Required research years in residency?

[IniestaDeMiVida]

I was browsing neurosurgery residency programs and all of them have 1.5-2 years of mandatory research. I haven't really heard of this before. Is this common? It's also usually structured to separate your first three years from your last two. Wouldn't it be weird to be out of training for two years?

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[BurghStudent]

From what I know, neurosurgery residency used to 5 years (or 6). Most have transitioned to include this extra time for research. Depending on the residency program, this time can be very well protected, i..e MGH or overlap with clinic duties.

 

[mcloaf]

Nsurg is a pretty academic field. Even the gen surg residency at our program has 1-2 research years. I also don't think most places keep you 100% away from clinical responsibilities during this time. I used to work in a lab with a surgery resident doing his research year and he still took call as well as doing clinic and OR time.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Yep this is pretty common in General Surgery as well. My program used lab residents to fill in the call schedule when necessary, but there was no required clinic or OR time.

 

[caffeinemia]

Gen surg programs are trending towards a more flexible system of "5 +/- 1 or 2". I think a lot of very rigorous academic programs are realizing that they are turning away a lot of great potential residents by forcing them to conduct 2 years of research. On the trail, I saw a number of powerhouse academic institutions now give the option but not force it. Some are also calling it "career development" time and allowing people to pursue other things like a critical care fellowship or a graduate degree (ie. MBA, MPH, masters).

 

[DermViser]

Gen surg programs are trending towards a more flexible system of "5 +/- 1 or 2". I think a lot of very rigorous academic programs are realizing that they are turning away a lot of great potential residents by forcing them to conduct 2 years of research. On the trail, I saw a number of powerhouse academic institutions now give the option but not force it. Some are also calling it "career development" time and allowing people to pursue other things like a critical care fellowship or a graduate degree (ie. MBA, MPH, masters).

😆😆😆The should call it - "We'll pull less hard on your balls" years.