Faculty choice for year-long research?

[Iwy Em Hotep]

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So here is my situation. Given how competitive radiology is, I've pretty much decided that I'm going to take a year off to do research in radiology and get some publications/presentations in before I apply. I might match now (233, good letters, blah blah), but I don't want to take my chances.

I have two options for my year of research:

1) Work with my old research mentor on an NIH R01 funded project in neuroradiology. He's an internist, an assistant professor, with an interest in dementia. We got along really well, and he's really supportive in terms of giving me help/funds when I need it, getting me to as many conferences as possible, and pushing me to get publications (likely non-radiology journals) in.

2) Work with a full professor in the radiology department here. I may not be funded, and I obviously don't know them as well. From what I know, most of the projects here are doable within 6 months to 1 year. The projects would still be in neuroimaging.

Regardless of which path I take, I will continue to submit radiology case reports as often as I can, will do rotations with radiology faculty to get clinical letters, and am guaranteed a great letter from my old research advisor.

I guess my question boils down to: Is the weight of radiology research, in a radiology journal, by a senior radiology faculty member sufficiently great over radiology-related research, in a non-radiology journal, by a junior medicine faculty member?

Thanks! 😀

 

[Thaitanium]

So here is my situation. Given how competitive radiology is, I've pretty much decided that I'm going to take a year off to do research in radiology and get some publications/presentations in before I apply. I might match now (233, good letters, blah blah), but I don't want to take my chances.

I have two options for my year of research:

1) Work with my old research mentor on an NIH R01 funded project in neuroradiology. He's an internist, an assistant professor, with an interest in dementia. We got along really well, and he's really supportive in terms of giving me help/funds when I need it, getting me to as many conferences as possible, and pushing me to get publications (likely non-radiology journals) in.

2) Work with a full professor in the radiology department here. I may not be funded, and I obviously don't know them as well. From what I know, most of the projects here are doable within 6 months to 1 year. The projects would still be in neuroimaging.

Regardless of which path I take, I will continue to submit radiology case reports as often as I can, will do rotations with radiology faculty to get clinical letters, and am guaranteed a great letter from my old research advisor.

I guess my question boils down to: Is the weight of radiology research, in a radiology journal, by a senior radiology faculty member sufficiently great over radiology-related research, in a non-radiology journal, by a junior medicine faculty member?

Thanks! 😀

You have a chance to match and you are taking a year off to do research just to make yourself more competitive? How dumb. That's one year of lost salary (at least 200K+) my friend. You could try and match and if you don't match then you would end up doing research anyways.

 

[Iwy Em Hotep]

There are a few reasons why I want to do research anyway - interest in the topic, wanting some time to live my life before residency, couples matching, etc.

I was also told that it was best to put your best foot forward the first time, rather than rolling the dice twice.

 

[bosky]

If you are going to stay out, I would do option number 1. Obviously don't burn bridges and possibly stay peripherally involved with the other person.

FYI: many neurology journals have higher impact factors and faster publication rates than the radiology journals and often publish the more groundbreaking neurorad stuff anyway (partly for that reason!).

Keep in mind if you don't get it on your cv by ERAS in September a year out ain't going to help much.

 

[nutcancer]

if i were this candidate, i would not be taking a year off for any reason. seriously reconsider!!!! its 365 days of putting your life on hold!!!!

 

[hans19]

I would tend to agree with the above posters. I don't think a year of research more than you've already done is necessary to match SOMEWHERE.

Doing a year may give you a CHANCE at some of the Top programs, but its definitely nothing close to a guarantee.

If you feel absolutely compelled to do a year of research, I would go with option 1. Sounds like this PI will go to bat for you and will give you an awesome rec. Who cares if he isn't a radiologist?