title: Should MD-PhD programs encourage graduate training in disciplines beyond conventional biomedical or clinical sciences?
abstract: The goal of MD-PhD training programs is to produce physician-scientists with unique capacities to lead the future biomedical research workforce. The current dearth of physician-scientists with expertise outside conventional biomedical or clinical sciences raises the question of whether MD-PhD training programs should allow or even encourage scholars to pursue doctoral studies in disciplines that are deemed nontraditional, yet are intrinsically germane to major influences on health. This question is especially relevant because the central value and ultimate goal of the academic medicine community is to help attain the highest level of health and health equity for all people. Advances in medical science and practice, along with improvements in health care access and delivery, are steps toward health equity, but alone they will not come close to eliminating health inequalities. Addressing the complex health issues in our communities and society as a whole requires a biomedical research workforce with knowledge, practice, and research skills well beyond conventional biomedical or clinical sciences. To make real progress in advancing health equity, educational pathways must prepare physician-scientists to treat both micro and macro determinants of health. The authors argue that MD-PhD programs should allow and encourage their scholars to cross boundaries into less traditional disciplines such as epidemiology, statistics, anthropology, sociology, ethics, public policy, management, economics, education, social work, informatics, communications, and marketing. To fulfill current and coming health care needs, nontraditional MD-PhD students should be welcomed and supported as valuable members of our biomedical research workforce.
authors.affiliation: Mr. O'Mara is a scholar in the MD-PhD Training Program, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, and in the Joint Degree Program in Demography and Social Policy, Office of Population Research and Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey. Dr. Hsu is chief executive officer, Prometheon Pharma, LLC, a resident company in the Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator, University of Florida, Alachua, Florida; this article represents work undertaken while Dr. Hsu was director, MD-PhD Training Program, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida. Dr. Wilson is vice president for health affairs and dean, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida.
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: O'Mara
authors.forename: Stephen I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000193:education*; D002321:Career Choice; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010811:Natural Science Disciplines / Q000193:education*; D000078329:Workforce