Must do research during summer after M1?

[Dragonfly411]

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Dear all,

I have a dilemma regarding what I should/would like to do during my summer after my M1 year. For those of you who are more experienced than I am in this topic, I would greatly appreciate any of your advice.

Originally, I wanted to go to Ecuador for six weeks during the summer with the Aid for Ecuador group at my medical school. We would be volunteering in some of the poorest hospitals in Ecuador and thus would have the opportunity for extensive hands-on experience that I otherwise couldn't have in the U.S. because of liability issues. More importantly, the group and I would fundraise throughout this year, and all of the money would help patients pay for medical supplies that they cannot afford. This trip also appealed to me because I would have a chance to improve my medical Spanish skills. I could bring these skills back to the States and be able to directly communicate with the extensive Spanish-speaking population that we have in our country.

However, I talked to my advisor (who is a physician) about this dilemma, and he strongly recommended that I do research instead. The reason is I expressed interest to him in specializing in oncology in the future (although that decision is by no means definitive, and I am still debating on whether I want to go into family practice instead), and he told me that displaying some interest in scholarly work is very important in gaining admittance into residency in the future. He told me that if I did not want to do research this summer, I could fit it into the M2 academic year, but I refuse to do that since I am already so busy with the full courseload. Thus, either I do research this summer or do something else.

I am not completely opposed to doing research. I successfully completed a senior honors thesis during my undergraduate years. Part of it was a negative experience because I did not like my advisor or my PI (both were so critical and negative.... as I've heard, though, many leaders in labs are). I also found working in a lab to be somewhat isolating. Although I enjoyed working with the people around me, working in a setting where people need help (e.g., in a hospital) is what truly fits me. Overall, however, it was a positive experience because running experiments, exploring a scientific question, and being the one to make the decisions regarding my project were all fascinating for me. I just wouldn't choose to do research this summer if my advisor did not recommend it.

I typically do not like doing things just so I can put them on my resume. If I do something, I choose to do it because either my efforts help someone else, and/or I profit by growing from the experience and developing my character. Going to Ecuador seems to best fit these criteria. However, I am still undecided as to whether Ecuador or research would be better for my future.

Thus, could anyone tell me how heavily a role research plays when you are applying for residency (for a specialty like oncology)? Does anyone know many people who matched into one of their top choice residencies (again for a specialty) without doing research? Is there anyone else who was stuck in the same situation as I am and eventually made a decision that they were happy with?

Thank you in advance for your replies. I really appreciate it.

 

[psychedoc2b]

Dear all,

I have a dilemma regarding what I should/would like to do during my summer after my M1 year. For those of you who are more experienced than I am in this topic, I would greatly appreciate any of your advice.

Originally, I wanted to go to Ecuador for six weeks during the summer with the Aid for Ecuador group at my medical school. We would be volunteering in some of the poorest hospitals in Ecuador and thus would have the opportunity for extensive hands-on experience that I otherwise couldn't have in the U.S. because of liability issues. More importantly, the group and I would fundraise throughout this year, and all of the money would help patients pay for medical supplies that they normally would not be able to afford. This trip also appealed to me because I would have a chance to improve my medical Spanish skills. I could bring these skills back to the States and be able to directly communicate with the extensive Spanish-speaking population that we have in our country.

However, I talked to my advisor (who is a physician) about this dilemma, and he strongly recommended that I do research instead. The reason is I expressed interest to him in specializing in oncology in the future (although that decision is by no means definitive, and I am still debating on whether I want to go into family practice instead), and he told me that displaying some interest in scholarly work is very important in gaining admittance into residency in the future. He told me that if I did not want to do research this summer, I could fit it into the M2 academic year, but I refuse to do that since I am already so busy with the full courseload. Thus, either I do research this summer or do something else.

I am not completely opposed to doing research. I successfully completed a senior honors thesis during my undergraduate years. Part of it was a negative experience because I did not like my advisor or my PI (both were so critical and negative.... as I've heard, though, many leaders in labs are). I also found working in a lab to be somewhat isolating. Although I enjoyed working with the people around me, working in a setting where people need help (e.g., in a hospital) is what truly fits me. Overall, however, it was a positive experience because running experiments, exploring a scientific question, and being the one to make the decisions regarding my project were all fascinating for me. I just wouldn't choose to do research this summer if my advisor did not recommend it.

I typically do not like doing things just so I can put them on my resume. If I do something, I choose to do it because either my efforts help someone else, and/or I profit by growing from the experience and developing my character. Going to Ecuador seems to best fit these criteria. However, I am still undecided as to whether Ecuador or research would be better for my future.

Thus, could anyone tell me how heavily a role research plays when you are applying for residency (for a speciality like oncology)? Does anyone know many people who matched into one of their top choice residencies (again for a specialty) without doing research? Is there anyone else who was stuck in the same situation as I am and eventually made a decision that they were happy with?

Thank you in advance for your replies. I really appreciate it.

If you want to get into a competitive fellowship in oncology, I suggest you to get started in doing research because you will have to do research during your residency to obtain the fellowship.

I don't know that many people in oncology though, I admit, but from the people who I know who have gotten into a oncology fellowship, they all did research.

psychedoc2b

 

[Anka]

You might want to check into how oncology fellowships are given -- if I'm correct, you match out of an internal medicine residency. Most academic internal medicine residencies will give you some opportunity to do research. You may also find time as a fourth year elective. If you really, really, really need to do research (e.g., to match in neurosurgery), you can always do a year out. But you may decide you want to do something else, where research might not be required.

On the other hand, most of the medical students who do research over the summer aren't doing great, world-changing research. They're doing some little project (usually a chart review or something) in a corner somewhere. So, think about what you'd be doing, and make sure it'd be worthwhile. Keep in mind the summer of M1 is not going to make or break your career in anything.

Best of luck making your decision.

Anka

 

[SarahGM]

I agree with Anka. What sorts of breakthrough or huge career-steering research can a first year medical student possibly accomplish in a couple of months?

Do what interests you and makes you happy.

 

[boilerbeast]

why not do research in oncology? St. Jude has an awesome program in Pediatric Oncology Education. They house out-of-towners for free. 🙂


I'm sure there are others. Sometimes I think it's important to network here, even if you are just doing bitchwork and making copies for people that are smarter than you. This summer won't make/break your career, but I think the contacts you make could definitely have some influence later on down the line. I would love to have the ecuador opportunity, too. Tough call.

 

[rainymonday]

DragonFly411,

Sounds like you want someone to talk you out of doing a research and tell you it will be okay to go ahead and go to Ecuador for 6 weeks.

The thing is, there is no secret formula to get into a specific residency. You have to remember that it will be YOU who have to answer why you did the things you did on your cv not your mentor.

Considering that you are not even sure about the oncology vs. FP, how about a compromise? Do the Ecuador for 6 weeks and see if someone in your school can arrange for you to shadow an oncologist during the time when you get back (as I remember my M1 summer break was 12+ weeks). This would allow you to see if this is something you are truely interested in doing and to find a mentor within the field you are interested in. You'll be suprised at how many privates love having medical students around (especially if they are interested and enthusiastic).

Good luck.

oh, and don't ever give up an opportunity to learn Spanish. This will make you more "valuable" during 3rd/4th year rotation and will make your life really easy (okay, tolerable) on OB/Gyn rotation.

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lo siento senora ... yo hablo espanol muy malo.

 

[stella_artois]

I went to ecuador during my first yr summer, and it was awesome. i was lucky and got set up with a research group at my school. is there any way you could stay out there a bit longer and do some research, or better yet, help someone who already has a preexisting project?

in terms of long-term goals, i've been finding that residency interviewers ask questions about the experiences that set you apart on your application. ecuador would be unique and your passion about what you did there would be memorable. if the process to get to onc is through IM, then you should focus on what you want to do (it is your last free summer) and you should be able to finagle time to research during residency to help with the onc position.
not sure about the application steps for onc though, so you should check that out.
hope that helps,
stella

 

[OddNath]

In my opinion..

Go to Ecuador! So many people do research after MS1 just for the resume padding, so I can't imagine that it would set you apart that much, unless you got a publication out of it or something (which is not easy to do in one summer). Not only that, but I've met MS4's who use an elective rotation to do research.

Many students here at UT-H spend the summer doing a preceptorship, and they seem successful enough. If you go on the trip, you'll actually gain skills, perspective, and another language, which seems way more valuable than a summer research project that might not interest you very much.

 

[BooMed]

I would go to Ecuador. I've never talked to anyone who has studied abroad who regretted it.