These questions are ones that I am frequently asked. I found that I am running out of time to meet individuals with these questions and therefore I have compiled my answers. I don't guarantee that these answers are optimal for you or what I might tell you if I still had the spare time.

• How can I get into an MD PhD program (I only have a background in computer science or math or engineering)?

First: Find out if you are really interested in biology. Take an introductory class (or audit it). Or join a biological laboratory where you can trade your quantitative skills for i) exposure to a broad variety of biological techniques ii) work on a research project (ideally culminating in a publication that has your name on it). Find out if you are interested in medicine. Find a local MD who will let you shadow them in their work on multiple occasions. Second: If you find you are interested in biology and medicine, then you can apply to biologically oriented PhD programs designed for individuals with backgrounds such as yourself (e.g. the HST Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics Program) and apply simultaneously to an MD PhD program. Be aware that this is a highly competitive process and therefore some time spent in a laboratory with the right kind of mentor is going to be essential. You will be expected in your application to articulate something about your interested in academic medicine that goes significantly beyond the generic.

• I am in my late twenties and I am considering a PhD in Bioinformatics or a medical degree. Is it too late for me? Have I missed the boat?

No, you have not if these goals are ones that you understand fully (i.e. if and only if: you'll be hugging yourself with happiness once you achieve them and enjoy going to work every day knowing what the daily work involved is). I have many friends that started medical school in their late 30's and have had 15 years (so far) of great satisfaction in their jobs. Life has many phases and I find I start a new academic interest and emphasis about every 3-5 years so my personal advice is not to let your age inform your decision. However, the converse is also true, some decisions are bad at any age and I know many individuals who were made very very unhappy by their choices of pursuing a PhD or MD.

• I am a mathematician/computer scientist. I find that my skills are not appreciated by biologists. Is this ever going to get better? Should I continue to try to work on biological problems? Will clinicians and biologists ever appreciate or trust computational/mathematical techniques?

Some other time I will address the larger issue of respectful multidisciplinary collaborations. However let me answer this question narrowly, from my perspective wearing my PhD and not my MD hat. Stop whining and focus on solving important problems. And that involves really rolling up your sleeves and seeing what are the important questions and problems facing patients, clinicians and biomedical researchers. Case in point, MRI and CT-scan technology is highly dependent on algorithmic expertise, mathematical insight and computer engineering excellence. Researchers and clinicians use these technologies and routinely draw significant, often life-altering, conclusions based on the finding of these technologies. The technology is fully accepted, trusted and highly valued. This is only one example of many and particulary in genomics and personalized medicine similar instances will arise in the future. The Economist had a nice piece on just this topic.

Last updated: 01/06/2005