Masters Degree For Medical Doctors
Many people do not realise that medical doctors can get master's degrees, thinking their career paths are linear. People think that doctors have only one dimension, thinking as clinicians only. And with the number of exams you expect a doctor to write to progress in their career, many doctors never think of the extra degree. The pressure of clinicals can get too daunting to take on the added tasks, which people can understand.
It is difficult to amplify the value of a master's degree for doctors enough. Apart from specialising in a chosen field, it allows pivoting in one's career while staying within the medical area. You may also get the chance to improve your earning potential and increase your value.
The recent Coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19) and the resulting pandemic in late 2019 increased the need for health workers, and not all needed to be clinicians. There was a heightened need for managers, councillors, public health workers, etc. Imagine if these workers were doctors who have master's degrees in these fields, their value would be immense.
Furthermore, years in medical school and numerous exams mean that post-graduate programs may be easier to transition into for doctors. The importance of this background becomes apparent when you consider the report of a 2011 study. The report indicated students complete as many as 64 exams and over 174 assignments in studying to become a doctor.
5 Reasons Why Medical Doctors May Do A Master's Degree
However, there are many reasons why medical doctors may decide to do a master's degree. The reasons may be due to individual needs, availability, or peculiar circumstances. It may also be to fill existing gaps such as those created by the Covid-19 pandemic or migration. We have listed 5 of the most common reasons medical doctors may do a master's degree.
Migration
One common reason medical doctors do a master's degree is migration, which is more typical in developing countries. Although it may be expensive, many may see it as an easier way to migrate from their home country. Many developed countries with a shortage of doctors may grant pathways to become a citizen for doctors who study in their country. Statistics show that about 22% of doctors who are NHS staff in England are nationals of non-EU countries, with the number likely to rise in the coming years. While the number of those who hold or are studying for a master's degree is unknown, you can expect it to be a sizeable number.
Alternate Career Paths
Not every medical doctor has to become or continue as a clinician, as there are several other paths to follow. You may choose to pivot to Public Health, Health Management, Medical Education, or numerous other fields. Many of these positions were once primarily for non-clinicians, but more and more doctors are beginning to take them up. In addition, having a background as a medical doctor tends to make these pursuits somewhat easier at their post-graduate levels.
Specialisation
A master's degree in medicine and health is uncommon within the medical community in many countries. This gap may be due to career choices or many people unaware that you can get one, or just discouraged. However, a medical doctor with a master's degree can have an advantage over other people in this regard. In fact, if you have chosen a path to follow, doing a master's degree can help specialise quickly. Not only does this give you a better focus, but it will also make you more valuable in the future.
Personal Interests And Career Progression
As a medical doctor, you may have a personal attraction to a niche area in medicine. Because of personal interest, it is possible to want to study pediatrics dentistry, obstetrics, gynaecologist, or other special areas. Doing a master's degree in these fields of interest can fulfil personal desires and achievements. Furthermore, a master's degree can improve your career progression so you can quickly become a specialist or consultant. As medicine evolves and newer methods and practices become necessary, a master's degree may also ensure that you are updated with best practices.
Available Opportunities
There are numerous opportunities possible for medical doctors with master's degrees. Areas such as epidemiology, health management, administration, research, etc., continue to increase daily. A master's degree in these disciplines can increase a medical doctor's chances of improving his earning potential. There is also the chance of improving job contentment as surveys show that many doctors in such situations say they are "highly satisfied." In addition, the outbreak of diseases such as Covid-19, Ebola virus, HIV/AIDS, etc., and the resulting pandemics have created many openings. Therefore, a medical doctor that wants to take advantage of such openings can do a master's degree in certain fields to improve their chances.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There are several master's degrees available for medical doctors, including health management, epidemiology, research, genetic counselling, etc. Others include clinical trial management, biomedical engineering, and even MBAs.
A master's degree in medicine is typically between 3-4 years, although this is dependent on the country or discipline.
As with other disciplines, medical doctors can earn a doctorate in several fields of medicine. You can either get a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a PhD in other disciplines related to health.
This degree is designed for students who wish to study medicine while gaining financial, managerial and human resources skills. The degree is typically for medical doctors interested in becoming health administrators.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a medical doctor can do a master's degree. It is best to study the available opportunities as they vary from country to country. Also, the demands to study for a master's degree may vary amongst countries and schools. It is reasonable that doctors may get discouraged master's degrees, possibly because of the many exams they already wrote. But, the benefits for medical doctors are immense, and master's degrees can create many great potentials and satisfy personal desires.
Cheers
Dr Mute'