Research before rotations?

[fatsal]

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I'm about to finish my first year and I'm struggling to find legitimate research opportunities during the summer break. I don't have any clinical research experience and I think that has hurt me. I know that research is practically a requirement if you want to land a cardiology fellowship. I've been told that I could use my elective months during 3rd and 4th year to do cardiology research. How realistic is that? I just find that it's almost impossible to do research during medical school particularly your first 2 years because of demands of classes etc.

 

[HolyMoly]

Yea this is a good question...any takers?

 

[Adcadet]

The research forum has many people discussing just this topic, and many related ones.

In general it's very possible to do research during MS1-2 years. I for one started a research project around January of my MS1 year, putting in time when and where I could. I then used my 3 month summer break to get most of the analysis done, and then finished it up during my MS2 year and a little scattered time of my third year, including sending off abstracts, presenting, and a manuscript. In many ways it's easier to do researh during MS1-2 years than during rotations as your schedule is more controllable. It definitely helped that I had a solid background (epi MPH) in the science and methods that my project required (clinical epi), and that it most of the work could be done at any hour in front of my computer. I more or less hit the ground running with the dataset and only stopped to catch my breath after . . . umm . . . well, I guess I haven't. Many of my buddies on the other hand took the whole summer between MS1-2 off and had much more time for social events during their second year. When they get a few weeks off of rotations they relax, spent time with their family, etc; I do some of that but I scrounge up what I can to move ahead on my research. It's all about priorities.

Since you posted this question in a cardiology forum and brought up the idea of doing cards, I think you should take a look at this thread. I think most people would recommend that you not worry about doing research in cards in particular (unless it's a good fit otherwise); just focus on finding a good project.