Less Research-Oriented Top Schools

[lilmiffy]

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Everybody talks about which top schools are research focused. Are there any top schools that focus LESS on research and focus more on clinical work and volunteering experience? I don't think I would enjoy doing research primarily. Which schools would be the best in this aspect. After medical school I would like to primarily practice surgery with maybe a little bit of research on the side.

Thanks!

 

[NeuralNetwork]

Everybody talks about which top schools are research focused. Are there any top schools that focus LESS on research and focus more on clinical work and volunteering experience? I don't think I would enjoy doing research primarily. Which schools would be the best in this aspect. After medical school I would like to primarily practice surgery with maybe a little bit of research on the side.

Thanks!

I'm assuming you are referring to the USNWR metric to indicate what a "top school" is, as the term itself is fairly loose when it comes to medical schools. If that's the case, then the schools that are on top are the ones getting the big bucks for research being done there. However, the amount of incoming research grant money doesn't necessitate your involvement in research as a medical student - you don't have to ever do research if it's not your forte. To that end, I would steer away from applying to schools that have research requirements (SDN search for those schools).

Regardless, your question seems a bit contradictory. You want to eventually be in a competitive field (which in itself would warrant pursuing research opportunities for your resume), and you also want to do a bit of research on the side - or do you?

 

[UnclePhil]

Everybody talks about which top schools are research focused. Are there any top schools that focus LESS on research and focus more on clinical work and volunteering experience? I don't think I would enjoy doing research primarily. Which schools would be the best in this aspect. After medical school I would like to primarily practice surgery with maybe a little bit of research on the side.

Thanks!

You do realize that a "top school" is considered a "top school" because of their research? What makes a school a "top school" in your opinion?

Things like quality of clinical training, teaching, etc, emphasis on undergraduate medical education, community involvement, etc. do not contribute to a school's academic reputation or bring in publicity the way that super star faculty members (who are renown for their research, not their roles are medical educators), big breakthroughs or NIH dollars do.

 

[ranson]

When most people here say top schools they are talking about top research schools. If you want schools focused on clinical work, sort USNWR by primary care. BTW, University of Washington in Seattle is a school with emphasis on clinical work.

 

[UnclePhil]

When most people here say top schools they are talking about top research schools. If you want schools focused on clinical work, sort USNWR by primary care. BTW, University of Washington in Seattle is a school with emphasis on clinical work.

Because clinical work = primary care. Imo, the USNWR "primary care rankings" are even more bogus than the research rankings.

Higher % of graduates entering primary care fields =/= better clinical training

 

[lilmiffy]

But I thought primary care rankings would be working in primary care... I still want to work doing surgery or something. Probably not primary care.

Rephrasing the question, I am looking for schools that have the best clinical education with less focus on research. I added the part about doing a little research on the side because it seems like these days you have to do research to get anywhere...

So then maybe not top, but GREAT schools for clinical training.

Also UWashington I heard is great but I'm OOS and I'm not sure I want to be in Washington...

 

[UnclePhil]

But I thought primary care rankings would be working in primary care... I still want to work doing surgery or something. Probably not primary care.

Rephrasing the question, I am looking for schools that have the best clinical education with less focus on research. I added the part about doing a little research on the side because it seems like these days you have to do research to get anywhere...

So then maybe not top, but GREAT schools for clinical training.

Also UWashington I heard is great but I'm OOS and I'm not sure I want to be in Washington...

Again, what makes a school GREAT for clinical training? Every MD school has to meet very strict LCME requirements to maintain accreditation to ensure that their graduates are competent and prepared for licensing exams. This makes medical education very standardized. Long story short? We more or less all learn the same stuff.

There is no way for us to answer your question, you line up 100 of us that go to different schools and we will all tell you that our school provides great clinical training. Your question is more applicable for comparing residency programs than it is for comparing medical schools.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

Oregon Health and Sciences, really big in this. They are also not bad with research.

 

[karkatvantas]

The problem comes down to how you define "great." Ultimately, any school can be great if it helps you become the doctor you want to be. What do you mean when you think "great school?" Name recognition? Prestige? Fame? You can excel in any speciality from pretty much any med school in the country.

If you don't have the MSAR, I'd recommend getting it now. Then use that to knock out all the schools that require you to do research to graduate, and all the schools that don't accept out of state students (unless those schools are in your state). After that, weed out any schools in places you wouldn't want to live. If you're concerned with prestige, you could sort them by when they were founded or something. Then basically just read through the mission statements and look through the websites of the schools that remain.

 

[davidbm95]

You do realize that a "top school" is considered a "top school" because of their research? What makes a school a "top school" in your opinion?

Things like quality of clinical training, teaching, etc, emphasis on undergraduate medical education, community involvement, etc. do not contribute to a school's academic reputation or bring in publicity the way that super star faculty members (who are renown for their research, not their roles are medical educators), big breakthroughs or NIH dollars do.

This is true but I think he means are their schools that have focuses other than research.

You should know that if you go to these top schools use the research opportunities to their advantage.