Clinical Research Experience

[theA1doctor]

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Hello everyone,

What is clinical research all about, what does an individual do?

I would really like to get some experience under my belt to help my med school app.

Any information would be helpful.

 

[armybound]

It's a pretty broad category that describes pretty much any studies being done centered around patient care. It can be analysis of any number of outcomes or the effects of some kind of intervention.

There is plenty of clinical research going on in Houston. Finding someone willing to let you help out may be difficult, though.

 

[IH8ColdWeath3r]

I agree, It is very difficult and most people who are a part of it are very fortunate. I had a tough time and it never and it didn't end up working out

 

[LizzyM]

Most pre-meds whose applications I see have bench research if they have any research at all (most do). Clinical research is rare and is less often "research" (systematic observations designed to advance generalizable new knowledge) and more often just submitting paperwork and doing scutwork without any intellectual engagement with the subject matter.

 

[peabody2]

Clinical research is rare and is less often "research" (systematic observations designed to advance generalizable new knowledge) and more often just submitting paperwork and doing scutwork without any intellectual engagement with the subject matter.

I fully agree. At some schools, the professor may discourage the student from having a clinical research project as his/her senior research project. The reason is that the professor does not believe that the student can conduct a meaningful clinical research project within a year which may be a small part of a large-scale, multiple-year clinical research project. The professor may not give you a credit for your senior (research) project, or may give you a very bad grade, if you choose a clinical research project as your senior project. At the beginning of the senior year, the professor who is in charge of the mandatory senior project sends out an email in which he warns the rising seniors about this potential dire consequence.