Would You Do This?

[Gifted Hands]

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So I'm really clueless as to what is a good research opportunity and what is not. Any guidance is much appreciated.


I've been involved in an educational childhood obesity program for children at my medical school that I've really enjoyed. I reached out to a professor that does clinical research on obesity here that is apparently a big deal. (He's been on TV and has books and even a Wiki page 😱)

I met with his research coordinator about possibly getting involved and learning more about what they do. They have a few big clinical trials in the works that they may need help with. It's not in a hospital, it's at a comprehensive weight loss center. They will be doing clinical trials on new weight loss drugs. One of the trials sounded short (a few months) the other sounded more long term (over a year).

Does this sound like a good opportunity? Are clinical drug trials good research opps for med students. I don't really care too much about competitive residencies, but if I'm going to do research I want it to be high yield.

 

[mikedc813]

Sounds good to me. Do research that you enjoy!

 

[sunset823]

Research that interests you will automatically make you more productive and therefore be high yield. If your definition of high-yield is publications, then, no, this probably won't end up in a major medical journal. However, if you are really interested in obesity (which is obviously a very hot topic in medicine right now), this will be great to demonstrate your interest in possibly pursuing research in this important area in the future.

As a first year med student, I have never been in a typical basic science 'lab' environment (outside of required courses), but I have done a great deal of research. My passion is health policy/outcomes research, and I have had some great opportunities in this route, which is also a highly regarded research area.

In summary, I say go for it. Yes, an obesity weight loss study will not get you into plastic surgery or neurosurgery, but if you really are interested in obesity, any IM program, including top ones, will be impressed by your commitment to this field.

 

[Gifted Hands]

thanks mikedc & sunset. I don't have much of a background in research so I feel like no matter what it will be a learning opportunity. I'm just weighing it against doing clinical research in the hospital in another field I have interest in (like peds or maternal health). I go to a top research school so I'm surrounded by all these research opportunities.


Does it matter if I'm not sure I'm interested in IM as a specialty?

 

[sunset823]

thanks mikedc & sunset. I don't have much of a background in research so I feel like no matter what it will be a learning opportunity. I'm just weighing it against doing clinical research in the hospital in another field I have interest in (like peds or maternal health). I go to a top research school so I'm surrounded by all these research opportunities.


Does it matter if I'm not sure I'm interested in IM as a specialty?

I think the fields you've indicated you're interested in would appreciate this research. Research is good for any field, but the really competitive surgical and 'lifestyle' fields often want research in their own field, but it doesn't sound like you're gunning for derm or a surgical subspecialty. For example, even rad onc, which is very competitive, will take research in any field, my old boss did a PhD in social policy as well as an MD (from top program) and matched RadOnc. Her only research at that point was policy related.

 

[Gifted Hands]

I think the fields you've indicated you're interested in would appreciate this research. Research is good for any field, but the really competitive surgical and 'lifestyle' fields often want research in their own field, but it doesn't sound like you're gunning for derm or a surgical subspecialty. For example, even rad onc, which is very competitive, will take research in any field, my old boss did a PhD in social policy as well as an MD (from top program) and matched RadOnc. Her only research at that point was policy related.

Yea definitely not interested in derm or any of the lifestyle specialties really. I'm kind of into surgery but not urology or plastics.

Thanks for the advice! Keep it coming