Research and Med

[Haybrant]

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Hi,
Anyone have any thoughts on how doing research can make one a more competent physician. Why do med schools value research during undergrad years and encourage students to research during med school? How will it help to be a better physician? It seems like you get so focused on one pathway that is so specific and may not help when you see patients with so many different problems. Whats the theory here; any thought?

 

[wends]

prolly so we can understand how experiments are carried out...we have to read up on new treatments and drugs etc, so it would be good to know how well the study was conducted....also it is good to be sorta of an expert on one particular subject.....

i havent done research 🙁 , but i can see the benefits of doing some...hopefully i'll get a chance in med school

 

[superdevil]

research teaches you how to ask and answer scientific questions (that includes questions in the clinic, you know). it refines your critical thinking and pushes you to understand compex scientific nuances (well, at least if you take your research seriously--i.e. not just another pre-med idiot trying to get a LOR).

besides, when you become a physician, you have scientific research to thank for 90% of the treatments you employ. med schools like to see that you understand this via FIRST-HAND experience. what about the medications you prescribe? their design came via medicinal chemistry and pharmacologic research. their acitivity in the body was made known during molecular bio/cell bio/biochem studies. the machines you use to diagnose tumors/fractures? biomed engineering research, baby!

med schools just don't want glory-hog *******es who say "ya, ya, that's nice just give me my prescription pad and order an MRI. i don't care how it works, i need to pick up my new Rolls Royce at the dealership. spare me your boring details!"

 

[Haybrant]

bumping; hard to believe nobody else has thoughts on this...

 

[calstudent]

superdevil put it really well, i think

 

[45408]

I thought it was already well-expressed. They want you to have a practical grip on the scientific method, as you'll be applying it indirectly/directly when you're diagnosing a patient. Also, to further advance yourself after med school, you often need to have little pet research projects. The two attendings in the ER were discussing this when I shadowed one of them - one is an assistant prof at MCW (MD, not MD/PhD) and to move up in status/position, they want to see *surprise!* leadership, research, and LORs.

 

[Fusion]

A good physician should not only have good beside manner coupled with a strong interest in the structure and function of the human body, but should also possess a genuine appreciation for the purely scientific aspects of medicine. By spending some time as a research assistant or completing a research thesis, you start to realize how truly amazing science really is. Volunteering in the hospital can be a great experience (especially if you get to interact with patients), but as far as developing your critical thinking skills and scientific thought process, research experience is excellent. Also, reading journals like JAMA or NEJM don't seem so complex after learning about how research is conducted and understanding the methodologies common to nearly all clinical research studies.