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How is it looked at by programs when doing projects in two different fields, specifically in derm/heme onc and ortho? Is this counter productive?
Doing research in two different fields
- Thread starter lonely_cytochrome
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Disclaimer: I am not a competitive field. This is what I have heard on here and with friends applying to competitive ones.
I'd imagine for competitive fields, if you do Ortho (2016-17) and Derm (2017-18) research and there was a time line, it may raise some eyebrows about commitment from a PD reading your application in 18-19 as to what you want. How much of a factor that could be I have no idea as basis for selection is pretty tight lipped. I have (again hearsay) heard Gen Surg PDs can see subspecialty research as a hindrance but I don't think such a thing which be a huge deal and cause you to go unmatched unless you had other issues. On the medicine side, if you were dual applying IM and Derm perhaps some of the top IM programs may wonder, but you would still be able to obtain a really good one with a good application. Doing Heme/Onc research probably would not really concern a Derm PD so long as you had enough Derm research.
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It's in your benefit to narrow down as quickly as feasible for you. I realize that it's hard as a pre-clinical or even clinical student without much exposure to these fields. Obviously one early branch point is medical specialties vs surgical ones. These are very different from each other with respect to lifestyle, training, and culture. It's definitely one of your earlier decisions to be made.
In terms of competitive fields, in-field research > out-of-field research >> no research. So it's not the end of the world if you take a while to narrow down but the longer it takes, the more you're going to be pulled in different directions (doing research in two fields where half of your research will be less relevant come residency application time). Once you narrow down, you can focus all your energies on that one field.
Obviously this isn't to say that you should make the decision before you are ready. Just think about what factors/information you still need to make a decision and actively try to seek out that information, whether it's talking to residents or more shadowing.
In terms of competitive fields, in-field research > out-of-field research >> no research. So it's not the end of the world if you take a while to narrow down but the longer it takes, the more you're going to be pulled in different directions (doing research in two fields where half of your research will be less relevant come residency application time). Once you narrow down, you can focus all your energies on that one field.
Obviously this isn't to say that you should make the decision before you are ready. Just think about what factors/information you still need to make a decision and actively try to seek out that information, whether it's talking to residents or more shadowing.
