options for incorporating research into a medical career?

[Asumi]

I'm looking for some advice. I decided to do a year of research mostly from the advice of friends who are already in med school and did research and say it helped them to get in. However, I know that I don't want to work in a lab the rest of my life but I do enjoy the learning process involved in the research process. Also, through my shadowing and clincal experiences, I know I want to be a generalist physician. My question is how do I fuse these two together for my personal statement and during the interview? Do you have to be a specialist to be involved in research or do GP's have research interests while for the most part seeing patients. I guess I'm just a little unclear as to what kinds of careers exist for generalist physicians who enjoy the research process but want to be involved with patients on a daily basis as well. Sorry if this is a dumb question.

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[drewdo]

Buck up stranger - no question is dumb!
As far as your med school apps - take the "well-rounded and experienced approach". Remeber, patient care is all about applying research to improve health- medicine is the ultimate applied science. Stress that you've experienced a large part of medicine, on all or many fronts, and have used those experiences to better understand and focus your committment towards GP. Also stress that your research experience, shadowing experiences and all other co/extra curriculars you may have taken part in highlight your inquisitve nature and have given you a more solid footing on which you've made your decision to be a GP.

I don't know you, but it sounds like the above statements might apply. Good luck.