Taking off for research and moonlighting

[AlphaMed]

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I was thinking of taking some time off from residency to do research and possibly earn a PhD. Is it possible to also moonlight while working as a PhD student? This would ideally be between my third and fourth year. Also, if a program is not known to let resident take YEARS off to do research, do you think it would be possible to convince them if you have a history of publishing solid research?

My theory is this, by allowing a resident to do more research they can match at more competitive fellowships. Wouldn't this in its self help the residency program by proving its residents can attain previously unattainable positions (for example a program that has never had a resident match into peds or onc)?

 

[surg]

It is almost always possible to moonlight, but that takes time and energy from your research. The less time you spend on it, on average the less productive you will be, decreasing the number of papers and if you are intent on a PhD, perhaps lengthening your time in the program and thus having you give up years of attending salary (assuming your retirement date is a set age that wouldn't change based on how many years you spend in the lab)

As far as doing lab years at programs that don't typically do that, this is certainly possible, but requires an accomodating PD. The issue is more of a hours issue. You going into the lab creates a hole in the program that must be filled. Also, it creates the need to figure out what rotations get changed when you come back which is in some ways harder to deal with. Bigger programs can more easily accommodate adjustments like this than smaller programs, but again it is up to the PD

 

[thedrjojo]

Furthermore, it depends on what the residency goals are. Academic residencies are totally driven by the prestige of its fellowship matches and go to great lengths for them. Many community residencies want to train community surgeons and don't have an interest in catering for fellowship desires or bending over backwards to make sure you match. So they may not be motivated by that desire, especially given your match into Peds or onc is not a guarantee even with research and a PhD