Please help- ideas for research

[WingsBelieve84]

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I've done both bench research (working with cells) and animal research (working with rats). I haven't really enjoyed myself at either place- just doesn't to be my thing. What kinds of other research are out there? Is there research where you can somehow work with real patients? Please let me know any ideas or experiences you've had.Thanks!

 

[Jaydiggity21]

I've done both bench research (working with cells) and animal research (working with rats). I haven't really enjoyed myself at either place- just doesn't to be my thing. What kinds of other research are out there? Is there research where you can somehow work with real patients? Please let me know any ideas or experiences you've had.Thanks!

Yeah buddy its called clinical research and, IMO, is very important for the med school application. It allows the ADCOMS to know that you have experienced what life is like in the hospital besides the basic volunteer opportunity. Sometimes it can be quite dull, as in looking up charts for a bunch of numbers or whatever, but the things you learn along the way are great as well as are the experiences. I do research in an ER with Congestive heart failure (CHF) patients, and my responsibilities basically include data collection...however, for about a year I was in the actual level 1 trauma ER and got to witness a whole lot of trauma and doctor-patient intercations. If you can get involved in somethig like this, I would say gor for it cause it can ony be a plus to your app! Hope that helps!

 

[eram]

There's also Public Health based reserach...like population/community based...?

 

[gary5]

Ya, do clinical research. Contact the department at your preferred med school / hospital and ask to meet with department chairs. They'll hook you up with their best research dudes. It may be funded or unfunded, but do it anyway. Remember to ask for a project where you'll be a co-author.

 

[relentless11]

Yeah buddy its called clinical research and, IMO, is very important for the med school application. It allows the ADCOMS to know that you have experienced what life is like in the hospital besides the basic volunteer opportunity.

It is NOT very important for the med school application. Research is good regardless of if its bench related or clinically related. What matters is which one do you like. There are plenty of routes beyond basic volunteering to experiene life at a hospital. Any kind of research, that an applicant has which shows they are dedicated to the program is always a good thing. (e.g.: not a few weeks or a quarter of research and thats it)

In regards to the OP, if you want to work with patients than yes clinical research is the way to go, but it is more important if you LIKE research. Research is NOT neccessary for your application unless you are doing an MSTP. Of course doing research is always looked upon in a good light regardless of which program.

I've been in the clinical research business for 6 years now, and I have found it to be awesome. Bench research is OK too, so a balance of both might be something to consider.