Basic Research in EM?

[Hard24Get]

Hi all:

Just wondering how many of you are doing/interested in basic research. I am a MD-PhD student, but I prefer the ED clinically. How common is this (besides ERMudPhud, n=1) and what types of residency programs are best for this? No one in my program appears to have ever gone into ER 🙁

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[BKN]

Hi all:

Just wondering how many of you are doing/interested in basic research. I am a MD-PhD student, but I prefer the ED clinically. How common is this (besides ERMudPhud, n=1) and what types of residency programs are best for this? No one in my program appears to have ever gone into ER 🙁

Thanks in advance for your help!

It's not common. I think of basic science as the hilt of the sword and EM as the tip. They're far apart but very interdependent. Most PhDs are long on patience and make small steps, that's the nature of the field. EPs are usually very short on patience.

That said EM needs all of the basic researchers that it can get.

What's your PhD in? What's your dissertation subject? Give us that and I'll try to help. Suspect the MudPhud will aslo.

 

[RayF]

the EMRA site has a good search database that can be narrowed to all EM programs that are strong in research and have an active fellowship.
But like B' said, it's the type of research u do that matters. whether u're doing bench or clinical..

Ray

 

[Hard24Get]

It's not common. I think of basic science as the hilt of the sword and EM as the tip. They're far apart but very interdependent. Most PhDs are long on patience and make small steps, that's the nature of the field. EPs are usually very short on patience.

That said EM needs all of the basic researchers that it can get.

What's your PhD in? What's your dissertation subject? Give us that and I'll try to help. Suspect the MudPhud will aslo.

I understand what you're saying. Actually, EM does appeal to me in part because I am very impatient (which actually made me a harder and more efficient worker during my PhD). I feel that I could be extremely gratified in EM while I pursue my research.

My PhD is in Immunology and I study the involvement of the oxidant response in inflammation. I feel that as an EP-PhD I could study the molecular basis of any acute process, no?

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[BKN]

I understand what you're saying. Actually, EM does appeal to me in part because I am very impatient (which actually made me a harder and more efficient worker during my PhD). I feel that I could be extremely gratified in EM while I pursue my research.

My PhD is in Immunology and I study the involvement of the oxidant response in inflammation. I feel that as an EP-PhD I could study the molecular basis of any acute process, no?

Thanks so much for your help!

Yup. how far along are you?

Check the SAEM annual meeting issue of Academic EM to get names and institutions.

PM me if you wish.

 

[ERMudPhud]

My PhD is in Immunology and I study the involvement of the oxidant response in inflammation. I feel that as an EP-PhD I could study the molecular basis of any acute process, no?

This town aint big enough for the two of us...

kidding

My PhD officially say Molecular Biology and Cellular Biophysics or some such long winded vague thing but I'm really a research immunologist, B cell tolerance and signal transduction these days. I like the contrast between the pace and mindset of the lab and ER and have a dual enough personality to switch between the two different mindsets. I think there are as more ways to mix EM and basic science than there are MD/PhD's interested in the field. Don't let the fact that no one else in your program has done it dissuade you. I disappointed a ton of people when I matched in EM and was told point blank to my face by more than one that I would never amount to anything in the research/academic field again. In the end they might be right but I've had a great time the last few years and gotten to do exactly what I wanted to do. Its also very clear to me that where I go from here is completely up to me. PM me with any questions and I'll give you my email address

 

[Hard24Get]

Yup. how far along are you?

I am finishing up my dissertation and will start my Surgery/EM block in the fall 😎 .

My PhD officially say Molecular Biology and Cellular Biophysics or some such long winded vague thing but I'm really a research immunologist, B cell tolerance and signal transduction these days. I like the contrast between the pace and mindset of the lab and ER and have a dual enough personality to switch between the two different mindsets. I think there are as more ways to mix EM and basic science than there are MD/PhD's interested in the field. Don't let the fact that no one else in your program has done it dissuade you. I disappointed a ton of people when I matched in EM and was told point blank to my face by more than one that I would never amount to anything in the research/academic field again. In the end they might be right but I've had a great time the last few years and gotten to do exactly what I wanted to do. Its also very clear to me that where I go from here is completely up to me. PM me with any questions and I'll give you my email address.

Thanks, guys. So far I've only experienced the ED as a domestic violence counselor and as a patient, but we are supposed to "have an idea" of what we want to do coming out of the PhD program. I like everything and have thus been all over the place, but my main problem is I get bored easily. The other day my friend asked me what I would do if I was not a MuD-Phud, and the answer was instantly EM because I could have my favorite parts of all the specialties without the boring stuff . Ever since then I have been trying to figure out how to swing it. So you guys rock VERY hard in my book 👍 .

The whole reason I wanted to do MD-PhD was because I want to work on both the present and the future, and EM seems perfect for the pace/mindset duality you speak of, especially with the flexible schedule. So there has got to be more MD-PhDs interested in this that kept writing it off as an impossibility like I did. I will now PM you guys, but I just wanted to say all that for the benefit of the cyber-lurkers 😉.

 

[3rdJob]

DEFINITELY can do basic science research and EM at the same time. I do Biomedical Engineering and EM. Working clinically helps to determine which of the crazy, hair-brained bench ideas (either mine or my toolhead colleagues) are doomed to fail in a clinical environment. Working in a bench environment is just, well, FUN! 🙂 Besides, it is very atypical for both jobs to 😱 at the same time.....

 

[Hard24Get]

Awesome to hear that so many are pulling this off. I really don't see why not - according to legend, EPs are crazy, and so are Mud-PhuDs! What is your work schedule like?

DEFINITELY can do basic science research and EM at the same time. I do Biomedical Engineering and EM. Working clinically helps to determine which of the crazy, hair-brained bench ideas (either mine or my toolhead colleagues) are doomed to fail in a clinical environment. Working in a bench environment is just, well, FUN! 🙂 Besides, it is very atypical for both jobs to 😱 at the same time.....

 

[3rdJob]

Awesome to hear that so many are pulling this off. I really don't see why not - according to legend, EPs are crazy, and so are Mud-PhuDs! What is your work schedule like?

Work schedule is highly variable. I typically work an average of 24 clinical hours/week, but the standard deviation is 50. The rest of the time, I do research; about ~30 hours/week. If a grant is due, the 4-6 weeks prior get cleaned out by trading with my colleagues (who are VERY understanding of this 🙂 ) so I can write.....but the "payback" can be unpleasant...that's where the "SD=50" comes from....... 🙄

 

[MedDeac]

Just my 2 cents but I don't know where you are looking for residencies. I am interested in a academic career involving basic research. I don't have the PhD but I do have a strong background (i'll probably do a mini post-doc/ research fellowship after residency). I was looking to stay in the south but I looked strongly at both Harvard programs in Boston because of there research/teaching commitment. Also, VCU in richmond has a ton of research going on. Vanderbilt has a new research director. My advice is to at least find a program that has a research director (many don't even have one) or other faculty that is interested in basic research and has the facilities to do said research. good luck.