Are the Extra Degrees beyond the MD Necessary in Academic Surgery? Timothy Pawlik, MD, MPH, MTS, PhD John L. Cameron Professor of Alimentary Tract Surgery Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Disclosures I have no relevant financial relationships to disclose as it pertains to the content of my presentation.
Combined enrollment in MD/PhD, MD/JD, and MD/MBA program has increased by 36% over last 10 years Medical school offereings: MD/PhD: 114 MD/MPH: 88 MD/JD: 22 MD/MBA: 65 65 medical schools now offer MD/MBA vs. 6 medical schools in 1993
Success MPH JD MTS SUCCESS MD MD MBA PhD
CAN ADDITIONAL DEGREES CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR SUCCESS IN ACADEMIC SURGERY? YES!
Reasons to get another degree
Skills are critical
Chairs like faculty with skills These skills are a given!
Chairs like faculty with skills PhD Basic science knowledge Hypothesis generation Wet lab skills Grant writing Translational possibilities MPH Epidemiology Biostatistics Clinical Trials Large database analyses MBA Financial expertise Budget management Personnel management Leadership skills Masters in Education Curriculum development Teaching methods Skills assessment Education research
PhD ROI
MBA ROI
MBA ROI Self-identification as expert in: budget operations personnel management Leadership Opportunities
MPH ROI Teaches research design, analysis, and critical thinking Improves manuscript and grantwriting abilities Thesis-based MPH is a foundation to main area of interest within career path
MTS ROI
Costs
Cost: Time Degree 1 st Job Associate Professor MD MD* MD-MBA or MD-MPH* MD-PhD** MD-PhD-MBA** 31 36 33 38 35 40 36 41 38 43 *includes 2 year research fellowship ** 5 year PhD program
Cost: Money Degree Additional Tuition Delayed Gross Delayed Gross Income Income (interest (unadjusted)*** adjusted) MD 0 0 0 MD* 0 $200K $207K MD-MBA or MD-MPH* $50K $400K $444K MD-PhD** $125K $500K $575K MD-PhD- MBA** $175K $700K $865K *includes 2 year research fellowship ** 5 year PhD program ***Assumes $100K salary and not adjusted for inflation or interest earned
Cost: Clinical Practice
Cost: Personal
ADDITIONAL DEGREES COST-BENEFIT TO WORK AND LIFE ANALYSIS COSTS BENEFITS Time Money Tuition Delayed Earnings Clinical practice on hold Family Time Leadership Knowledge / Skills Marketability/Versatility Self Esteem Reputation
ARE ADDITIONAL DEGREES NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL? NO!
NO ADDITIONAL DEGREE NEEDED! Clinical Active TOS surgery practice with national referral base Research Active clinical researcher; VA cooperative trial Teaching teacher/mentor for students, residents, faculty at all levels Administrative Chair/Dean Julie A. Freischlag, MD Chair, Deptartment of Surgery Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Should I do it? An extra degree is not necessary but it can help!
ARE THE ADDITIONAL DEGREES THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU? Academic direction / course Finances Personal
ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE? Institutional (In)stability Receptive Colleagues Supportive Chair Home Life Clear sense of your goals / trajectory
Align your degree with your goals Know thy self.
Align your degree with your goals MPH JD Self-Fulfillment Goals Future Impact MTS MD MBA PhD Don t leave without having an idea about your destination.
WHEN Should I do it? My path: MPH Medical School MTS Residency PhD Faculty
Opportunities for Funding New faculty Retainment Cost of course work Salary RVU targets
ARE ADDITIONAL DEGREES THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU? Consider finances High debt vs Low debt Scholarship vs No support for additional degree Income deferral comfort level Consider personal Family vs Single Time constrained vs not Spouse/family support
ARE ADDITIONAL DEGREES THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU? Consider academic direction/course, your role and your environment Financial / Administrative Leadership Role Consider MBA Research Role Consider PhD for bench research Consider MPH for outcomes Consider Master s Clinical Science for clinical research Educational Role Consider MA, MS or PhD in education
Academic Success Necessary but not sufficient
Academic Success + Get more tools in your academic tool box
THANK YOU! Tim Pawlik tpawlik1@jhmi.edu Acknowledgments: Max Schmidt, MD, PhD, MBA