Are Surgeons the Only Practicing Physicians with Research Opportunities?

[mrchosop]

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I apologize if this is an over-discussed or obvious question, I'm just barely beginning my first year as an undergrad and am still a little clueless on a lot of things. 😕

I'd like to pursue a specialty where I can balance patient care with some research. I know that a lot of surgeons have the opportunity to do research in their field and develop new procedures (look at neurosurgery, for instance) while also performing the surgeries. What I wonder is what other specialties can do this. If I were to decide on Emergency Medicine, as an example, would there be any opportunities for me to advance that field of medicine, or is that reserved for other professionals?

I know I still have quite a ways before I have to decide on a specialty, but I enjoy thinking about it. Also, in my experience, having a good idea of what you're going to do ahead of time (in any respect) usually makes things much easier in the long run.

I think essentially what I'm asking is for someone to clear up the practicing physician's roles and opportunities in research.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Moving to Pre-Allo. Residents and surgeons who wish to answer this query can do so there.

 

[Myuu]

In a word, no.

I'll see if I can't get you a more eloquent answer this evening, as I'm on the wards right now.🙂

 

[flatearth22]

lol no

any specialty can do research

 

[Captain Fantastic]

So, uh, the answer is no. Take any academic medical center and you'll find research happening in every department/division. Peds? Yup. Rheumatology? Yup. Family Medicine? Yup. Cardiology? Of course. Many physicians at medical schools "buy their time" with grant money to do research as a way to reduce the number of hours they have to spend in clinical duties. Trust me, it's not just surgeons.

Take a look at something like the New England Journal of Medicine to see what top-tier medical research looks like.

 

[Prateek]

Not sure what kind of research you're referring to, but the emergency medicine doctors in the hospital I volunteer in have their own clinical research projects

 

[Soulstice]

EM is one of the more complex ones when it comes to research though, I've heard, because there's some more ethical considerations involved. Getting consent from someone in a certain emergency situation, for example, would make EM research harder than other specialties.

Again--not personal experience, but what I've read in books and heard from physicians involved in clinical research.