Rules of the Road: Ch. 19 Summary: “The Clinical Years – Research & Scholarly Projects”

Originally Published: AAEM’s Rules of the Road for Medical Students, First Ed. Chief Editors: A. Antoine Kazzi, MD FAAEM MAAEM; Joel M. Schofer, MD RDMS FAAEM
Chapter Summary by: Faith Quenzer, Vice President, Medical Student Council 

      ●     Should you do research or other forms of scholarly projects in medical school?
             ○       Depends on your interests
             ○       Formal research and publication of a manuscript is highly regarded as the most valuable form of academic involvement and skill
            ○       Research projects can be presented at conferences
    
       Is research for everyone?
       Benefits of participating in research can include:
     ■       Meeting faculty and residents in the ED
     ■       Attend a conference to present a poster
     ■       Publishing potential 
     ■       Demonstrates an interest and commitment to EM 
     ■       Efforts on a research project can also give the  principal investigator the opportunity to write a glowing letter of recommendation

       Are there downsides of doing research in med school?
       It’s time consuming and hard work
       May take a year or longer to complete the work
       Time away from studies
       May have minimal involvement like data gathering or data entry
       May not receive credit during publication
       Poorly designed or executed studies may not get completed or published
       Well-designed and implemented studies may be delayed in publication for years
       Do you need to do research or scholarly project to get into an EM program?
       No, most students getting into an EM residency program have not done research during medical school
       Ongoing research involvement during medical school shows compatibility and potential for continuing interest in academic medicine
       Residency selection committees recognize that significant research or scholarly activity during med school can be associated with an applicant that will go above and beyond the residency’s clinical rotations to learn about EM
       Participation in research in med school suggests a higher level of interest in medical scholarship
       Research may serve as an additional advantage for EM applicants
       Type of research should you do?
       Clinically-oriented research, unless you have a strong basic science background
       Pick a topic that interests you
       Find a research mentor
       What are other scholarly options besides research?
       Collective review papers
       Textbook/monograph chapters
       Curriculum development
       Newsletter articles: write for Modern Resident!!
       It is most important to get a faculty mentor for a research project
       Who can you work with?
       Ask students in classes ahead of you and you can work with other peers to get work published faster
       Collaborate with your peers who are doing research in EM related topics such as: neuro trauma, orthopaedic trauma, general surgery emergencies, ACS, etc.
       Consider reviewing the web page of EM residency affiliated with your med school or another school with an EM training program where you can work
       Work in a closely related field such as trauma surgery
       Travel over the summer to participate in research projects internationally
       How to get started?
       Don’t do this on your own
       Identify an ED faculty member who has already started a project or has an idea that he/she wants to develop
       Get a mentor!
       Are student research and scholarly projects still valuable, if you are not an author?
       Yes, you can still be recognized as a contributor in an acknowledgment note on an article or chapter
       If project is yet to be published, ask for a letter from the Principal Investigator or faculty mentor that outlines your contributions to the project
       Don’t claim authorship when your role was not so
       Where should you present?
       Can present your abstract or poster at any of the national EM organization’s  regional and annual scientific meetings
       Have a faculty mentor guide you in the opportunity and submission process