Research and Shadowing while in Podiatry School?

[MTJ Guy]

---

Members don't see this ad.

So, I was curious as to what people thought about both research and shadowing while in medical school?

As for the research, does anyone have any input as to how important it is to have a publication specifically in school vs. publications in undergraduate? I will have a publication in Nature Cardiology (yay!) from some of the work I did in undergrad, but would that still look good to a residency as opposed to some publication in pod school? How much does residency actually matter to them, or is it more dependent on the actual residency? Do any come to mind that care more vs. those that care less?

As for the "shadowing", I was wondering if this was done while actually in pod school? I have yet to find anything definitive through Google, so I thought I would ask. I wondering because, as a first year, it would be pretty neat to get to experience more of what we will be doing in the future, especially now that things are making more sense from didactic courses (i.e. biomechanics for example). Would this be as beneficial as I imagine it being, or would it be better if I just focused on class work and deal with the rest as it comes in the upcoming years?

Thank you!

 

[dyk343]

First and most grades do matter. They matter the most. Make sure you have a good GPA. Following that is personality. No one wants to work with someone who is raining on the party. Third is extra curriculars. If you can handle them... Do them. Come CASPR you will be thankful you have something on your CV.

But again - keep your gpa manageable. This is more important than the extras IMO.

***I had a significant part in determining who we ranked for residency placement this year.

 

[Pod Zilla]

Shadowing the first year of pod school??? If you have free time during your first year, I would suggest taking a mental break. But if you REALLY want to shadow then do it during your breaks. However, it is not important whatsoever, not even a blip on the radar. As dyk343 said, grades matter the most. Get the best GPA you can and everything will fall together, so long as you have a decent personality and isn't a dick to everyone.

 

[MTJ Guy]

Thank you very much for your replies! I completely understand GPA is the most important thing right now, and that is what I am working on keep up, but I was curious about what the general consensus was about both research and shadowing.

I also appreciate the input on shadowing. I understand it seems kind of moot, but in my mind, I imagined it might be useful for networking and starting to experience patients. I was also thinking it might assist with the more general medicine and pod medicine classes that are coming up, as I would be able to put health issues and treatments directly to a face of a patient. Maybe that is a naive way to look at the situation.

Any other comments or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ManUnderFire]

Thank you very much for your replies! I completely understand GPA is the most important thing right now, and that is what I am working on keep up, but I was curious about what the general consensus was about both research and shadowing.

I also appreciate the input on shadowing. I understand it seems kind of moot, but in my mind, I imagined it might be useful for networking and starting to experience patients. I was also thinking it might assist with the more general medicine and pod medicine classes that are coming up, as I would be able to put health issues and treatments directly to a face of a patient. Maybe that is a naive way to look at the situation.

Any other comments or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Being a first year, I won't dispute what the others have said (particularly since it rings true) but I wanted to add that IF you do find the time to shadow, I would definitely look at it more from a networking aspect than a fusing the theoretical with the practical because as a first year, honestly, we simply don't know enough to catch the subtleties (the useful ones, at least). And very few Pod's will take the time to explain them to you while/after treating a patient and understandably so; they are too busy treating patients. But if you shadow, you might just find one that will. Which brings me back to my first point...shadow to network. I shadowed 3 Pods so far (since September), and the last Pod was the one that took the time to really explain to me what he was doing and why. He even invited me to come back if ever I wished. That is the kind of contact you want to make, and more importantly, keep. So, yes, it's not the most pressing issue you are faced with as a first year, but definitely keep it in mind.

 

[rushrhees]

Second year at Temple chiming in. Yes and Yes. people do research and can shadow. There are certain days where you might only have one class or no class, people have used those to shadow a residency program. Plenty do research including me.

First and formost though attend to your GPA, if you are going to that then get involved in EC's shadowing, research. If you keep on top of things it is not all that hard to pull off

 

[starsofv]

Second year at Temple chiming in. Yes and Yes. people do research and can shadow. There are certain days where you might only have one class or no class, people have used those to shadow a residency program. Plenty do research including me.

First and formost though attend to your GPA, if you are going to that then get involved in EC's shadowing, research. If you keep on top of things it is not all that hard to pull off

Do you get paid for research or is it voluntary hours?

 

[rushrhees]

I personally do not, but there are some options to get paid. If you work in the gait lab during the summer and there are like 1 or 2 work study options to do some work with this one MPH who is a research coordinator for the school

 

[starsofv]

I personally do not, but there are some options to get paid. If you work in the gait lab during the summer and there are like 1 or 2 work study options to do some work with this one MPH who is a research coordinator for the school

Thanks for the info. Since you are at Temple, I might as well ask. Is it true that they are about to change the 1 and 2nd year curriculum?

 

[rushrhees]

I would say it is more of a rearrange timing of the curricula versus more of a change. I can try to find the spread sheet that shows it exactly, but I will summarize. As it is now falls are intense and springs are light. What Dr. Moore is trying to do is balance it out and cut back on the summer break (we are the only Pod school that gets 3 months off, and in retrospec I did not do anything much productive with the time, 1 month would be fine) So things are getting pulled forward. He is also wanting to get more of a block schedule going instead of having 6 active classes going as we did fall of 2nd year.

The main goal of this is is to have less classes 3rd year to allow another externship month, and so we have more clinical courses before starting in clinic.

Let me look around to see if I can find that spread sheet. Overall it is not a drastic change, but I think it is a much better set up. Dr. Moore (the new Acadmic Dean) is on top of things and I think he has a good plan.

 

[starsofv]

Thank you for your reply