Wayne Liang, MD MS FAMIA

Why don't #MedSchools routinely offer a #MS #MastersDegree option for #MedStudents who decide not to complete their #MD/#DO for whatever reason (similar to some #PhD programs)?

#Medicine is not for everyone, and many don't find out until after they start. Doing so would allow these highly qualified individuals to receive #graduate-level credentials recognizing their hard work and training.

Thoughts #Mediverse #Medtwitter #MedEd #AcademicChatter #AcademicMastodon #AcademicTwitter?

Nov 26, 2022 at 5:17pmWeb
Show threadWayne Liang, MD MS FAMIANov 26, 2022
@futuredocs curious if you had an opinion on above topic?
Show threadVineet Arora MD Nov 26, 2022
@WayneLiangMD I think that off ramps for those who don’t want to do medicine are important but the challenge is once you’re locked in even a year or 2, you are so debt ridden the only way to pull out is forward. We need to lower cost of training and be creative with early off-ramps for those who decide this path is not for them. However, its also important to provide the academic support necessary to those you admit so you’re not using this as a way to shortchange anyone.
Show threadWayne Liang, MD MS FAMIANov 26, 2022

@futuredocs thank you, excellent points. Agree completely that we need to provide adequate support so those who are in can get through to that MD/DO. Especially folks from underrepresented backgrounds with less social support.

Agree that a creative off ramp should not be to shortchange anyone, but to really help those who cannot or choose not to continue for whatever reason. They can go on to very fruitful careers outside of clinical practice, and a MS changes a "failure" into a credential.

Show threadAlice Sato, MD PhD (she/her)Nov 26, 2022
@WayneLiangMD even if you had to add a course or two to make the credentials match other masters programs I think that would be great
Show threadWayne Liang, MD MS FAMIANov 26, 2022
@asato4kids thats the idea!
Show threadDr. ZekeNov 26, 2022
@WayneLiangMD
A friend and I both did a dual-degree MD/MHI in the middle of medical school. The graduate school part was great for both of us. Pretty quickly after going back to medical school, my friend realized he didn't want to keep going with the MD part. So it was a good option for him to get out and have a career path ready.
Show threadWayne Liang, MD MS FAMIANov 26, 2022
@ZekeMD that's similar to the scenario I am envisioning. Folks leave med school for a variety of reasons. The option to convert to a graduate degree could help with career transition.
Show threadSteven (but a Goblin) 💚Nov 26, 2022

@WayneLiangMD That's a cool idea!

In your mind, is it sort of a signifier of general knowledge or could it allow you to slot into the health care system in some way?

A masters in medicine would be very different if it qualified you to do some set of primary care tasks (like a NP or pharmacist might be able to do in some jurisdictions).

Show threadWayne Liang, MD MS FAMIANov 26, 2022
@steven I think it wouldn't be able to be a clinical degree since no licensed role exists for folks who complete partial med school. And most are leaving clinical medicine anyway, often into adjacent fields (eg biomedical research, biotech, analytics, administration/business).
Show threadSteven (but a Goblin) 💚Nov 26, 2022

@WayneLiangMD I think a lot of jurisdictions would jump on the opportunity to create new types of credentials, if you promised it would help them with their primary care or rural medicine shortages.

But also, for business/consulting/etc.

It just depends on if a partial MD gives you a useful set of skills, or if it's just a consolation prize.

Show threadWayne Liang, MD MS FAMIANov 26, 2022

@steven interesting thought. MD and PA training have similarities -- I wonder if PA schools accept med school transfers? NP path is too different. But would folks leaving med school want to become a PA? Even if there may be a market need for non-MD/MD primary care cproviders, I think folks who leave medical school are not looking for another medicine-like career. They are more or less exiting clinical medicine.

I do think a partial MD is very valuable in many adjacent fields.

Show threadSueNov 26, 2022
@WayneLiangMD
Excellent idea
Show threadTheJenNov 26, 2022

@WayneLiangMD

It would provide a pool of administrators who actually understand medicine, for one.