there existed in the eighties a certain "Phd to MD" program that
helped science Phds wishing to pursue a career in medicine, to
complete the MD degree in only 2 years instead of the usual 4. It was
offered at the University of Southern Florida @ Miami if I recall
correctly. Are there any similar programs nowadays either here in the
states or even in Canada?

In view of this, the prospects seem dim:

"The PhD-to-MD Program was a special program started by the University
of Miami School of Medicine in 1971. It was an innovative and
extremely selective program in which students holding the PhD degree
could earn the MD degree in just two years.

The program was discontinued in 1987 at the request of the Liaison
Committee for Medical Education. Since this organization accredits all
medical schools in the United States and Canada, there are no other
programs like the PhD-to-MD Program in North America."

University of Miami
http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,2600-1;14179-3,00.html