From the Research Front Lines: What I’m Learning About Doctorates, PhDs, and My Own Path

Over the past several months, I’ve found myself in the middle of something both exciting and unexpectedly introspective.

As a Clinical Research Coordinator II on a Department of Defense (DOD)–funded desensitization trial—spanning BIDMC/Harvard, the University of Utah, and UC Berkeley—I’ve had the opportunity to support complex, multi-site research alongside some of the most respected PIs at institutions in academic whole person medicine.

I’m still in this role, learning every day. But as I work at the intersection of research operations and participant care, a quiet but persistent question keeps surfacing:

Can I keep growing in research with a professional doctorate, or will I need a PhD to grow and thrive in this field?

The Doctorate I Already Hold

I hold a Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition (DCN)—a professional doctorate grounded in applied science, clinical leadership, and evidence translation. It prepared me to critically evaluate research, lead systems-based change, and elevate care through integrative strategies.

So I didn’t walk into this role unprepared. However, being immersed in a federally funded, multi-institutional trial—with its layers of complexity, compliance, and cross-institutional collaboration—has stretched me even further, even as I attend Boston University School of Medicine's Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) Certificate program. It’s highlighted just how important it is to understand the academic research ecosystem—and how professional doctorates fit into it.

It’s also reminded me of my deeper mission: to break glass ceilings in clinical research and nutrition science, especially for those of us whose credentials don’t always follow the “traditional” academic mold at present in the research field.

What I’ve Learned So Far

There’s a lot of confusion—even within academia—about the difference between professional doctorates and PhDs. Here’s how I currently understand it:

Professional Doctorates (like the DCN, DrPH, DNP, DHSc)

Practice- and systems-focused degrees for professionals who aim to:

• Translate research into real-world clinical or public health settings

• Lead programs, policy development, or quality improvement

• Drive innovation at the intersection of care and science

• Apply evidence to systems that need change

  
  

With a professional doctorate, it’s entirely possible to:

• Publish in peer-reviewed journals

• Co-lead or lead applied research studies

• Serve as a co-investigator or sometimes even a PI

• Shape care delivery and implementation science

PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy)

Research-intensive degrees designed for:

• Generating original, hypothesis-driven knowledge

• Advancing academic theory and publication

• Teaching in tenure-track academic roles

• Leading basic science or discovery-based research

Often required for:

• NIH R01 grants

• Faculty roles at R1 universities

• Running research labs or centers

So… Which Path Leads Where?

This experience has opened my eyes to a critical truth: both degrees are powerful—but they serve different purposes. The best path, however, depends on the kind of impact you want to make—and the systems you're aiming to influence or disrupt.

Lately, I’ve been asking myself:

• Is the work I’m doing right now—collaborating across institutions, supporting trial implementation, centering patient needs—already a form of research leadership?

• Would a PhD expand my ability to publish, teach, or lead large-scale studies at the national or global level?

• Is the next step another degree—or could it be a fellowship, certification, or specialized training?

• And another question I’m exploring: Can this kind of leadership, impact, and advancement in research be done at the master's level?

I’ve seen brilliant, master’s-trained professionals lead, publish, and make meaningful contributions to science. However, I’ve also observed how, in certain research ecosystems, formal credentials—particularly PhDs—continue to dictate access to funding, authorship, and long-term leadership roles.

It’s worth unpacking.

The Takeaway (So Far)

Here’s what I’m learning: Degrees matter—but so do purpose, persistence, and positioning.

My doctorate has opened doors. But breaking through to the next level? That might require rethinking the entire framework—not just adding another credential.

For those of us with professional doctorates—or even master’s degrees—who are showing up, publishing, innovating, and leading the real question isn’t “Do we belong in research?” We already do.

The better question is: What do we want to build next—and how do we elevate each other while we do it?

I’ve walked this path and continue to do so. When I began the DCN in 2021, it was exactly what I needed—clinically focused, applied, and transformative. And it served me well. But now, with a growing passion for teaching and research, I find myself standing at a new crossroads, asking: What are the next steps?

If you’ve ever re-evaluated your path, shifted your focus, or tried to bridge clinical work with academic leadership—I’d love to hear your story.

Let’s learn from each other—and continue breaking new ground, together.