If you are on the road to becoming a physician, you will want to learn about what types of experiences will be beneficial to you and will make you stand out as a U.S. Medical Residency candidate for medical school and for a residency position. The benefits of research should not be underscored; it can provide personal and professional advantages.
Research is the primary method for the advancement of biomedical knowledge. Research in medicine establishes the guidelines that direct physician decision-making. Research can be done during medical school, during the path to residency, and while in residency. There are different types of research and research placement opportunities, depending on interests and ultimate career path. If you are interested in conducting research, consider the following:
Natural Sciences
The natural sciences generally encompass biology, chemistry, and medical-related fields such as immunology, cancer biology, molecular genetics, and more. Research in these areas often includes “wet-lab” or “bench-work.” These refer to research labs where clinical research, without ever stepping foot into a wet-lab, would expose you to designing models, using biostatistical methods, and/or working with science-related databases to form hypotheses and produce results.
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Physical science research can include physics, biophysics, and engineering. Those interested in math-based research that can give insight into the physical world will enjoy this type of research. Physical science research can help answer health-related questions via mathematics and design-driven solutions.
Social Science and Humanities
This field encompasses psychology, sociology, and economics. The field works to understand social conditions. Considering that access to quality healthcare is inextricably linked to socioeconomic status and demographics in the United States, this field can help answer questions and provide recommendations on how the medical field can reach the most vulnerable groups.
Public or Global Health Research
This type of research encompasses multiple fields, including social science, natural sciences, and health-related engineering, to directly investigate human health. This field examines health systems, practices or policies, and the broader fields of public and/or global health.
Benefits of Research
Knowing what types of research, you are interested in will make this experience a fulfilling one, rather than one that feels like a task. Participating in research projects has a multitude of benefits. These include strengthening your analytical and critical thinking skills, assisting you in better understanding disease, strengthening your writing and communication skills, and teaching you how to read and interpret scientific literature to keep up to date with the latest advancement in the field. Professionally, participating in research can get you published and gives you the opportunities to present your research to the medical community, which looks stellar on your CV.
Obtaining a letter of recommendation from a Primary Investigator also will strengthen your CV and can get you another opportunity for clinical experience. Considering that research is most often conducted in prestigious universities and teaching hospitals, your CV will show you are a strong candidate. The connections one makes during research can also open new doors and provide you with opportunities otherwise missed. Research in a specific field also demonstrates your interest in a specific specialty.
This can assist you in exploring career options.
Research is beneficial to have when applying for residencies as well. In the 2016 NRMP Program Director survey, 44% of program directors across all specialties cited involvement and interest in research as an essential factor when considering candidates into residency programs. Program directors in certain competitive specialties, such as orthopedics, radiology, and ophthalmology, often favor candidates who have conducted research.
Currently, the ACGME requires residents to have exposure to medical research in their residency program. Research helps residents continue on the trajectory to be strong candidates for fellowships as well. During your medical career, research is helpful because the skills you accumulate as a researcher will aid you in your patient care. Using evidence-based information to accurately counsel your patients is the foundation of medicine and an obligation as a physician.
How Residents Medical can help you
Obtaining a research project at a prestigious university and/or teaching hospital can be hard to come by. Residents Medical streamlines this process for you through our Research to Residency Pathway as we have the connections with research programs already established. Residents Medical arranges fellowships for the U.S., foreign, and international medical students and graduates to strengthen your residency chances.
The Research-to-Residency pathway will create a streamlined plan for you to get your foot in the door of prestigious campuses and provide you with access to Primary Investigators. This pathway will increase your proficiency in basic sciences, translational research, and clinical trial research. Our program is not limited to one specialty; Residents Medical provides research opportunities in specialties including Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, General Surgery, OBGYN, Radiology, Orthopedic Surgery, and others, throughout the U.S.
During your time as a researcher with Residents Medical, you will be trained in Human Subjects Research (HSR), Good Clinical Practices (GCP), Information Privacy Security (IPS), Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), Bioethics and Biostatistics, and Statistical Analysis. Our candidates showcase their talents while integrated into a residency program, which can sometimes lead to a residency internship. All our research fellow opportunities are intermingled with residency programs, which increases your chances of matching within a residency program.
Our testimonials from participants who have conducted in our Research-to-Residency pathway demonstrate the benefits of this program. The following is from Dr. V.S., a PGY-1 Categorical Internal Medicine Graduate, from his recent experience in Research-to-Residency:
“I am a Canadian that went to a Caribbean Med School. Through the Research/Pre-Match program, I was able to get really good at research, submitted a publication, presented Abstract(s), and became a stronger residency applicant. I got to know the residents in the program. I interviewed and Pre-Matched and got my contract in November with my visa sponsored for residency.” Our Research-to-Residency programs are only conducted in programs that will add value to your CV. Here at Residents Medical, we believe that integrating into a residency program as a team member, doing projects, and participating in cutting-edge research will display your dedication and candidacy to a research program.
Reach out to our specialists today to learn more about the opportunities we can connect you with.
