Clinical Research Associate -- A good experience?

[Poetic Silence]

Would working as a paid clinical research associate be a good experience for a pre med? I'd be able to test to become certified upon graduation with my major. Would it be worth pursuing if I'd like to become a physician academic one day?

Just some open ended thoughts. I'm not keeping myself awake at night over it, but any insights or opinions about the role of a clinical research associate would be appreciated.

Gracias.

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[lovesfall]

What do you mean by "clinical research associate"? CRA/Monitor for a pharmaceutical or device company, or a fancy way of saying "research assistant" working at a research performance site? I think the latter is a better experience than the former if you want to actually go into academic medicine, but you would learn things from either.

 

[gmcguitar4]

To me it sounds like CRA/monitor. Some of them get paid a ton. IMO, do it if it pays really well. You don't really get any experience relevant for med school. You could still do some volunteering on the side here and there and maybe get involved in some other stuff. Med schools realize that some of us HAVE to work so it won't hurt you if you decide to do this.

I worked clinical trials from the hospital side and I honestly hated my monitors. They are so damn annoying. You go from site to site and check the study binders to see if everything is in order, you check the online database if there are outstanding queries, you bother the study coordinators at the hospitals to stay on top of there ****. You could be working on a few trials at once and be traveling ALOT. They could do more but this is what I got from the monitor I worked with.

 

[lovesfall]

To me it sounds like CRA/monitor. Some of them get paid a ton. IMO, do it if it pays really well. You don't really get any experience relevant for med school. You could still do some volunteering on the side here and there and maybe get involved in some other stuff. Med schools realize that some of us HAVE to work so it won't hurt you if you decide to do this.

I worked clinical trials from the hospital side and I honestly hated my monitors. They are so damn annoying. You go from site to site and check the study binders to see if everything is in order, you check the online database if there are outstanding queries, you bother the study coordinators at the hospitals to stay on top of there ****. You could be working on a few trials at once and be traveling ALOT. They could do more but this is what I got from the monitor I worked with.

It's just REALLY rare to get a CRA position right out of school (although if you can - more power to you!). They typically require some experience as a CRC and/or past experience monitoring.

Upsides of being a CRA - you do get to see a lot of how hospitals work, depending on what types of protocols you're working with. You'll also probably get intimately familiar with the medical issues related to your trial protocols and have a lot of contact with physicians and study staff. It does usually pay pretty well too.

Downsides of being a CRA - usually lots of travel, very administrative, lots of report writing and following up on data issues, not always a lot of support for educational opportunities, not really any hands-on contact with patients/subjects.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

Sounds cool to me.

 

[lobo.solo]

Are you gonna do that during your gap year? If so, that's sounds pretty cool since you are gonna be interacting with patients.

 

[Poetic Silence]

Are you gonna do that during your gap year? If so, that's sounds pretty cool since you are gonna be interacting with patients.

Yeah. A gap year to work and study for the MCAT seems like a good idea. I'm hoping to do an internship and participate in research under the department of head and neck surgery too.

 

[lobo.solo]

Yeah. A gap year to work and study for the MCAT seems like a good idea. I'm hoping to do an internship and participate in research under the department of head and neck surgery too.

I would say go for it, if your heart is in it. Suerte!

 

[Poetic Silence]

I just thought knowing how to manage a research trial would be a useful skill as an academic physician.

 

[An MD Hopeful]

I just thought knowing how to manage a research trial would be a useful skill as an academic physician.

I've been working part-time as a CRA for several years during college (believe me, it took a lot of persuasion and effort to convince my P.I. to let me do this). Incredibly rewarding experience! It's really a combination of everything that I enjoy: data collection, data analysis, interacting with and listening to patients, presentations, etc. It's a great opportunity. And a chance to get a great LOR as well. Just make sure that the P.I. that you're working for is someone who will actually help you.