xeer
Registered User
Posts: 1
(4/27/01 9:25:28 pm)
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research
I am a MS I and I am hoping to do some ortho research. What should I be looking for in a research
program? If I can't do some this summer, how do you find time to do it during MS III/IV? Is any research
better than no research?
OrthoStud
Registered User
Posts: 3
(4/28/01 7:40:47 am)
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Re: research
A lot of people will tell you to go for a project that you can get a publication out of. But this is not always
good advice. It's not very difficult to publish a clinical project in which you spent hours collecting data by
doing chart reviews. Also, publishing a case report is not all that hard if you find a willing attending. You
can always choose this route...and many applicants do.
However, if you're serious about going into academic orthopedics, I would recommend working in a
lab...residency directors know the difference between a legitimate research project and something you
just did to pad your CV and get a publication out of. If you're serious about research and want to
pursue it in the future, I would find an orthopod who's involved in research (preferaably a big name but
this is not critical)...just be honest and tell him that you want to learn how to do research because
you're interested in academic orthopedics....hopefully he'll guide you in the right direction...This is what I
did ...he gave me a great project that has been very difficult and has been ongoing since my first
year....I won't get a publication out of it by the time I apply (I'm a 3rd yr), but I've learned so much from
it. Believe me, I wouldn't trade the experience I've gained for anything.
But only do this if you're really interested in research. Otherwise, go for the quick publication and/or case
report. But keep in mind that residencies know the difference between a legitimate research project and
something you just did to publish a paper over a couple of months. But even that is better than
nothing!
Hope this helps.
crazy joe davola
Registered User
Posts: 30
(4/29/01 2:55:28 pm)
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Re: research
I would echo the posted response. A very big name ortho doc at my institution believes firmly that you
should start from day one early in school and continue the research on a long-term basis. He even goes
so far as to say he is very UNimpressed with the quick case report/chart review, last minute project,
however sincere it is.
But, the latter is what I did, and it simply gave me another subject to talk about, which is key in
interviews.
It seems to me that truly academic programs tend to be turned on by things like taking a year off to to
research, whereas that would be almost a strike against you at a community program that churns out
private practice docs. Obviously there's a lot of gray here, but the point is that the more you are
confident about what you want in a career, the more boldly you can choose one extreme or the other
(year off for research vs. no research at all).
DIGbones
Registered User
Posts: 2
(4/29/01 9:22:24 pm)
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Re: research
Can anyone shine light on doing a month research elective a couple of months before interviews. I know
its not the best thing you want to do but I am in a circumstance where i have no prior research
experience and am unable to getinto a project at school. Only hope of researchi s an elective in 4th yr.
What do u guys think abt that? thanx
OrthoStud
Registered User
Posts: 4
(4/30/01 2:59:08 pm)
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Re: research
That's tough...you may just be better off doing ortho electives during that time...I don't know if
research that late really helps all that much...but of course it gives you something to talk about during
interviews...which is important. The question is whether you'd be sacrificing time that you would
otherwise have spent doing an ortho elective...which is much more important. If you can still do like 3
ortho electives PLUS the research elective (all in time), then I'd say go for it. What do you really have to
lose? It's definitely more likely to help you than some stupid medicine or cardiology elective.
But I think it depends on your board scores and grades...if you're stellar, research becomes very
secondary.
Just my thoughts (MSIII)
