I apologize in advance if these questions have been answered elsewhere in other threads but I couldn't find anything from my searches.
1. This is likely a dumb question, but what exactly is academic medicine (as opposed to private practice). I know that working in academic medicine usually (if not always?) involves working at a hospital associated with a university, but is research always part of the gig if one works in academic medicine? Does one teach classes at the affiliated university if they are in academic medicine? Is it more difficult to get into academic medicine vs. Private practice?
2. I have read a lot about how people are not only aiming to match in the specialty they want for residency, but that they also want to match at competitive programs in their specialty of interest. My question is: why is it so important that people match into MGH vs. a less competitive hospital? I don't mean to ask what is the difference between a top program vs. some small community program, but rather what is the difference between a top tier program and a middle tier program assuming both are large teaching institutions. I would imagine that research opportunities and grant money are a big factor, but is there anything else?
1. This is likely a dumb question, but what exactly is academic medicine (as opposed to private practice). I know that working in academic medicine usually (if not always?) involves working at a hospital associated with a university, but is research always part of the gig if one works in academic medicine? Does one teach classes at the affiliated university if they are in academic medicine? Is it more difficult to get into academic medicine vs. Private practice?
2. I have read a lot about how people are not only aiming to match in the specialty they want for residency, but that they also want to match at competitive programs in their specialty of interest. My question is: why is it so important that people match into MGH vs. a less competitive hospital? I don't mean to ask what is the difference between a top program vs. some small community program, but rather what is the difference between a top tier program and a middle tier program assuming both are large teaching institutions. I would imagine that research opportunities and grant money are a big factor, but is there anything else?