Research and Military Match

[bulldogmed]

Can anyone comment on the impact of research publications on applying to military residencies? Specifically, are they something that PD's even care about, rank highly, rank lowly, etc. Thanks all!

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[Fiddlergirl]

The match involves an algorithm with a point system. Research does get an extra point or two.

 

[Perrotfish]

The match involves an algorithm with a point system. Research does get an extra point or two.

It gets an extra FOUR points. For two published papers in any peer reviewed journal ( or 3 for one publication, or two for multiple poster presentations, or one for a single poster). For comparison the sum total of all of your accomplishments in medical school, meaning all your grades and step scores, is worth a maximum of 3 points (the best possible student gets 5, the worst gets 2). Research is insanely over weighted in the algorithm.

There is also a subjective part of the algorithm decided on by the PD. How much research counts vs step scores for that part of the score is going to depend on who is judging you. However I would guess its somewhat over weighted there, too, just because its kind of rare.

 

[ninjagaiden9876]

It gets an extra FOUR points. For two published papers in any peer reviewed journal ( or 3 for one publication, or two for multiple poster presentations, or one for a single poster). For comparison the sum total of all of your accomplishments in medical school, meaning all your grades and step scores, is worth a maximum of 3 points (the best possible student gets 5, the worst gets 2). Research is insanely over weighted in the algorithm.

There is also a subjective part of the algorithm decided on by the PD. How much research counts vs step scores for that part of the score is going to depend on who is judging you. However I would guess its somewhat over weighted there, too, just because its kind of rare.

I thought it was (Army + Air Force + Navy scores) + Bonus (Research and Prior)

With each Branch Score being

MS1/2-Step 1 Score with max of 2 points
MS3/4-Step 2 Score with max of 3 points
Program Director Impression with max score of 5 points.

 

[bulldogmed]

It gets an extra FOUR points. For two published papers in any peer reviewed journal ( or 3 for one publication, or two for multiple poster presentations, or one for a single poster). For comparison the sum total of all of your accomplishments in medical school, meaning all your grades and step scores, is worth a maximum of 3 points (the best possible student gets 5, the worst gets 2). Research is insanely over weighted in the algorithm.

There is also a subjective part of the algorithm decided on by the PD. How much research counts vs step scores for that part of the score is going to depend on who is judging you. However I would guess its somewhat over weighted there, too, just because its kind of rare.

The reason I ask is that I'm involved in some good research right now, summer before M1. I'm considering trying to work part time during the year in the hopes of getting one if not more publications.

Would research publications and a solid Step 1 score be enough to almost guarantee a civilian family med residency deferment?

 

[saltwire]

If you would like to guarantee a civilian family med residency your best bet is not taking the scholarship

 

[Fiddlergirl]

Agree with saltwire. There is nothing you can do to "guarantee" a civilian deferment.

 

[DrMetal]

I'm considering trying to work part time during the year in the hopes of getting one if not more publications.

I'd advise against this. Med school is hard enough, it's a full time job and then some. Trying to work in a lab part time would be difficult.

What I would advise you do is keep in touch with the lab, so that when they submit (in say 6 months), they remember you, and they remember to throw your name on the pub (btw, it doesn't matter if you're the 4th or 8th author, a pub is a pub . . . of course, it looks more impressive if your name is closer to the left, but that's not expected of you).

Even better, generate some figures and tables now while you have the time, give them to your PI, and encourage him/her to use them when they start writing. But I emphasize again, keep in touch. Otherwise they might forget about you when it comes time to publish.

Another option is working for them during the summer between M1 and M2, if your school allows it.

 

[bulldogmed]

I'd advise against this. Med school is hard enough, it's a full time job and then some. Trying to work in a lab part time would be difficult.

What I would advise you do is keep in touch with the lab, so that when they submit (in say 6 months), they remember you, and they remember to throw your name on the pub (btw, it doesn't matter if you're the 4th or 8th author, a pub is a pub . . . of course, it looks more impressive if your name is closer to the left, but that's not expected of you).

Even better, generate some figures and tables now while you have the time, give them to your PI, and encourage him/her to use them when they start writing. But I emphasize again, keep in touch. Otherwise they might forget about you when it comes time to publish.

Another option is working for them during the summer between M1 and M2, if your school allows it.

Thanks for the advise. I really appreciate it. Fortunately, the lab is in the same building as the med school, so keeping in touch with the PI will be easy. I've also generated a figure or two that is publishable, so that's a plus as well. I thought about working the summer after M1, but I don't know if I'll be able to do it with ODS and other obligations. We'll see though, and again, thanks for your input.

 

[Navy Flight Doc]

it doesn't matter if you're the 4th or 8th author, a pub is a pub . . .

I'm going through military residency application now, and according to the program director, only first authorship counts toward points. Anyone else care to comment?

By the way, for research, the EASIEST thing is to keep asking around for any interesting cases that would be worth writing up. Case reports are only 1 point, but they're pretty quick and easy. A non-teaching hospital/clinic might be the best place to find cases. Also, a review article can be done on your own (with staff review would be best) and gets you 2 points. Lots of work, but that might be doable during school (depending on how much extra time you'll need to put in to study and how much of a life you want to have).

 

[Perrotfish]

I'm going through military residency application now, and according to the program director, only first authorship counts toward points. Anyone else care to comment?

By the way, for research, the EASIEST thing is to keep asking around for any interesting cases that would be worth writing up. Case reports are only 1 point, but they're pretty quick and easy. A non-teaching hospital/clinic might be the best place to find cases. Also, a review article can be done on your own (with staff review would be best) and gets you 2 points. Lots of work, but that might be doable during school (depending on how much extra time you'll need to put in to study and how much of a life you want to have).

The last guidance I read for the GME-2 match in the Navy was:

multiple publications in a peer reviewed journal: 4 points
one publication in a peer reviewed journal: 3 points
Multiple poster presentations or publications in in house journals: 2 points
One poster presentation or publication in an in house journal: 1 point

So two case studies would actually max out the points. It may have changed, though.

 

[Navy Flight Doc]

The last guidance I read for the GME-2 match in the Navy was:

multiple publications in a peer reviewed journal: 4 points
one publication in a peer reviewed journal: 3 points
Multiple poster presentations or publications in in house journals: 2 points
One poster presentation or publication in an in house journal: 1 point

So two case studies would actually max out the points. It may have changed, though.

Perrotfish -- that's very interesting! Where did you read that? I would be very interested to see where that came from! When I applied a couple years ago (life plans changed), they told me that posters weren't worth anything. Very very interesting...

 

[michp89]

Do publications in a peer reviewed journal from Undergrad. count as well, or only those published during medical school?

 

[Gastrapathy]

Do publications in a peer reviewed journal from Undergrad. count as well, or only those published during medical school?

yup. They count.

OP, do not for one nanosecond believe that making yourself more competitive will make them want to defer you.

Think about it, who would you want in your program? Especially FP.

 

[NavyFP]

Would research publications and a solid Step 1 score be enough to almost guarantee a civilian family med residency deferment?

Nothing guarantees a civilian family med deferment. Since 2004, I think we have deferred 3. All have been for member needs vice going to a great program. IMnotsoHO, you would get decidedly better training in service. And unless there are significant changes in graduates desiring FM, we generally only meet quota.

 

[NeuroJ]

Does this point system only count during time as active duty or in reserves? Specifically, would a graduating HPSPer who has a relevant masters and multiple posters and publications BEFORE starting medical school automatically earn those 4 points?

 

[Snowdon48]

Sorry for the necro bump but I have a question about research points. I authored a case report that was recently published in a peer reviewed journal. I have seen that research published in peer reviewed journals yield 2 bonus points for a Med student but I can't tell if case reports count. Can anyone clarify?

I'm AF HPSP.

 

[Red Lobster Actual]

Sorry for the necro bump but I have a question about research points. I authored a case report that was recently published in a peer reviewed journal. I have seen that research published in peer reviewed journals yield 2 bonus points for a Med student but I can't tell if case reports count. Can anyone clarify?

I'm AF HPSP.

Should count. At least according to what the MS4's and recently matched optho residents told me.

 

[pawprint]

I'd be careful about thinking too much into these research points. I've talked to several program directors in the Navy about the point sheet and they basically said if you aren't interested in research then don't waste your time just for the points because it won't make a difference. They said unless you can talk about your research or its evident that you spent a significant amount of time invested in it, its not going to give you as much as doing something you would have actually been interested in doing. Its better than nothing, obviously, which is why the points are there, but if you can't talk about it then you may get your "research points" but the director isn't going to be impressed enough by it to be swayed to give you a spot over someone else who is similar to you but did something interesting enough that they can talk about instead of research.

Research points are there for people interested in actually doing research so they can get credit for spending their time in that area. If you do it as a checkbox item, it won't help you.

As for the point sheet, you aren't ranked from highest amount of points to lowest amount of points. The points are there so that if someone is ranked by a program director really high but has low points, they can get called out for it. So you may get your research points but still get ranked lower than someone who had less points than you.

This isn't my opinion, but the opinion of a Navy peds residency director and a Navy ortho residency director. Just passing it along. It may be different for different residencies, as the ortho director and peds director seemed to waver on the importance of different things but what I wrote above is basically everything they agreed on.

 

[williameb23]

Will I get points for multiple publications in lab research as an undergraduate/graduate student, or do they prefer clinical during medical school? I'd imagine publications just before medical school demonstrates a desire to continue research, but I'm curious since the school I've been accepted to doesn't have great research opportunities available yet.