MD in USA

While MBBS is an undergraduate degree, Doctor of Medicine or MD is a postgraduate medical degree pursued by candidates with sound knowledge in the field. Applicants have to go to a medical school before they get a chance to study in USA and Canada. According to a study by the American Association of Medical Colleges, there will be a national shortage of 46,000 to 90,000 physicians by 2025 in America. Now more than ever is the need for Doctors of Medicine (MD) is not only in America but all around the world. This blog aims to elucidate what MD in USA has to offer!

Study Level	Postgraduate
Curriculum	Pre-Med+MD+USMLE
Duration	4-6 years
Eligibility after MBBS in India	MCAT
Cost of MD in USA	50,000 USD to 75,000 USD per year [36,56,525 INR-54,84,787 INR]
Top Medical Schools	Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University

What is MD?

A doctor of medicine, or MD, is a postgraduate degree that requires a thorough study of medicine. Medical graduates who complete the two-year programme are prepared to research, prevent, diagnose, and treat adult disorders.

Why Pursue MD in the USA After MBBS?

The United States medical business is expanding as a result of factors including the population’s rapid growth and ageing, the doctor-patient ratio, advancements in medicine and technology, the spread of health insurance coverage, and medical tourism. The major group of workers needed to keep this business going in the USA are medical students seeking post-graduate medical education.

The chance to study medicine in America is a rare and wonderful opportunity. Why don’t you accomplish your goal? The United States of America has extremely sophisticated post-medical education. Additionally, virtually all of the medical schools in the US are affiliated with some of the best universities in the country, which allows them to promote the use of cutting-edge technology and collaborate with renowned institutions across the world.

Eligibility to Study MD in the USA

Obtaining a licence from the relevant state’s medical board is necessary to practise as a doctor of medicine (M.D.). One can apply for residencies and fellowships in a variety of ways after passing the USMLE. But to study for a doctor of science degree in the U.S., one must first meet the following requirements:

• You ought to have finished grades 10 and 12.
• A Bachelor of Science degree in biology, chemistry, or another field closely connected to medicine is required as a “pre-medical course.”
• Test results for the MCAT and NEET vary from 6.5 to 7.0 on the IELTS and 90 to 100 on the TOEFL.

Cost of MD in USA

The average tuition fee for MD in USA ranges somewhere from 50,000 USD to 75,000 USD per year [36,56,525 INR-54,84,787 INR] depending upon the medical school you are studying at. Here are the top medical schools in the USA and their tuition fees for MDs:

Medical School in USA	Tuition Fee	Duration
Harvard University	64,984 USD per year [47,52,312 INR]	5 years
Stanford University	20,731 USD per quarter [15,16,068 INR]	6 years
John Hopkins University	56,500 USD per year [41,31,873 INR]	4 years
University of Pennsylvania	59,910 USD per year [43,81,248 INR]	4 years
New York University	57,476 USD per year [42,03,248 INR]	4 years
Yale University	61,140 USD per year [44,71,198 INR]	4 years

To know about the cost of living in the USA while studying MD, you must check out the Cost of Studying in USA!

How to Study MD in USA?

Let’s study the whole procedure, divided into some pre-described steps to success.

Step 1: Complete Your Undergraduate Degree

The number one prerequisite is a good Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Medical background like Biology, Chemistry or Physical Science as one of the majors.

Step 2: Pass the MCAT Examination

College seniors and pass-outs who are interested in becoming a doctor, that is earning an MD degree are required to pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). After passing the MCAT with a stipulated score, depending upon the university, one can apply to one of them. Students going from India to give the MCAT and then applying to universities are also required to have-

• To clear an English-language proficiency test like IELTS or TOEFL
• Submit an SOP and LORs
• Get a good GRE Score.

Also Read: Top Public Universities in the USA

Step 3: Complete the 4-Year Medical School

The journey doesn’t end when you end your medical college. It starts there. The MD Degree requires 4 years of schooling where the curriculum is divided into semesters and is conducted on a full-time basis.

Step 4: Pass Parts 1 and 2 of USMLE

To practice medicine in the USA, one must take and receive an adequate score on the USMLE. It is a three-part examination, as discussed above.

• Before Entering the Third Year, the medical student must clear the first part of the examination. It covers the basic medical principles which the students learnt in the first two years.
• Before Entering the Fourth Year, the medical student has to clear the second part of the examination. It covers topics of clinical diagnosis and disease development.

Step 5: Finding Residency Along With the Niche

As we said, the medical degree doesn’t end with college. In the final year, medical students have to apply for their residency. Then the application is taken into consideration and the students are assigned to their respective residencies.

What is a Residency? 

A residency is a three- to eleven-year training program where fresh out of medical school students receive specialized training under the shadow of a skilled doctor or experienced physician educators.

Step 6: Pass Part 3 of USMLE and Finish Residency

After finishing the stipulated time of residency (which is normally 3 years), the candidate has to appear for the part 3 Examination of USMLE. It covers clinical management and assesses the doctor’s ability to practice medicine safely and also effectively.

Step 7: Earn Board Certification

Once the whole Medical School and the residency are completed, the candidate has to appear in front of a board regarding the field selected by him/her from 24 specializations. Some of them can be-

• Anaesthesia
• Anatomy
• Geriatric medicine
• General medicine
• Forensic medicine
• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Psychiatry

Step 8: Get a State License

After the training and board certification, one also has to receive a state-signed license to practice medicine. Well, congratulations, you have finished medical school and are now in the market for some good jobs. Let us quickly watch all the job prospects after an MD in the USA.

Alternatives to Pursuing MD in USA After MBBS

Another alternative to going through the long process of USMLE exams and getting a residency is to opt for MPH in the USA. Many MBBS graduates prefer to study for a Masters’s in Public Health in the USA rather than an MD. By pursuing an MPH degree, students get a breathing period as a student visa in the USA for Indian students is mainly for 5 years when opting for a master’s course. By taking admission into MPH in the country, many students use this period to appear for their clinical exams and in the end, you will have two degrees, one clinical after residency, i.e. MD and other non-clinical such as MPH or you can even opt for a diploma in Public Health before beginning your residency for MD in the USA.

For taking this alternative of studying MPH or any other medical postgraduate program before MD in the USA, you can expect the cost of around 50,000 USD [37,44,000 INR approx.] (including 3 months of clinical rotation or clerkship) only if you can successfully ace USMLE-2CK/CS at the end of 3 months of clinical rotation.

Some of the major advantages of taking this route to opt for MD in the USA are:

• You can avail of networking opportunities in the medical arena in the country.
• While studying MPH, you can take a break for one semester at the onset of completing your first year of this program and then during this time, complete your clerkship which is mandatory to get residency for MD in the USA.
• It will allow you to get a 5-year student visa to study in the USA and this will help you take the right passage until you clear the USMLE-3.
• If you come across any issues during the process of getting residency for an MD in the USA, then the public health degree can help you explore career prospects and cover your living costs.

MD in USA Duration

An MBBS programme lasts for four years, whereas an M.D. programme takes an additional three years to complete. The USA M.D. programme is a four-year curriculum, whereas the undergraduate pre-med course lasts four years. Aspirants in the USA advance up the ladder and increase their level of specialisation to become Osteopathic Doctors, often known as DO (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine). Allopathic doctors are those who have earned solely an M.D. degree. A DO will require 200 hours of extra training.

Scholarships for MD Courses in the USA

Scholarship	Offering
BoardVitals Medical School Scholarship	Tuition fees + Living cost
Tylenol Future Care Scholarship	Varies
White Coat Investor Scholarship	Varies
Physicians of Tomorrow Awards	Full funding
Herbert W. Nickens Medical Student Scholarship	Tuition fee wavier
USA Medical and Surgical Scholarship Program	Tuition fees
National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program	Tuition fees + Living cost
National Medical Fellowships’ Scholarships	Varies
James “Rhio” O’Connor Mesothelioma Scholarship Fund	Full funding
Merit-Based School Scholarships	Varies

Job Prospects After MD in the USA

Doctors specialize and treat patients in a variety of areas, such as Radiology, Oncology, Pediatrics, Anaesthesia, Internal Medicine, etc. And regarding these, the career prospects of an MD in the USA revolves around.

Profession	Median Salary
Family Physician	$192,000 (143,77,000 INR approx.)
Anesthesiologist	$248,000 (185,70,000 INR approx.)
Surgeon	$247,000 (184,95,000 INR approx.)
Paediatrician	$183,000 (137,03,000 INR approx.)

Top Medical Universities in USA

It is always a good idea to pursue the course from leading universities as they provide excellent exposure and skill sets to aspirants. Given below is the list of top medical schools for MDs in USA that can scale your career by awarding you the right career:

• Harvard University Medical School
• Johns Hopkins University Medical School
• University of Pennsylvania (Perelman) Medical School
• New York University (Grossman) Medical School
• Mayo Clinic School of Medicine (Alix)
• Columbia University Medical School
• Washington University in St. Louis Medical School

FAQs

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