Research

[stretch210]

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I am about to finish my first year and am considering doing some research. I have been offered a couple things but none are in the field of rehabilitation. When I read about everyone saying that research is key for residency application...are you guys referring specifically to PM&R related research or any type of clinical research? Thanks.

 

[stretch210]

Anyone...? I thought this was the easiest question I've ever asked 🙂

 

[DOctorJay]

If you know for sure you want PM&R then do research specific to the field. If you are thinking PM&R but are still interested in other fields pick a project that may be applicable to multiple fields. Try your best to be first author and if this isn't going to happen find your PM&R faculty and at least write up a case report as first author this summer.

-J

 

[Sohalia]

I am about to finish my first year and am considering doing some research. I have been offered a couple things but none are in the field of rehabilitation. When I read about everyone saying that research is key for residency application...are you guys referring specifically to PM&R related research or any type of clinical research? Thanks.

Just wanted to point out that you don't have to be working with a PM&R dept to do rehab related research. Check out your geriatrics division, orthopedics, neurology, etc. If you will be a main investigator in the research you can include rehab related outcomes (i.e. functional improvement) to the projects you are being offered, as well as making sure to frame the paper in a specific way and to send it to rehab related journals.

 

[eddo]

I don't disagree with the prior suggestions, but have a slightly different take on what you might want to do in addition to research if you are set on PM&R. I think PM&R is a field where personality plays as much a role as how high your board scores/grades are in school. I am mentioning in hindsight (for medstudents skimming this thread) that it is important to do rotations where you are considering residency, even during an internship (during elective time). It gives the program a chance to see who you are in person and vice versa. It can only add to a great record or it can outshine any lackluster performance. This is not to say (what seems obvious) that you will match/interview at that program.

Before you start this research, perhaps consider calling some programs and see if they can offer you any type of observershipafter explaining you are done first year. Maybe not the norm, but it can't hurt to approach it differently.

 

[stretch210]

Thanks everyone so far for the ideas,
Eddo that sounds more up my alley than research, but I'm willing to do anything to strengthen my chances. Does everyone think this is a good idea or even a possibility? If so, what are your suggestions for what I should "ask for" when contacting the programs?

Research isn't necessarily something I want to do, but I do feel it will further enchance my knowledge of the field, but if I'm not doing research in PM&R then that is kinda out the window, so I would only be doing the research (mostly radiology and genetics) for the resume.

I don't disagree with the prior suggestions, but have a slightly different take on what you might want to do in addition to research if you are set on PM&R. I think PM&R is a field where personality plays as much a role as how high your board scores/grades are in school. I am mentioning in hindsight (for medstudents skimming this thread) that it is important to do rotations where you are considering residency, even during an internship (during elective time). It gives the program a chance to see who you are in person and vice versa. It can only add to a great record or it can outshine any lackluster performance. This is not to say (what seems obvious) that you will match/interview at that program.

Before you start this research, perhaps consider calling some programs and see if they can offer you any type of observershipafter explaining you are done first year. Maybe not the norm, but it can't hurt to approach it differently.

 

[PM&R gal]

I didn't have a chance to do an away rotation or even have the insight to contact programs, but I just wanted to add my opinions about research. It definitely does NOT have to be PM&R related. In fact, I did research in dentistry several years ago & had 3 articles published in dental journals (I have several dentists in my family). Every place I interviewed was very impressed by this, and I even think that the fact that I had research in a "unique" area made me stand out as an applicant. So do research in something you enjoy. That's just my opinion. Don't know if anyone else had a similar experience.

Thanks everyone so far for the ideas,
Eddo that sounds more up my alley than research, but I'm willing to do anything to strengthen my chances. Does everyone think this is a good idea or even a possibility? If so, what are your suggestions for what I should "ask for" when contacting the programs?

Research isn't necessarily something I want to do, but I do feel it will further enchance my knowledge of the field, but if I'm not doing research in PM&R then that is kinda out the window, so I would only be doing the research (mostly radiology and genetics) for the resume.

 

[DOctorJay]

Just a follow up to a reason doing research in the field might help. If you're working with a PM&R doc then you'll obviously be spending a lot of time with him/her and therefore be able to get one more excellent LOR (hopefully) out of this.

Now if you're not interested in research, don't do it, you'll be miserable. But an observership and possibly a pub from a case study would be a great way to interact with the field and get your name out there.

best of luck!