Research...How Important for Residency Match and Beyond?

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I will be starting med. school in the fall. I will have the opportunity to do research in Cardiothoracic surgery realm. My question, if I choose to go into general surgery and the cardiothoracic, how helpful will it be to my application process to have done research in these fields?

Thanks

 

[Voxel]

It will be important as it shows your committment and dedication. However, you still have to do the best you can in school and on Step I. Your grades, Step I score, and letters of recommendation are more important than your research to get into a good general surgery residency. From what I hear, currently, there are less applicants than positions for CT fellowship. So I guess you will have to reasonably well to get letters of rec and pass your boards, but the competition for CT spots is not as great as some other fellowships. Also, this may change by the time you are ready to apply for fellowship. So my advice is to kick butt every step of the way. You never know when a specialty/fellowship will go from not to hot.

 

[cardigan]

jason,

if research is something you are actually interested in, you should certainly take the opportunity. if you can do it over the summer, when you don't have to worry about classes, it won't be at the expense of doing well in school.

in terms of actual benefits, you may make connections in the field, you may get your name on publications, and when you interview for residencies, you will likely be asked about your research. of course, as voxel points out, grades and board scores are more important consderations, but research experience may set you apart when all other factors are equal.

hope this is helpful,
-cardigan

 

[Superian]

As an IMG, I got several pre-match offer for internal medicine PGY1. I have to say my research experience help me a lot!

More over, clinical research is a greater asset rather than research in basic science. However people told me that basic science research is more appreciated for fellowship.

 

[fourthyr]

In order to obtain a CT fellowship for the past decade or so, research has been (almost) a requirement during general surgical residency.

It will help your application and show your committment to general surgery and CT, in particular.

And, if you change your mind about going into CT, it will help for general surgery residency. Furthermore, it will help out in whatever you decide to do, even if it's non-surgical.

More often that not, I find that those interested in CT have been interested since medical school or before. They generally are involved in cardiac surgery labs during medical school.

But, take all of this with a grain of salt. Cardiac surgery training is changing and will continue to change over the next decade or so. The plan is to move to a system where being boarded in general surgery is not required. It may turn out to be a integrated plastics style of residency, where you can match right out of medical school (yes, that was tried a few years ago, but didn't quite work out).

 

[fourthyr]

my question to the original poster (Jason?)....

why do want to do cardiac surgery...vs. the other types of surgery?

 

[[email protected]]

Why do I want to do CT? I have been able to watch a cabg and nothing has seemed to me to be more fascinating...ever. I want to do something surgical related, as I want to have the ability to directly "make people well" and save lives. I have never seen neuro surgery done, and ortho just didn't have the same appeal to me. General surgery was great, but it seems that the compensation is just going downhill. MONEY IS NOT a driving factor in chosing CT, but I will not go through the hell of general surgery residency only to start out making 150K a year.

It is really hard to qualify why I want to do CT. I just know that there seems to be an incredible pull after seeing surgery and speaking with a CT surgeon.

Jason

 

[johnM]

I'm full of stupid questions in this forum, but what exactly is surgical research?? When you say that you can do "research in cardiothoracic surgery," whay does that mean? I'm not very familiar with clinical research, are these controlled studies, or are these puplications decriptive?

 

[[email protected]]

Actually, I don't know. I emailed the head of CT surgery and she said that there were many research opportunities. I don't know exactly what they would entail, but I will speak with her in the fall. I was just wondering what the general consensus was for how important research is for the match and for fellowship positions.

Also, I am aware that grades and board scores are important. I will be at the top of my class and will do well on the boards. Those are goals I have already set and will achieve; I was just wondering how important research is in the equation.

Thanks much,
Jason

 

[fourthyr]

If you acheive your first 2 goals (top of class, kick ass board scores), then research is merely icing on the cake, unless you plan on first authoring an article in Science. Then, you would REALLY rule, as a surgeon-to-be, and as a scientist.

 

[navs]

If what will undoubtly occur for multiple reasons the ACS will eventually approve a vote to integrate gen. surg. with a straight path to a fellowship and one that is definetly being banted around seems to be gen. surg. + CT surg.

In which case, it maybe a good idea doing research in this early in med. school.

Just something to keep in mind.

Good luck.

 

[[email protected]]

I really do hope that the general surgery/CT does get integrated by the time I get there. That is another reason I am wondering about research. I figure the integrated programs would be very competitive, hence the advantage of research.

Jason