"Research rotations" in derm?

[Transformers]

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Hey guys, random question...so I'm basically taking a year off to do funded clinical research at my home-institution after 3rd year. It's with a big name guy in melanoma in the heme-onc division and it something that is a continuation of melanoma research I had done prior to med school. Big picture-wise, it's a great story I think for interviews, I get paid, should get a strong letter from a big whig, and I get to stay at my med school with my graduating friends during the year off. I hope it'll help me a ton with my home institution more importantly.

However, networking is so important in derm as I talk to residents who recommend trying to do a year-long clinical research fellowship elsewhere in an actual dermatology department- even if its unpaid. I'm trying to strike a balance here. Fortunately with the melanoma research project, it is clinical and won't encompass an entire 12 months after 3rd year- I'll get some good downtime. With that in mind, in addition to the 2 aways I anticipate on doing anyway, purely from a networking standpoint, are there are any good away "one-month research rotations" to do at programs during the year? Will it look bad if I invest so many months in derm? I honestly don't mind rapid firing program directors/research directors at certain programs with emails inquiring about this but I wanted to gauge your opinion into what might be the most helpful.

Thanks so much.

 

[asmallchild]

Hey guys, random question...so I'm basically taking a year off to do funded clinical research at my home-institution after 3rd year. It's with a big name guy in melanoma in the heme-onc division and it something that is a continuation of melanoma research I had done prior to med school. Big picture-wise, it's a great story I think for interviews, I get paid, should get a strong letter from a big whig, and I get to stay at my med school with my graduating friends during the year off. I hope it'll help me a ton with my home institution more importantly.

However, networking is so important in derm as I talk to residents who recommend trying to do a year-long clinical research fellowship elsewhere in an actual dermatology department- even if its unpaid. I'm trying to strike a balance here. Fortunately with the melanoma research project, it is clinical and won't encompass an entire 12 months after 3rd year- I'll get some good downtime. With that in mind, in addition to the 2 aways I anticipate on doing anyway, purely from a networking standpoint, are there are any good away "one-month research rotations" to do at programs during the year? Will it look bad if I invest so many months in derm? I honestly don't mind rapid firing program directors/research directors at certain programs with emails inquiring about this but I wanted to gauge your opinion into what might be the most helpful.

Thanks so much.

I generally find one month research rotations to be worth very little, there's not much significant research you can do in one month. If your home program offers something like that (as my school did), it's a nice way to get some more derm exposure but I wouldn't invest any significant time in rotations like this. Clinical dermatology rotations will be higher yield.