research

[Bostonredsox]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Couple of questions. 1, how difficult is it to do Pulm/CC research during intern and pgy-2 year and 2, will it likely help in getting a fellowship spot. Also, are their any particulalry 'hot' areas of research in the field that I could look into during my pgy-1 and 2 years of residency?

 

[jdh71]

Couple of questions. 1, how difficult is it to do Pulm/CC research during intern and pgy-2 year and 2, will it likely help in getting a fellowship spot. Also, are their any particulalry 'hot' areas of research in the field that I could look into during my pgy-1 and 2 years of residency?

retrospective stuff is pretty easy in the abstract, but doing chart reviews and collecting data in your free time during internship can really be taxing

you'll need to get an IRB approved (which it should easily for retrospective data) and jump through whatever hoops your institution requires before you can extract data from records for use in research

I think all areas are pretty hot 😀 Pick something you like so you'll have an easier time sticking with it.

 

[Bostonredsox]

Do you think research in the first 18 months of residency +/- getting a paper out will significantly impact landing a pulm/cc spot? Or is it more beneficial to just spend time really learning medicine and rock the inservice exams and pulm/cc rotations?

 

[jdh71]

Do you think research in the first 18 months of residency +/- getting a paper out will significantly impact landing a pulm/cc spot? Or is it more beneficial to just spend time really learning medicine and rock the inservice exams and pulm/cc rotations?

Well, being as inservice exams are not part of the fellowship application process, that's not something to worry about too much. I think you do more for your application by simply being an excellent resident first year, because it will be your LORs that really do the most for you. Start looking for mentor(s), get an idea, write your IRB, do whatever training is necessary to look at records first year. First year is also a good year to submit simple poster cases to general IM and pulm/cc meetings. Do the bulk of your research 2nd year, submit abstracts to CHEST or ATS, write your paper ????? Profit!!!

Good LORs and "experience" should be enough on top of a real interest to do pulm/cc that will help you find interviews and ultimately a spot.

 

[Bostonredsox]

Well, being as inservice exams are not part of the fellowship application process, that's not something to worry about too much. I think you do more for your application by simply being an excellent resident first year, because it will be your LORs that really do the most for you. Start looking for mentor(s), get an idea, write your IRB, do whatever training is necessary to look at records first year. First year is also a good year to submit simple poster cases to general IM and pulm/cc meetings. Do the bulk of your research 2nd year, submit abstracts to CHEST or ATS, write your paper ????? Profit!!!

Good LORs and "experience" should be enough on top of a real interest to do pulm/cc that will help you find interviews and ultimately a spot.

awesome thanks jdh

 

[docscience]

Well, being as inservice exams are not part of the fellowship application process, that's not something to worry about too much. I think you do more for your application by simply being an excellent resident first year, because it will be your LORs that really do the most for you. Start looking for mentor(s), get an idea, write your IRB, do whatever training is necessary to look at records first year. First year is also a good year to submit simple poster cases to general IM and pulm/cc meetings. Do the bulk of your research 2nd year, submit abstracts to CHEST or ATS, write your paper ????? Profit!!!

Good LORs and "experience" should be enough on top of a real interest to do pulm/cc that will help you find interviews and ultimately a spot.

JDH71, thanks for your advice once again.
I am going to be going to a mid tier IM program with a decent research background.
I am glad to know that "good LORs and 'experience' should be enough on top of a real interest to do pulm/cc..." but I want to be a little picky. I didn't match where I wanted to geographically for my IM residency. I want to match in a big/cool city for my pulm/cc fellowship...like U Wash (seattle), OHSU (Portland), UCSD, UCSF, U of Colorado, U of Chicago, Duke/UNCish, Boston, Philly, Pitt.

My top three are U Wash, OHSU, and U of Colorado. I know I should be concerned about the training/career goals, but my interest in traveling, hiking, culture, etc. are also important to me I have decided and would like to make it a big priority.
I do understand that these "big name programs" do want a fellow who will produce a lot of research for the institution. But I am willing to crank out some research at a big name place, get good training, and then go to private practice if that is what I am feeling in the end. (Is this type of thinking sound?) I might want to do academics (I like teaching, keeping up to date with conferences, etc) and therefore want to go to a good academic program so I can keep my academic career door open.

What do I need to do to match into one of these programs?
My Step scores are pretty abysmal, so they won't be helping me out. However, I have always shined clinically, have good bedside manner, get along with nurses, try to work hard genuinely and have fun. And am serious about learning as much as I can.

I have made a bit of a timeline, how does it sound:

July 2011 - Start internship**
(1.5 YEARS GAP)
Dec 2012 - Apply for fellowships**
Feb/March/April 2013 - Interview for fellowships
June 2013 - Match Day!
July 2013 to July 2014 - Enjoy the rest of residency, teach new interns!!

**What can I do to make myself competitive between those times for the programs I mentioned above?
- I will be on wards x 7 months, icu x 1 month, ccu x 1 month, pulm x 2 weeks, research elective x 2 weeks, anesthesia x 2 weeks, vacation x 1 month. Obviously excel clinically.
- Start a research project? Move to my residency program a little early and start talking to the pulm/cc department and talk about some projects?
- Is it possible to write some case reports in pulm/cc. I know they encourage people to participate in ACP poster competitions and such. How long does it take to submit an abstract to CHEST?
- You recommend that we start the bulk of our research our second year, but if we start June 2012 with the bulk of our research, then we only have til Dec (6 months) to publish before applying!!?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jdh71]

JDH71, thanks for your advice once again.
I am going to be going to a mid tier IM program with a decent research background.
I am glad to know that "good LORs and 'experience' should be enough on top of a real interest to do pulm/cc..." but I want to be a little picky. I didn't match where I wanted to geographically for my IM residency. I want to match in a big/cool city for my pulm/cc fellowship...like U Wash (seattle), OHSU (Portland), UCSD, UCSF, U of Colorado, U of Chicago, Duke/UNCish, Boston, Philly, Pitt.

My top three are U Wash, OHSU, and U of Colorado. I know I should be concerned about the training/career goals, but my interest in traveling, hiking, culture, etc. are also important to me I have decided and would like to make it a big priority.
I do understand that these "big name programs" do want a fellow who will produce a lot of research for the institution. But I am willing to crank out some research at a big name place, get good training, and then go to private practice if that is what I am feeling in the end. (Is this type of thinking sound?) I might want to do academics (I like teaching, keeping up to date with conferences, etc) and therefore want to go to a good academic program so I can keep my academic career door open.

What do I need to do to match into one of these programs?
My Step scores are pretty abysmal, so they won't be helping me out. However, I have always shined clinically, have good bedside manner, get along with nurses, try to work hard genuinely and have fun. And am serious about learning as much as I can.

I have made a bit of a timeline, how does it sound:

July 2011 - Start internship**
(1.5 YEARS GAP)
Dec 2012 - Apply for fellowships**
Feb/March/April 2013 - Interview for fellowships
June 2013 - Match Day!
July 2013 to July 2014 - Enjoy the rest of residency, teach new interns!!

**What can I do to make myself competitive between those times for the programs I mentioned above?
- I will be on wards x 7 months, icu x 1 month, ccu x 1 month, pulm x 2 weeks, research elective x 2 weeks, anesthesia x 2 weeks, vacation x 1 month. Obviously excel clinically.
- Start a research project? Move to my residency program a little early and start talking to the pulm/cc department and talk about some projects?
- Is it possible to write some case reports in pulm/cc. I know they encourage people to participate in ACP poster competitions and such. How long does it take to submit an abstract to CHEST?
- You recommend that we start the bulk of our research our second year, but if we start June 2012 with the bulk of our research, then we only have til Dec (6 months) to publish before applying!!?

Thanks in advance.

Provided you've got great LORs you have a shot at most places, even Colorado - the #1 program in the country for pulm (if you are productive during residency). It's not to difficult to submit cases for posters at the ACP, SGIM, Chest or ATS. It takes a long time to get something actually published, and there is just probably no practical way to have something into a journal by the time you apply for fellowship in a year and a half. What you'll have is a project decided on, and on your application when it comes to "experience" you'll put your experience working on whatever project you are working on. You'll submit a letter from your mentor for that project who will corroborate your story of the project as well as sing your praises. Submit abstract to ATS or Chest.