MD with distinction in research

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Not really the appropriate forum - this is the forum for residency openings. Moving to the allopathic forum.
 
I'd like you to to meet my oldest son--he's an doctor WITH A DISTINCTION IN RESEARCH!

Now, on the other hand, here's my deadbeat other son, who's nothing more than a regular doctor.

Does thinking about it this way make things any more clear?
 
the research you do will help get residencies but the title itself is useless
 
MD with Distinction in Gunning

^^ is more impressive
 
PediatricsRocks said:
How much does this actually help in getting a residency, as opposed to just doing a regular MD?
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It's more about what you do than anything - if you do your own clinical trial (design the experiment, write the IRB, recruit subjects, do your own analysis), thats a skill set that will help sell you to a residency.

Titles themselves mean nothing.
 
Of course the title means something...just like a PhD means that you put in 4-5 years of laboratory work to receive such an degree, you put in research effort to get a "honors in research" or "distinction in research". lol
 
Siverhideo1985 said:
Of course the title means something...just like a PhD means that you put in 4-5 years of laboratory work to receive such an degree, you put in research effort to get a "honors in research" or "distinction in research". lol
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No, titles don't mean a thing. I've known guys who struggled to publish one paper from their PhD, while others have written five. They have the same degree, but one obviously did a better job than the other.

Honor's in research (and this is coming from a guy getting one) means nothing if the research is of poor quality or shows a poor effort.
 
RxnMan said:
No, titles don't mean a thing. I've known guys who struggled to publish one paper from their PhD, while others have written five. They have the same degree, but one obviously did a better job than the other.

Honor's in research (and this is coming from a guy getting one) means nothing if the research is of poor quality or shows a poor effort.
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Lol...what university let someone graduate with a PhD without or only one publication? I want to see proof 😀

I was just trying to convey the idea that if you have a certain title (whether it be a BS, MS, PhD, honors in badassery [that's the one I am doing right now] or MD) it means that you did a set amount of work and by someone's criteria you earned that title.

Of course there is always variation in quality (i.e. a PhD from Harvard is more impressive most of the time than a PhD from some podunk university) but that doesn't diminish the fact that both get to put the PhD behind their name.
 
...it's weird when medical students think they know what makes a good PhD.

It is not the # of publications and actually, quite a few excellent PhDs will only have 1 publication at graduation.

Often, it's cv-padding premeds & medical students who tend to be impressed by sheer numbers. It's the quality of the science that matters and the impact it will have.
 
BozoSparky said:
...it's weird when medical students think they know what makes a good PhD.

It's not the # of publications and actually, quite a few excellent PhDs will only have 1 publication at graduation.

Often, it's cv-padding premeds & medical students who tend to be impressed by sheer numbers. It's the quality of the science that matters and the impact it will have.
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Lol...yea...because of all the final defenses I've been to in the last years as a research associate people always only had 1 paper published on 4 years of EXCELLENT research.

Come on...
 
Siverhideo1985 said:
Lol...yea...because of all the final defenses I've been to in the last years as a research associate people always only had 1 paper published on 4 years of EXCELLENT research.

Come on...
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i know people with a single, very nice publication based on very cool results and yes, they got the PhD and did very well in academics afterward.

it's not as rare as you are making it seem and nothing much to LOL about..."research associate"
 
BozoSparky said:
i know people with a single, very nice publication based on very cool results and yes, they got the PhD and did very well in academics afterward.

it's not as rare as you are making it seem and nothing much to LOL about..."research associate"
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hope I didn't step on your toes there...seem a little touchy on the subject. All I am saying is that 1 publication in 4-6 years of research as a PhD student/candidate wouldn't fly at any university I've had the pleasure of working or going to school at. But I guess that my experience is anecdotal at best. It seems the phrase upsets you so I'll try a smiley :laugh:
 
Siverhideo1985 said:
hope I didn't step on your toes there...seem a little touchy on the subject. All I am saying is that 1 publication in 4-6 years of research as a PhD student/candidate wouldn't fly at any university I've had the pleasure of working or going to school at. But I guess that my experience is anecdotal at best. It seems the phrase upsets you so I'll try a smiley :laugh:
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ok ok, here i'll start with a smiley, too. 🙂

I am just trying to point out that judging someone by # of publications isn't the best....you need to look at the impact of the work. also, medical school is not like graduate school where for the most part, opportunities to perform are equal. # of publications depend on the project, the field, the advisor, and the student. I do see your point, 1 publication sounds pretty sad. my point: there are other measures of a scientist than #s of publications, especially at the graduate student level. by the way, you didn't step on my toes...i'm doing just fine.
 
BozoSparky said:
ok ok, here i'll start with a smiley, too. 🙂

I am just trying to point out that judging someone by # of publications isn't the best....you need to look at the impact of the work. also, medical school is not like graduate school where for the most part, opportunities to perform are equal. # of publications depend on the project, the field, the advisor, and the student. I do see your point, 1 publication sounds pretty sad. my point: there are other measures of a scientist than #s of publications, especially at the graduate student level. by the way, you didn't step on my toes...i'm doing just fine.
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I agree....good scientists are determined by way more than the mere # of publications.

And I like the smiley...sets a friendly mood for the rest of the post 🙂
 
I guess it must vary by school, but at my program one applies for distinction in research by December of 4th year. This seems pretty late, and I don't think it is rewarded until after Match.
 
Rzarecta said:
I guess it must vary by school, but at my program one applies for distinction in research by December of 4th year. This seems pretty late, and I don't think it is rewarded until after Match.
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Right -- it will not have any bearing on residency because you usually get degrees "with distinction" closer to graduation, which is already after most people have landed their residency. So it has no bearing. It might make your parents proud, but I'm not sure folks at the med school stage are still looking for ways to academically impress their parents, and it pales to becoming an MD itself.
 
Law2Doc said:
Right -- it will not have any bearing on residency because you usually get degrees "with distinction" closer to graduation, which is already after most people have landed their residency. So it has no bearing. It might make your parents proud, but I'm not sure folks at the med school stage are still looking for ways to academically impress their parents, and it pales to becoming an MD itself.
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I think its more for gaining research experience for the folks who want to do basic science research in addition to practicing medicine sometime down the line who dont want the time commitment of a MD/phD.
 
Siverhideo1985 said:
yep...one of the schools I am considering offers a program like this...whether the name helps or not, I think the experience will.
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Right. It's the actual program that matters (since you can list it on your residency app) -- not the title which will be rewarded after the Match.

If nothing else, at least I'd have a source of income (via a guaranteed research spot) next summer before M-2...
 
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