Research within the Optometry Department

[ahyes]

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Just hoping to get some quick advice.

Second year DO student here that is interested in AOA Ophthalmology programs (among a few specialties). We do not have a true home Ophthalmology department.

In the school's Optometry department there is an MD, PhD Ophthalmologist (foreign MD, PhD in the states) that is conducting relatively interesting research (more refractive) that I have a chance to participate it.

Is it worth participating in this type of research, as it will take up between 15-20 hours a week? If I do decide on Ophthalmology, will it be frowned upon that this was in the Optometry Department?

 

[Shnurek]

I'd do it and if anybody frowns.upon you for doing it, I wouldn't want to be a part of their program anyway.

 

[ahyes]

If I was looking for the opinion of a first year optometry student, I would have posted this in the optometry student forum.

 

[RestoreSight]

Shnurek makes a good point, and your response was over the top.

Research as a medical student in ophthalmology is not so much about the prestige factor as results. If you can publish its a feather in your cap. It's less important what field you choose. Work hard, get a good letter and publish

 

[ahyes]

Thanks for the insight.

 

[JMK2005]

If I was looking for the opinion of a first year optometry student, I would have posted this in the optometry student forum.

hard to trust responses from shnurek since he oftens speaks on issues without any experience or objectivity

i agree though that interesting research is still good regardless of source. your clinical experience should be ophthalmology based however.

 

[MstaKing10]

you also have to work on a good letter of rec that should not come from an optom but rather an ophthalmologist. I got a great one from my research preceptor. Keep that in mind going forward since you mentioned lack of access.

 

[Mirror Form]

Shnurek makes a good point, and your response was over the top.

Not really. With today's climate with confict b/w ophthalmologists and optometrists, it is possible some ophtho dept's may not be impressed by research with optometrists. And when you're trying too get into a competitive specialty, you don't have the luxury of just "not wanting to be part of their program anyway."

 

[RestoreSight]

Not really. With today's climate with confict b/w ophthalmologists and optometrists, it is possible some ophtho dept's may not be impressed by research with optometrists. And when you're trying too get into a competitive specialty, you don't have the luxury of just "not wanting to be part of their program anyway."

Disagree. Quality research stands on it's own independent of the aformentioned conflict. Publishing as a medical student (particularly as first author) in a top eye journal will impress any program director regardless of the initials following the last author's name.

 

[east]

mirror form, you would discount possible quality research due to a political turf war?

 

[Shnurek]

Disagree. Quality research stands on it's own insependent of the aformentioned conflict. Publishing as a medical student (particularly as first author) in a top eye journal will impress any program director regardless of the initials following the last author's name.

Exactly, its more about contributing to the further knowledge of man (humans) rather than worrying about what pathway one took to reach a certain goal or what political contributions ones professional colleagues make. Let's focus on treating patients with newer and superior techniques and less on the changing times of different professions.

 

[Poetic Silence]

In a similar sense, if I, as a pre med with an interest in otorhinolaryngology, have the opportunity to participate in auditory and/or speech and language under the direction of an audiologist and/or speech and language therapist, would that look good on a medical school application?

 

[Mirror Form]

mirror form, you would discount possible quality research due to a political turf war?

Please don't put words into my mouth. Go back and re-read my post.

 

[Mirror Form]

In a similar sense, if I, as a pre med with an interest in otorhinolaryngology, have the opportunity to participate in auditory and/or speech and language under the direction of an audiologist and/or speech and language therapist, would that look good on a medical school application?

That's not even remotely similar. A better analogy would be, if audiologists started lobbying hard to begin doing ear surgery, would it then help or hurt for a medical student to do research with audiologists when applying for an ENT residency.

The fact is that there currently a turf war between optometry and ophthalmology right now. Therefore there is some animosity between the professions.

 

[Mirror Form]

Disagree. Quality research stands on it's own insependent of the aformentioned conflict. Publishing as a medical student (particularly as first author) in a top eye journal will impress any program director regardless of the initials following the last author's name.

Well sure, if you actually got published as a first author in a top eye journal that it would certainly help. That's the exception, not the rule.

 

[Poetic Silence]

That's not even remotely similar. A better analogy would be, if audiologists started lobbying hard to begin doing ear surgery, would it then help or hurt for a medical student to do research with audiologists when applying for an ENT residency.

The fact is that there currently a turf war between optometry and ophthalmology right now. Therefore there is some animosity between the professions.

That wasn't an analogy. That was an actual question. 😀

 

[ophthope]

That wasn't an analogy. That was an actual question. 😀

I think the answer to your question is yes, get involved with audiology or speech therapy if you can't be involved with ENT. It shows interest in the health care profession and will help you get into medical school. Nobody expects you to have done a bunch of research with MDs when you apply to med school so anything that shows dedication will help. If you were trying to get into an ENT residency we'd be having a different conversation as they may be more particular similar to the conversation we're having here about Ophtho research.


Sorry for the hostility you encountered here you just stumbled into a never-ending civil war that will likely be fought for decades to come. I think most of us are just hoping we can get in a fruitful career before the SHTF so we're kind of on edge when it comes to Optometry vs Ophthalmology discussions. I hope that answered your question.

 

[Shnurek]

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupToqz1e2g[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Poetic Silence]

Interesting. I didn't realize there was rivalry between eye doctors. I thought it was typical SDN hyperbole.

 

[Shnurek]

Interesting. I didn't realize there was rivalry between eye doctors. I thought it was typical SDN hyperbole.

There is. Its like when your grandparents told your parents that watching TV is bad or your parents telling you to not use the computer so much. Some people just aren't so accepting of change and they prefer traditional paths in life which I don't think is a completely bad thing. As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." But as we all know the health care system is far from perfect.

 

[ophthope]

Some people just aren't so accepting of change and they prefer traditional paths in life which I don't think is a completely bad thing.

This is a straw manning of the argument that true comprehensive eye care can only be provided with a medical education and residency. Poetic Silence please research this issue and the difference between 'eye care providers' for yourself. If you're going to be a physician as your pre-medical title states then it would be prudent to know the differences between Ophthalmology/Optometry, Anesthesiology/cRNA, Orthopedics/Podiatry, etc. You'll find that healthcare has a lot of 'rivalries.' As you become more educated in medicine you'll be able to more adequately judge the differences, but just learning about the different types of care providers is good to know while shadowing docs and before applying for medical school.

 

[Poetic Silence]

Good advice. I'm familiar with all of these providers. I make sure to ask such questions during observations.

A lot of it seems very political, though. I've had sever foot surgeries. All were done by a hand certified plastic surgeon.

The rivalry I know least about would be ENT and OMFS. Not much info about that on SDN.