Information on a Doctor of Medicine Degree
Doctor of Medicine degree programs are professional tracks of study, offered by both public and private universities, that train students to work as doctors in a range of medical areas, including general medicine, pediatrics and surgical medicine. Students who complete a Doctor of Medicine program earn the title MD, and have the opportunity to enter a medical residency for advanced medical training.
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Function
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Though Doctor of Medicine programs are offered by accredited universities in the United States, they are not considered traditional academic programs. Rather, Doctor of Medicine degrees are professional training programs offered through a university's school of medicine (typically affiliated with or attached to a teaching hospital). Students in such programs combine both academic background learning in the sciences with clinical laboratory work and internship requirements.
Features
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Most Doctor of Medicine programs take approximately four years to complete, and are split into three distinct parts. In the first part, students take a full slate of advanced physical science courses, including biochemistry, genetics, neurobiology and microbiology. In the second part, students complete clinical rotations in a local hospital under the supervision of a medical professional. In the third part, students engage in clinical research and prepare an academic thesis of publishable quality that addresses a medical problem or examines a medical trend using unique data.
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Considerations
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Upon completion of a Doctor of Medicine program, students enter a graduate residency in the specialized medical field of their choice. A graduate medical residency -- which is a paid, on-the-job training program -- can take anywhere from two to six years to complete. This is in addition to the four years it takes to complete medical school and earn a Doctor of Medicine degree.
Warning
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Students should avoid Doctor of Medicine degree programs that are not accredited by a board recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, as such programs often do not give students eligibility for a graduate residency. Additionally, students should avoid online schools claiming to offer an MD degree, as such schools cannot offer the level of clinical training provided by accredited, on-campus programs.
Benefits
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for those interested in becoming either physicians or surgeons are projected to be very good in the next decade as a large percentage of practicing doctors look toward retirement. In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates that general practitioners currently earn an average $186,044 a year, while medical specialists earn $339,738 a year.
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References
- Photo Credit Doctor image by Monika 3 Steps Ahead from Fotolia.com
