Are medical doctors scientists?

I'm going to try to take a slightly different perspective in answering this question. Most have answered it by considering whether there are physicians that also perform research or by analogy to basic versus applied science. read more

Some medical doctors are scientists. The MD is quite a versatile degree. Most go into clinical practice and exclusively see patients. A minority forgo clinical practice altogether and exclusively do basic science research. Some of the most accomplished scientists in the world were trained as MDs. read more

If doctors are not scientists then it seems odd to supply them, as medical journals do, with a steady stream of original scientific studies. Teachers and social workers are not sent original research. read more

Medical scientists usually specialize in an area of research within the broad area of understanding and improving human health. Medical scientists may engage in basic and translational research that seeks to improve the understanding of, or strategies for, improving health. read more