How do you become a neurophysiologist?

Question

or a:

Gastrointestinal physiologist

Answer 1

A neurophysiologist and a gastrophysiologist are physiologists first with advanced degrees in physiology such as a masters (M.S.) or doctorate (Ph.D). They are scientists, not physicians (M.D.). Their field is larger than merely the human species, and it focuses on how the bodies of organisms function, with emphasis on normal function. Within the field of physiology, they may specialize in branches such as neurophysiology and gastrophysiology.

They do not need to go to medical school. Their studies are graduate programs offered instead through university physiology departments, which may be grouped with anatomy (i.e., department of anatomy and physiology), usually a division of the university’s college of life sciences.

Their work is principally research with a university or with a corporation that hires such people – say a pet food manufacturer or a vitamin company.

Some physiologists are also physicians. They must complete both programs to be M.D., Ph.Ds. For their M.D.s, like your family doctor, they must go to medical schools, earn M.D.s, and, while there, limit their studies only the human species, with emphasis not on normal function, but on both abnormal function and structure (pathophysiology and pathology). Here, the emphasis is not on normal function, but on preventing, diagnosing, curing, and mitigating (making minimal in impact) disease.

An alternative pathway would be for a Ph.D. physiologist to earn a D.V.M. from a veterinary school if his or her interest was not human disease.

Answer 2

Some schools are offering a combined MD/PhD program. Still, be prepared for a lot of postgraduate training. You really need to talk to persons in the field to advise you further.