granting out that i'm starting this whole application process, at my last a.i. i asked whether or not they felt research was important, as this hospital emphasizes research during the residency. the answer all around was that while it can't hurt, it is definitely not necessary, especially if you're seriously considering a place you've rotated with. as one resident put it, "if we like you, and you were awesome when you rotated here, you could have a 220 on the boards, no research, maybe an honors clinically, and we'd still take you." perhaps it's all a lie, and in the end everything matters, but for now, it's a bit of a consolation for those of us without much ortho research experience. but since you're starting early, try and do something. just don't do scut work to get your name on a paper, and then look like a bumbling idiot when people ask you your role in the project. (been there, done that, looks bad. don't repeat my mistakes!)
