Do I need a derm research year?

[migi23]

Current M3 at a mid/low tier MD school interested in dermatology.I have 6 peer-reviewed publications (first author), 3 completed projects submitted to JAAD, and 7 ongoing projects which will be submitted in the next 6 months. 5 poster presentations. 4 years of clinical experience as an MA & 3 years working as a med interpreter during college. On the board of the derm interest group at my med school for the past 3 years. Volunteer at a free derm clinic a few times a semester and have been involved in fundraising events for the National Psoriasis Foundation and Melanoma Research Foundation for the past 2 years. My Step 1 is P/F and I passed, have not yet taken Step 2 but assuming I will do well. My school does not do class rank. I am not AOA.

I am not sure if I need a research year...I have publications but I would like to match at a residency program in California or New York. I don't have any ties to these places other than going to university in CA which is not a strong enough tie. Is the research year worth it to help open up more options for residencies since I'm coming from a mid/low tier school?

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[Dral]

If you do well on step 2, then I don't think you need a research year. I would target away rotations in CA and NY to 'break in' to those areas - as in do well and get letters from the attendings who are there so others in those geographic areas can say they know the letter writer when they review your app.

I did residency in NYC and most of the attendings across the programs know each other (and talk). So if you do an audition rotation at Cornell and do a good job, someone at Downstate will likely know the letter writer and might even contact the letter writer or another attending they know to ask about you.