Asking a fellow for Case Report

[agiraffe999]

Hi everyone,

Due to COVID, Grand Rounds are all virtual this year. There is a fellow who I never met before, but she presented a case and she mentioned that there was only 2 other pieces of literature written about it. Is it rude or unprofessional for me to email her asking to write a case report? I would normally, although I have never met the fellow before so I wasn't sure. Thanks!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Pinocytosis]

I don't think that it is neither rude nor unprofessional. If anything, I feel it shows ambition. In general, med students are mostly the ones who have to initiate research. If you have a personal interest in the field or the topic, I would include that in the email.

 

[BigRedBeta]

It doesn't hurt to ask, but don't be surprised if they say no. The only real risk to you is offering, getting started on it, then dropping the ball and being unreachable and then applying to your home program in the same field (eg fellow is in Endocrine and you apply IM). Even then, fellows usually don't get involved in residency recruitment issues (although individuals who went the categorical residency and stayed on for fellowship - especially if they did a chief year - may be more involved than those who came from another institution). Certainly, there is also the risk that the fellow's faculty mentor may be on the recruitment committee and get wind of the lack of follow through.

Depending on the field, some fellows are very far removed from medical students. As a Peds ICU fellow, we had 2 med students rotate through my entire 3 years. I'm not sure I would have responded to an out of the blue email from a med student I never met. Further, fellows may have pressure on them to get the case report done themselves to add to their CV, which may lead to them saying 'no thanks' to an underling. Given that the fellow already presented Grand Rounds on the case, it's likely they've already done much of the chart review and lit search and all that's really left is to write it up if they so desire.

Again, no reason not to ask, but there may be a number of reasons they say "no", and if they say yes, you need to work diligently on it and get it done in a timely manner.

 

[mvenus929]

Depending on the field, some fellows are very far removed from medical students. As a Peds ICU fellow, we had 2 med students rotate through my entire 3 years. I'm not sure I would have responded to an out of the blue email from a med student I never met. Further, fellows may have pressure on them to get the case report done themselves to add to their CV, which may lead to them saying 'no thanks' to an underling. Given that the fellow already presented Grand Rounds on the case, it's likely they've already done much of the chart review and lit search and all that's really left is to write it up if they so desire.

Again, no reason not to ask, but there may be a number of reasons they say "no", and if they say yes, you need to work diligently on it and get it done in a timely manner.

On the flip side, as a peds endo fellow, I have about 2-3 case reports that I need to write up, but my actual research projects are taking priority right now, so I don't really have the time. If a med student or resident were to ask me to write up a given case, I'd be completely open to discussing the case, them writing the first draft, and helping revise and submit. It'd be a little weird if the student/resident didn't have any contact whatsoever with the patient the case was about, but if they saw the patient in follow-up or whatever and were interested in helping, I'd be game.

Can't hurt to ask. Worse case scenario, they say no. Or they say yes and you flake on them (don't do that).

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

If a med student or resident were to ask me to write up a given case

 

[RJ McReady]

Absolutely ask.
You will never get what you don’t ask for.

 

[Dr G Oogle]

Ask. But make sure the fellow spoke truth, sometimes” only two case reports published” means “only two case reports I happened to look at”. But if truth was spoken that day you can incorporate those other cases and BOOM you’ve got a case series.

 

[mvenus929]

View attachment 319010

Due to the red tape in doing any sort of research at my institution, this offer only applies to those affiliated with my institution 🙂

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Due to the red tape in doing any sort of research at my institution, this offer only applies to those affiliated with my institution 🙂

Lol I have too many projects already. Just couldn’t pass up an opportunity for a funny meme.

 

[agiraffe999]

Lol I have too many projects already. Just couldn’t pass up an opportunity for a funny meme.

How many projects at a type is typical for a med student applying for a competitive field?

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

How many projects at a type is typical for a med student applying for a competitive field?

I dunno. I’m only an MS2. Most of my friends are either doing nothing or are involved in 1-2 projects.

 

[Redpancreas]

Hi everyone,

Due to COVID, Grand Rounds are all virtual this year. There is a fellow who I never met before, but she presented a case and she mentioned that there was only 2 other pieces of literature written about it. Is it rude or unprofessional for me to email her asking to write a case report? I would normally, although I have never met the fellow before so I wasn't sure. Thanks!

Absolutely not. Use this time to churn out a few case reports. Please go to the website of the journal you intend to submit to and follow their format. Residents are in need of free time. Medical students are looking for guidance. Win-win.