What's the Best Kind of Research for Med Students?

[Gifted Hands]

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I'm thinking about getting involved in a research project that I can get involved with as an MS1 and possible continue with throughout MS2 (excluding this summer), but I'm not sure what kind of research is the best suited for medical students. I've been told that getting published is the most important thing, but does anyone know what kinds of research are most beneficial for medical students and have the best chances of being both interesting and likely to get published/ presenting at conferences (basic science, clinical, public health, etc)?

I have an interest in public health and health disparities, but I'm not sure if this kind of research is most beneficial for medical students. I've heard clinical research is the best option, maybe public health oriented clinical research? Thanks for any advice I'm kind of lost.

 

[loveoforganic]

Obviously I'm not speaking out of experience due to where I am in school, but I would think chart review due to flexibility.

 

[deuce924]

I would go with clinical research. You can maybe do a case report of some kind or some retrospective study. Good luck...

 

[mordounhas]

I did research looking at the results of a cohort study with public data (the lab I worked with had done several other projects using that data set). It was pretty flexible- however, if you're looking to get published, there's always going to be a lot of work involved and you might have to look around to find a group that doesn't want you to do research during the summer between M1 and M2. Hope you can find a suitable project.

 

[Gifted Hands]

since I'm going abroad this summer, is it better to find a project to jump on now that I can continue with when I come back or jump on something 2nd year?

 

[TexasPhysician]

Case report is my vote. Gets you published and doesn't require tight time constraints.

 

[RxnMan]

I'm thinking about getting involved in a research project that I can get involved with as an MS1 and possible continue with throughout MS2 (excluding this summer), but I'm not sure what kind of research is the best suited for medical students. I've been told that getting published is the most important thing, but does anyone know what kinds of research are most beneficial for medical students and have the best chances of being both interesting and likely to get published/ presenting at conferences (basic science, clinical, public health, etc)?

I have an interest in public health and health disparities, but I'm not sure if this kind of research is most beneficial for medical students. I've heard clinical research is the best option, maybe public health oriented clinical research? Thanks for any advice I'm kind of lost.

No research is best suited to medical students, because all students are different and have different goals. Health disparities work is fine - a classmate of mine has spent the last year working on that issue. Take a look at the Research FAQ (link in my sig). It should help you start to get some ideas.

 

[Rollo]

Case report is my vote. Gets you published and doesn't require tight time constraints.

Could you (or anyone) elaborate on how somebody can go about doing a case report and getting published?

 

[deuce924]

Could you (or anyone) elaborate on how somebody can go about doing a case report and getting published?

Make contact with a physician working in your interested specialty. Explain you are interested and doing some research but have a limited amount of time available due your school work. Case Reports only come along if they have had an interesting case recently; otherwise, they may suggest other options. As for getting it published, there is no guarantee that writing up a case report will get you in a journal.

 

[FatKid]

The best kind of research is the one that gets you into the residency you are going for.

 

[braveone]

Question: is there a point in doing research if the only kind of research i am interested in is purely basic science. I.e. biochem or physiology or pharmacology. The important thing to me is that experiments be done on rats or even yeast. Would it be a waste if I can't commit many hours?

 

[TexasPhysician]

Question: is there a point in doing research if the only kind of research i am interested in is purely basic science. I.e. biochem or physiology or pharmacology. The important thing to me is that experiments be done on rats or even yeast. Would it be a waste if I can't commit many hours?

By all means go for it if that is your life goal. I don't suggest it to the average med student because basic science research takes lots of time and is more difficult to publish. If you actually get something significant published in the basic sciences and are the 1st author, it will go MUCH farther than a case report would for you.

 

[Rollo]

Make contact with a physician working in your interested specialty. Explain you are interested and doing some research but have a limited amount of time available due your school work. Case Reports only come along if they have had an interesting case recently; otherwise, they may suggest other options. As for getting it published, there is no guarantee that writing up a case report will get you in a journal.

Hmm. I'm am M1 and like most M1's, I have no idea what specialty I want to pursue. I have few specialties that I am somewhat interested in though. Guess I should start from there, huh?

I think doing a case report sounds very cool though if I don't get published, I can still mention it during residency applications, right?

If you don't mind me asking, have you ever wrote one? Has anybody here done something like this?

 

[TexasPhysician]

Hmm. I'm am M1 and like most M1's, I have no idea what specialty I want to pursue. I have few specialties that I am somewhat interested in though. Guess I should start from there, huh?

I think doing a case report sounds very cool though if I don't get published, I can still mention it during residency applications, right?

If you don't mind me asking, have you ever wrote one? Has anybody here done something like this?

I would choose the most competitive field you are considering and do research there. If you choose a different field, research still looks good.

You can mention all research on your application. You may be asked why you didn't publish your research though - just have an answer ready...whatever it is.

I have written my own case reports.

 

[deuce924]

Hmm. I'm am M1 and like most M1's, I have no idea what specialty I want to pursue. I have few specialties that I am somewhat interested in though. Guess I should start from there, huh?

I think doing a case report sounds very cool though if I don't get published, I can still mention it during residency applications, right?

If you don't mind me asking, have you ever wrote one? Has anybody here done something like this?

Yea I agree with what TexasPhysician posted. Any research can be mentioned on your application and although research in the field in which you are applying may be best, research outside that field can't hurt.

 

[umean2tellme]

I opted for clinical research because it's easier for me. I have never been great in a laboratory setting so trying to learn all the stuff necessary to doing lab techniques would be too much. Plus with clinical stuff you can do things you're learning like assessments so it's not bad.

 

[Dr Lyss]

at what point in your four years do most people do research?

 

[del taco]

at what point in your four years do most people do research?

Most ppl take a yr off between 2nd and 3rd years if they want their research to look substantial. Otherwise summer between 1st and 2nd yr seems to suffice for most ppl. I've heard of ppl also doing some in 4th year. Depending on how your school counts electives and vacation.

 

[RxnMan]

Most ppl take a yr off between 2nd and 3rd years if they want their research to look substantial. Otherwise summer between 1st and 2nd yr seems to suffice for most ppl. I've heard of ppl also doing some in 4th year. Depending on how your school counts electives and vacation.

Actually, you can pretty much take off time at any point along the med school path. Dr Lyss, take a look at the research FAQ (link in my sig) for more info on year-out programs for medical students.

 

[RxnMan]

Hmm. I'm am M1 and like most M1's, I have no idea what specialty I want to pursue. I have few specialties that I am somewhat interested in though. Guess I should start from there, huh?...

That's one place to start. you could look at diseases that affect systems - DM, HTN, etc - general projects that can easily be spun to support your application to any residency. Another is to talk to profs that you know from lectures - the one's who seemed to care about student education. You can look for projects to line up with a target future specialty (it looks nice when thing's line up), but that effect is less than if you had a productive, educational time that will net you LORs, publications, and connections. This last is, I believe, the best way. As a beginner, it's more important to choose a mentor - one who will educate you - than to stress out about getting a neat project.

 

[robrobbberts]

Actually, you can pretty much take off time at any point along the med school path. Dr Lyss, take a look at the research FAQ (link in my sig) for more info on year-out programs for medical students.

I don't see it. 🙁

 

[RxnMan]

I don't see it. 🙁

SDN limits signatures to the first post you write on any given page. Just look up the page to my first post.

 

[OpalOnyx]

Most ppl take a yr off between 2nd and 3rd years if they want their research to look substantial. Otherwise summer between 1st and 2nd yr seems to suffice for most ppl. I've heard of ppl also doing some in 4th year. Depending on how your school counts electives and vacation.

If taking a year off, I would prefer to do it after 3rd year b/c I've heard that a research gap between 2nd and 3rd can cause some forgetting of info for clinical rotations.

Also, clinical research opps are more abundant after 3rd year.

 

[robrobbberts]

SDN limits signatures to the first post you write on any given page. Just look up the page to my first post.

Don't mind me. Lack of sleep.

Thanks! 🙂