M.D.

Doctor of Medicine

M.D. or Doctor of Medicine is a postgraduate Medicine course. The course is based on gaining an in-depth knowledge of one's chosen field of specialisation. The duration of the Doctor of Medicine course is 3 years of study including the successful completion of an exam that covers both theoretical and practical elements. The examination for M.D. is held at the end of 3 academic years which includes 6 academic terms. M.D. course is more practical oriented, and research-based, as compared to M.B.B.S. Medical Council of India, is the authority which approves and recognises various Institutes to provide Doctor of Medicine Degree Course. Since the course involves the deeper study of relevant subjects, one needs to be prepared for mind-boggling study. It is amongst the popular courses pursued by medical graduates, primarily because of a high salary package.

Doctor of Medicine Eligibility

• Eligibility for the M.D. course is restricted to those holding the M.B.B.S. degree. The certification must be from a university that is acknowledged by the Medical Council of India.
• Percentage criteria may vary from institute to institute. Training is attained in medical disciplines which are non-surgical in nature such as Internal Medicine, Radiology, and Pathology etc. Rank obtained in an entrance examination forms the basis for admission.
• Some institutions may conduct a personal interview as part of the admission process.

Doctor of Medicine Subjects
Subjects vary according to one's choice of specialisation.

Doctor of Medicine Specialisations

• MD - Cardiology
• MD - Clinical Haematology
• MD - Clinical Pharmacology
• MD - Endocrinology
• MD - Gastroenterology
• MD - Medical Gastroenterology
• MD - Medical Oncology
• MD - Neonatology
• MD - Nephrology
• MD - Neurology
• MD - Neuro-Radiology
• MD - Pulmonary Medicine
• MD - Rheumatology

Structural Outline of MD Course – JIPMER

The course curriculum includes:

• Lectures
• Thesis
• Theory Papers
• Clinical / Practical
• Oral examinations
• Seminars
• Journal Clubs
• Group Discussions
• Participation in laboratory and experimental work
• Research studies in the concerned speciality and exposure to the applied aspects of the subject relevant to clinical specialities

A.  Basic Medical Sciences - M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) for which candidates must possess recognised degree of MBBS (or its equivalent recognised degree)

• Anatomy
• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Pathology
• Pharmacology
• Physiology

B. Clinical Disciplines - M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) for which candidates must possess recognised degree of MBBS (or its equivalent recognised degree)

• Anaesthesiology
• Community Medicine
• Dermatology, Venerology and Leprosy
• General Medicine
• Paediatrics
• Psychiatry
• Radio-diagnosis
• Radiotherapy
• Tuberculosis & Respiratory Medicine or Pulmonary Medicine.

Criteria for Evaluation of M.D. Course

Examinations
The examination for M.D. is held at the end of 3 academic years which includes 6 academic terms. The examinations shall be organised based on ‘Grading’ or ‘Marking system’ to evaluate and to certify candidate’s level of knowledge, skill and competence at the end of the training. Obtaining a minimum of 50% marks in ‘Theory’ as well as ‘Practical’ separately shall be mandatory for passing an examination.

Thesis
Every candidate shall carry out work on an assigned research project under the guidance of a recognised Post Graduate Teacher, the result of which shall be written up and submitted in the form of a Thesis. The thesis shall be submitted at least 6 months before the Theory and Clinical / Practical examination. The thesis shall be examined by a minimum of 3 examiners; one internal and 2 external examiners, who shall not be the examiners for Theory and Clinical Examination. A candidate shall be allowed to appear for the Theory and Practical / Clinical examination only after the acceptance of the Thesis by the examiners.

Theory
(i) There shall be 4 Theory Papers.

• In case of M.D. Course in Basic Medical Sciences, the syllabus will be as per distribution Each paper will have 2 essay type questions (25 x 2 marks) and 5 short answer questions (10 x 5 marks). 
  Model question papers are given for each speciality.
• In the case of M.D. in Clinical disciplines, Paper I shall be Basic Medical Sciences and Paper IV will be Recent Advances in the concerned subjects.
• A paper I of Clinical subjects will have 10 short answer questions (10 x 10 marks).
• Paper II to IV will have 2 essay type questions (25 x 2 marks) and 5 short answer questions (10 x 5 marks) in each paper. Model question papers are given for each speciality.

(ii) Basic Medical Sciences

(iii) The theory examinations shall be held well in advance before the Clinical and Practical examination so that the answer books can be assessed and evaluated before the commencement of the Clinical/Practical and Oral examination.

Clinical/Practical and Oral
(i) Clinical examination for the subjects in Clinical Sciences shall be conducted to test the knowledge and competence of the candidates for undertaking independent work as a specialist/Teacher, for which candidates shall examine a minimum one long case and two short cases.

(ii) Practical examination for the subjects in Basic Medical Sciences shall be conducted to test the knowledge and competence of the candidates for making valid and relevant observations based on the experimental/Laboratory studies and his ability to perform such studies as are relevant to his subject.

(ii) The Oral examination shall be thorough and shall aim at assessing the candidate knowledge and competence about the subject, investigative procedures, therapeutic technique and other aspects of the speciality, which form a part of the examination.

Doctor of Medicine Colleges

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences - AIIMS Delhi, New Delhi
• Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research - PGIMER, Chandigarh
• Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research - JIPMER, Puducherry
• King George's Medical University, Lucknow

Doctor of Medicine Course Suitability

• Students should have excellent communication skills as they must deal with different types of person.
• They should be up to date with the improvements, technological advancements and medical Innovations. 
• They should have patience, good manual dexterity and physical stamina to meet the demands of the profession.

How is Doctor of Medicine Course Beneficial?

• A Medical Doctor degree is a higher postgraduate degree which is representative of one's speciality training. Speciality in one's own field is more beneficial both in terms of money and fame.
• Students who have cleared their MD course can opt for further sub-specialization in their area of interest by opting for courses called D.M. or DNB (Diplomate of National Board), or M.Ch. (Master of Chirurgery/ Surgery) which are of 3 years duration as well.

Doctor of Medicine Employment Areas

• Biomedical Companies
• Health Centres
• Hospitals
• Laboratories
• Medical Colleges
• Medical Foundation/Trust
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Nursing Homes
• Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies
• Polyclinics
• Private Practice
• Research Institutes 

Doctor of Medicine Job Types

• Anaesthetist or Anaesthesiologist
• Bacteriologist
• Cardiologist
• Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
• Chiropodist
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist
• Dermatologist
• E.N.T. Specialist
• Enterologist
• Gastroenterologist
• General Practitioner
• General Surgeon
• Gynaecologist
• Hospital Administrator
• Medical Admitting Officer
• Neurologist
• Nutritionist
• Obstetrician
• Orthopaedist
• Paediatrician
• Pathologist
• Physician
• Physiologist
• Psychiatrist
• Radiologist
• Resident Medical Officer