Medical School Perspectives and Application Tips for MD/PhD Programs
Explore the journey of a medical student pursuing an MD/PhD with insights on MD vs. MD/PhD programs, application tips, and considerations for MCAT preparation. Find out which path might be the right fit for your career goals.
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My Medical School Perspective Rosstin Ahmadian rahmadian@salud.unm.edu
History UNM Undergraduate Program (2011-2015) Regents Scholar B.S. Biochemistry, Minor Honors Research Technician (2015-2016) UNM SOM MD/PhD Program (2016-Present) MD Specialty: Undecided PhD: Physiology
MD vs MD/PhD MD Program Outline 4 Years of Medical School 2 Years of Pre Clinical Training 2 Years of Clinical Training Pay out of Pocket MD/PhD Program Outline 8-9 Years of Training 2 Years of Pre Clinical Training 4-5 Years of PhD Training 2 Years of Clinical Training All Expenses Paid + Monthly Stipend
MD vs MD/PhD: Which is right for me? MD Interested in a career in clinical care only Interested in a career that may include work for private hospitals Interested in a career that exclusively involves clinical research MD/PhD Interested in career that combines research and clinical care Interested in a career that is focused within academia or industry Wants PhD level training in order to be competitively in a research field dominated by PhDs
A Good MD Application Good Grades (incl. Prerequisites and other courses) Good MCAT Score Community Service Clinical Experience Leadership Research experiences and if possible, a publication Tell an Interesting and Memorable Story in your Personal Statement
A Good MD/PhD Application Good Grades (inc. Prerequisites and other courses) Good MCAT Score Research Experiences and if possible, publications Community Service Clinical Experience Leadership Tell an Interesting and Memorable Story in your Personal Statement
Considerations for MCAT I did not take a class but instead used question banks to learn content. The exam is a bunch of questions so best to get as many in as possible. Psych/Soc Section: Buy the Kaplan Psych/Soc Review Book and READ IT Do questions. Critical Analysis and Reading: Read and answer questions from 2 passages, every night, starting yesterday. Do more questions. Bio, Biochem, Physics: Answer questions and review both the ones you got correct and those you got incorrect. Review concepts using online resources or your professors just take them the questions you missed and go over them!
Considerations for Community Service and Leadership Having a lot of community service hours and leadership roles is always good. The key is to tell an amazing story that interviewers will want to discuss with you: Student Organization President Good: Was President. Put on CV. Great: While President, led initiative to raise money for UNMH Pediatrics Instrument Player Good: Can Play Piano. Put on CV. Great: Played piano at homeless shelter or hospital and offered free lessons to a demographic they were passionate about. Medical Schools Reward the Go Getters who Pursue their Passions
Research Opportunities Research for Credit or Work Study Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) https://imsd.unm.edu Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) http://www.marcatunm.org Undergraduate Pipeline Network (UPN) https://hsc.unm.edu/medicine/education/reo/undergraduate/upn/ EMS 475 2 Semester Clinical Research Training Course Link for Notification: https://redcap.link/trwzt7h6 Instructor: Silas Bussman sibussman@salud.unm.edu Post-Bac Programs Post-Baccalaureate Research and Education Program (PREP) https://prep.unm.edu Go Get It Explore UNM and UNM HSC laboratories that conduct research you may be interested in Email the Professor asking to meet to learn more and discuss training opportunities or space for volunteer
Things I Would Have Done Differently Confidence to Implement Programs and Change Did Not Found UNM Doctors Without Borders Goal would be to fundraise for DWB and develop partnership opportunity so UNM Students could travel with DWB and provide support. Work with President s office to garner administrative support.
Things I Would Have Done Differently Confidence to Implement Programs and Change Co-Founded Protect NM Goals was to collect and distribute PPE across New Mexico and the Southwest Region We distributed tons of material and airlifted over a million N95 masks.
Things I Would Have Done Differently Do Not Need to Major in Science I selected Biochemistry as it offered efficient path to complete prerequisites. Undergrad is a time to explore new topics and ideas without inhibition Would have instead majored in Philosophy and English and done prerequisites on the side.
Things I Would Have Done Differently Do Not Need to Go Straight to Medical School When you start medical school it is a time consuming endeavor Take time before medical school to explore other interests, then apply. Taking a couple years between undergraduate and medical school is perfectly acceptable. You will need to demonstrate that it was a time for personal growth. MCAT is accepted up to 3 years back for most schools.
