distinct fields with very different residencies/fellowships. Have you thought about psychiatry with your background in neuropsych? Be forewarned that there is always the possibility you’ll fall in love with a different field of medicine as well.
Welcome. There are other folks like you (PhD --> MD/DO) on the forum. Hopefully they can share some of the stuff they’ve gone through/thought about.
@Kennymac wrote:
I’d recommend the standard advice of knowing what you’re getting yourself into before you get yourself into it (ie shadow in specific/various fields). It’s important to recognize that you’ll have to learn all of the standard stuff about medicine which has everything and nothing to do with neuro all at the same time. It’s a lot to ask of yourself depending on what it is you’re actually planning on doing with your training.
Just out of curiosity, do you mean you want to go into pathology with an emphasis in neuro or general neurology? Those are 2 very distinct fields with very different residencies/fellowships. Have you thought about psychiatry with your background in neuropsych? Be forewarned that there is always the possibility you’ll fall in love with a different field of medicine as well.
Welcome. There are other folks like you (PhD –> MD/DO) on the forum. Hopefully they can share some of the stuff they’ve gone through/thought about.
Thank you. I’m currently shadowing a neuropathologist, and I really enjoy the experience and work that he is doing. So yeah, I’m more interested in pathology with emphasis in neuro, rather than Neurology. After doing clinical psychology for the past several years, which is pretty close to psychiatry, I’d say that Psychiatry is interesting, but I’m more interested in pathology. Where else can I find more fellows who have been through a similar process, switching from a social science PhD to MD?