What type of research?

[premd]

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Is it necessary to do research in the particular area that you are planning to specialize in?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Is it necessary to do research in the particular area that you are planning to specialize in?

That depends on factors like what you want to specialize in and what kind of institution you'd like to do your residency at. In general if the residency is competitive (derm, plastics, radiology, etc...) and/or you want to do it at a major academic institution (Hopkins, UCSF, etc...) research is going to be important, though not necessarily required.

 

[Anka]

If you know what you want to specialize in, it's better to do research in that field, primarily because you will start to make connections in that field. For example, if you want to be a plastic surgeon, and you work for one of the faculty in that department, you'll be more of a known quantity to them when it comes time to write your letters and put together their own rank list. You may find when you do your plastics subI that people already have heard of you, because you've been around the department for a while -- so you don't have to stress as much about making a good first impression.

If you don't know what you want to do yet, doing is still useful, as having the experience and possibly a publication is good for your cv.

Best,
Anka

 

[RxnMan]

Why don't you look in the residency and research forums? You'll find more answers, and more specific answers there. If you can't find what you need after looking, then post.

 

[njbmd]

Is it necessary to do research in the particular area that you are planning to specialize in?

It is NOT necessary to do research in a specialty that you want to enter. If you are not interested in doing research, you do not have to participate in research as a medical student.

If you are interested in going into a very competitive specialty like dermatology, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology and your grades/board scores are marginal, producing a good research project can make your residency application more competitive. It will not guarantee that you will get into a competitive residency but you can certainly help your cause.

The best way to insure that you match in the specialty of your choice is to perform well in medical school and on board exams. If you are interested in research, then it can help you too but it is not a substitute for good academics.

 

[dr_ray]

I'm a first year thinking about what to do during the summer. I really do not want to do basic sciences research, but am thinking about doing something useful to help with competitive residencies down the line -- derm, plastics, opthalmology. What do you recommend, NJBMD and others? Thanks

 

[Pinkertinkle]

I'm a first year thinking about what to do during the summer. I really do not want to do basic sciences research, but am thinking about doing something useful to help with competitive residencies down the line -- derm, plastics, opthalmology. What do you recommend, NJBMD and others? Thanks

Best > Basic science project with good chance of publication
Good > Clinical project with good chance of publication
Okay > a case report or two

 

[Wizard of Oz]

Best > Basic science project with good chance of publication
Good > Clinical project with good chance of publication
Okay > a case report or two

Basic science in something like microbiology will not help you if you are doing radiology or surgery.

Listen to njbmd. When you're in your preclinical years, put all of your energy into USMLE preparation. When you think you are ready, then study some more. If you think you have time for research, then you haven't studied enough.

 

[zimmie256]

Best > Basic science project with good chance of publication
Good > Clinical project with good chance of publication
Okay > a case report or two

Why would basic science research be considered more favorably than clinical research? (Assuming both have a chance at being published)

 

[npage148]

clinical research demostrates your ability to do paperwork,crunch numbers, and do statstics. Basic research involves lab procedures and thinking

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Basic science in something like microbiology will not help you if you are doing radiology or surgery.

Listen to njbmd. When you're in your preclinical years, put all of your energy into USMLE preparation. When you think you are ready, then study some more. If you think you have time for research, then you haven't studied enough.

That's tricky. If everyone went with your advice, no med students would do research and thats far from the situation in the competitive residencies like derm and rads. If it comes to it, someone with 240 and a good publication will beat out someone with 260 and no extracurriculars. It's just like applying to med school, once you make the cut off for USMLE score and show you're not an idiot other factors are more important.
And also while a basic science paper in a different field isn't ideal, its far from useless because it demonstrates you have the capacity for thinking scientifically and conducting experiments, qualities especially imporant if you want specialties that like research (rads, derm, etc).

 

[Pinkertinkle]

clinical research demostrates your ability to do paperwork,crunch numbers, and do statstics. Basic research involves lab procedures and thinking

I concur.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

That's tricky. If everyone went with your advice, no med students would do research and thats far from the situation in the competitive residencies like derm and rads. If it comes to it, someone with 240 and a good publication will beat out someone with 260 and no extracurriculars. It's just like applying to med school, once you make the cut off for USMLE score and show you're not an idiot other factors are more important.
And also while a basic science paper in a different field isn't ideal, its far from useless because it demonstrates you have the capacity for thinking scientifically and conducting experiments, qualities especially imporant if you want specialties that like research (rads, derm, etc).

At the interest groups I go to, they tell me it's worthless to do the basic sciences over the summer unless you are assured a publication (rare for 10 weeks of work). If you rotate with some awesome researchers during MS 3 in rads or derm, then they will work you into their clinical papers which are much easier to write for.

Now there is a good reason to do it anyway--$$. At my place, they slide med students $4500 for the summer. That's decent cash for a previously-determined temporary job and often few alternatives. Plus kids simply want to avoid looking like they did nothing.

 

[AmoryBlaine]

Basic science in something like microbiology will not help you if you are doing radiology or surgery.

Listen to njbmd. When you're in your preclinical years, put all of your energy into USMLE preparation. When you think you are ready, then study some more. If you think you have time for research, then you haven't studied enough.

Ha ha. Actually pretty good advice, even if it sounds a bit frightening. You'd much rather be in the position of having great grades and board scores than in the position of trying to convince PDs that your "well-roundedness" makes up for your sub-average Step1.