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Sign up to our newsletter, research for medical school admissions: what do you need to know.

do you need research for medical school

Reviewed by:

Rohan Jotwani

Former Chief Resident in Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, & Admissions Officer, Columbia University

Reviewed: 5/30/22

There are several ways in which you can make your application for medical school more attractive to the eyes of admission committees.

While research experience is not a requirement for most schools, having a research background that is sound, aligns with your major and interests, is fundamentally strong, and overall complements your application’s theme is a perfect way to be a competitive candidate and enhance your possibilities of getting into medical school.

This guide will teach you all that you need to know about research for medical school, ensuring you’ll gain successful and meaningful experiences.

Infographic outlining the importance research for medical school and giving tips on how to land opportunities

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Importance of Research for Medical School ‍

Most but not all students accepted to medical school have research experience. According to a survey of incoming medical students conducted by the AAMC , 60% of students participated in some kind of laboratory research for college students.

Because research is a way for you to dig deep and get involved in your field of interest, applying to medical school with a semester or two in research will show the admission committee your dedication and strong will to learn, which will obviously be favorable and increase your chances of getting accepted. 

While research experience is important, don’t forget to participate in other extracurriculars such as clinical experience and community service. Again, your overall application, GPA and MCAT score , and how each experience connects are what will potentially determine your readiness for medical school. 

Beyond that, students who take part in research projects during their undergraduate career tend to be more prepared to face graduate school.

Research experience before medical school will help you expand your knowledge in your area of interest, teach you how to be an excellent team worker as well as an individual one and will help you understand how the published world works.

After all, everything begins with research, and as a future physician, acquiring all the skills that a sound experience in it will provide you is crucial for your success. Experts in the field have made their ideas about it very clear; Dr. Petrella, a Stanford University Ph.D. and mentor, states: 

“Our belief is that an exercise science curriculum provides students the opportunity to become responsible professionals of competence and integrity in the area of health and human performance.” 

Today, we’ll talk about how to prepare for and strategically use research to enhance your application and make it more interesting and rich in the eyes of the admissions committee. But first, take a quick look at why you should gain research experience in your undergraduate career. 

why research is important for medical school admissions

What Counts as Research for Medical School? ‍

While most research is good research, some things should be taken into consideration before jumping into the next opportunity available. 

First of all, the research that you choose to invest time and effort into should make sense in the context of your application. Most schools find experiences in both clinical and social sciences or humanities fields valuable, so to start with, you should know that not only clinical research will be taken into account. 

The duration of your involvement in the research is also important; that’s why starting early in your undergraduate years is always recommended. Consider investing a minimum of one semester to a research project, and if you can do one full year, even better. 

Some students take a gap year before starting medical school to invest in either research, clinical experience, or any extracurriculars that will help their application stand out. There’s no need of doing that, though.

Participating in a research project part-time while you’re working on your prerequisites, laboratory-based or not, will count as good research experience for medical school. The key is to get involved in something that is relevant for you and your career, and that you can commit time and dedication to. 

For example, if your major is biology, it would make perfect sense to jump on research about growth hormones, since it’s in the same field, and chances are you’ll find the topic interesting. On the other hand, let’s say you’re passionate about magnetism but your major is in social sciences or humanities.

In that case, your essays and interview will be a good opportunity to explain your different interests and how your broad and interdisciplinary education will help you succeed in medical school and later on as a doctor. 

Medical schools value research experience mainly because it’s an academic component that enables students to develop both excellent written and oral communication and makes them become critical thinkers.

This skill set, along with the professionalism, integrity, and the ability to analyze data that this kind of experience provides, makes almost any research a good opportunity. Since there’s no “good” or “bad” research, try getting involved in projects that you’re passionate about, comfortable enough to discuss and explain, and that are related to your major.

That way, talking about it won’t be a struggle. Admission committees will deem the fact that your research experience was meaningful and connected to your undergraduate career and interests as something very positive.

How to Gain Research Experience as a Pre Med

There are several ways to become involved in research and find research opportunities during your undergraduate years. Research opportunities will be available through the university you’re attending, so make sure to maintain a good relationship and communication with your professors.

One of the best ways to secure a research position is to have a conversation with your professors. They may be looking for a student to help them with an upcoming project, and even if they don’t have any opportunities to offer you, they can easily refer to other staff members who might. 

Try navigating through your university’s website as well; many schools will have a student job board that may host research opportunities. For example, if you were a premed student at the University of Washington , you’d be able to check the Undergraduate Research Program (URP) database in order to filter and find research opportunities.

Also, check the summer programs that are offered; your university probably has summer programs on offer where students work with a mentor to gain research experience. Outside of the university, you could consider looking for internships at laboratories or research facilities.

Any option that you chose is fine; the good thing about being a pre-med is that you’re surrounded by professors and counselors who have the resources and knowledge to get you on the right path. It’s just a matter of navigating through the mound of possibilities and acting as soon as possible once you’ve found a position of interest.

How Many Hours of Research Do You Need For Medical School? ‍

Since research is not a requirement at most medical schools, there’s no minimum number of hours you should be spending at the lab. Some students report entering medical school with over 2,000 hours of research experience, while others had no more than 400. 

The high numbers that many students report shouldn’t overwhelm you, since a lot of them decide to take a gap year to dedicate exclusively to research and they have a clear research interest and want to pursue it in the future.

So, the hours you should dedicate to research widely depend on your personal circumstances and other aspects of your application. For example, if you have a high GPA and feel confident about your performance so far, dedicating more hours to research could be a good commitment for you.

However, if you’re not doing as well as you’d like, focus on your academics first and let research come second. 

If the idea of taking a gap year to gain research experience doesn’t quite convince you, bear in mind that a semester or summer of research involvement, which would sum up to around 500-800 hours, is more than enough to show your abilities, commitment, and critical thinking skills.

This dedication will make a good impression on admissions committee members and can help make your application stand out. 

Also, ask yourself: “Am I really interested in research? Do I want it to be part of my career in the future?”. If you’re only doing research for the sake of the application, you shouldn’t force yourself to overdo it.

Tips to Make the Best out of Research Hours 

Now that we've covered the importance of research experience for med school application, we'll go over some tips to help you make the most of your research experience!

Have Noteworthy Research Experience

Having noteworthy research experience is a plus in your application, but it doesn’t end here. The ultimate goal of research is to actually become involved in the most recent projects, discoveries, and questions in your field of study, and prepare you for potential research later in your graduate career.

Use Research as an Opportunity to Gain Skills

Make your best effort to see research experience not only as a way to make your resume and application look better, but also as an opportunity to gain skills and face challenges that will help you become a dedicated professional, and will help you succeed in any your future endeavors. 

Be Clear With Your Goals

Before getting started with your research hours, make sure the research question is perfectly clear to you, and that you’re familiar and interested in what the research is aiming to find or prove. By doing this, you’ll be off to a great start, and your research experience will be valuable from the beginning.

Understand the Project and Be Engaged

Once you’re involved in research, make sure you try your best to perfectly understand every part of it. Shallow and meaningless research experiences won’t get you very far.

During your interview you'll be asked about the research project – regardless of your level of contribution, it’s important for you to be clear, confident, and perfectly articulate to make yourself a competitive candidate.

Take Your Experience Seriously

Also, take your time at the lab very seriously. Try approaching your research contribution as a job; show up in time just like you would show up in time for work, put your best effort in it, and above all, be professional. 

Build Relationships With Your Supervisor

Another tip for maximizing your research experience is to make a connection and form a relationship with the mentor or the professor that will, or is already working with you. By forming strong bonds and relationships, you’ll have the opportunity to ask your mentor for a letter of recommendation.

So, do take every hour spent seriously and work hard to make a good impression. This way, you’ll kill two birds with one stone: you’ll gain research experience while obtaining strong recommendations.

What Kind of Research do Medical Schools Prefer? (Science vs Non-Science) ‍

That is a somewhat tricky question. The simple answer is that any research that can show your involvement and commitment and aligns with the theme of your application is beneficial. However, there are a lot of layers to it. 

Probably the most common type of research among applicants –which is also highly valued by medical schools – is science and lab research. If you’re a science major in college, this is probably the way you’d want to go; laboratory-based research. 

With that said, if your major is in the social sciences or humanities, getting involved in research related to your major and your interests is something that medical schools will find attractive.

After all, the majority of schools use a holistic approach to admissions and want their potential candidates to be widely and well-educated individuals. A liberal arts and interdisciplinary educational background can make outstanding applicants.

So, while lab-based research may have a perceived better reputation than social science research, it’s certainly not better in the eyes of admissions committees.

Research Experience for Med School FAQs

1. is research experience more important than clinical experience for medical school ‍.

The short answer to this is no. Even though the majority of applicants have research experience, to many deans of admissions, clinical experience is equally and sometimes even more valuable. The clinical experience involves patient interaction, which is undoubtedly crucial preparation for a life-long career as a physician.

However, getting your first research experience as early as possible in your undergraduate years will help you determine if research is something you’d like to pursue in the future. Plus, it will make it easier for you to secure more research positions in your graduate years, so you should definitely go for it if it's of your interest. 

2. Is Research Experience More Important Than Physician Shadowing?

While both experiences are relevant, research has the added benefit of allowing you to gain hands-on experience. However, don’t forget that doctor shadowing also adds a lot of value to your application, since it serves the purpose of actually seeing what being a physician is, and such experience could determine your interest in moving forward. 

You should also take into account what your medical school of choice expects. For example, for research-focused schools like the Mayo Clinic , research experience will definitely be more important and you should plan on putting most of your energy there.  ‍

3. Should I Take A Gap Year Before Medical School To Gain Research Hours? ‍

Taking a gap year gives you the opportunity to refine your application and fully focus on what you want to improve. Whether it’s worth it or not depends on your personal and academic circumstances.

If you’re truly interested in research and really want to pursue it, go for it. However, don’t feel like that’s something you should do; there’s no written rule of what works best. If the research you’ve taken part in during your undergraduate years satisfies you, you shouldn’t feel like you need to take a gap year for that purpose.  ‍

4. Should I Participate In Many, Short-Lived Research Experiences Or In A Few Long Ones? ‍

There are a lot of outside circumstances and variables we can’t always control; like professors moving, or you deciding to change career paths. However, a single long research experience will catch the admission committee’s attention; it demonstrates interest, persistence, and resilience. So, to the extent possible, go for quality over quantity.  ‍

5. Should I Look For Research Opportunities Even If My GPA Is A Bit Low? ‍

If you’ve gone through a hard time and your GPA is suffering a little bit, definitely focus your energy on that before committing to long hours in the lab. Your GPA and MCAT scores are the non-arguable parts of your application; make sure these are as impeccable as possible, and as soon as there’s an improvement, move on to research.

That doesn’t mean that you should completely forget about the “extras” of your application; as long as you keep a balance between a good GPA, scores, work, and extracurriculars, you’ll be on the right path to creating a competitive application.  ‍

6. What Does It Mean To Be Published In Research? Is It Important To Medical Schools? ‍

Being published means that your name appears on written documents about research, and it is, indeed, important, but not essential. We’re not talking about being the first author in a publication, since this is almost impossible for an undergraduate student. However, appearing as a co-author on any presentation, publication or poster will help you build a reputation.

Keep in mind that there’s no requirement on being published, so don’t focus your energy on that, but do talk about your interest in the publication experience to your mentor or professor and they will make it easy for you. Medical schools will love to see the things that you’ve been involved with and read about what you’ve worked on! ‍

7. What Should I Do If I Don’t Have Research Experience? ‍

Ultimately, if you don’t have any research experience and do not have time or do not plan on being part of any research, focus and invest time on your clinical experience as well as volunteering and community service. Also, work on maintaining a good GPA and improving your MCAT score.

As previously mentioned, at the end of the day, the sum of all your experience and how everything in your application connects and aligns in a clean and clear manner will determine your success in getting accepted. Keep in mind, though, that MD-PhD candidates do need to get involved in research before applying, and a big emphasis should be placed on research in these cases. 

8. Does Clinical Research Count Also As Clinical Experience?

Clinical research can count as both clinical experience and research experience in your AMCAS application.

9. Is Research Required For Medical School?

Research experience is not required for most medical schools. However, having research experience will help you stand out and present yourself as a more competitive candidate during the application process.

Final Thoughts ‍

Participating in research for medical school can play an important role in the quality of your application. For this reason, knowing how to make your experiences as valuable and as rich as possible will play a key role in whether research complements your application in a positive way, and whether it makes you a competitive candidate.

Research experience, although not a requirement in most cases, is viewed favorably by medical schools. It is a perfect way to build a skillset that will be crucial for your future as a medical student, and later on for your career as a physician.

Following this guide and taking into account that the overall quality of your application is what counts, you can weigh your options and determine what kind of research experience, if any, will be the most beneficial for you and the theme of your application.

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Getting into Medical School

Getting Into Medical School

One of the most important decisions that you will ever make is your career choice. Competition for admission to medical school is intense, and the coursework that follows requires an individual to think critically and employ discipline. Though the path to a career in medicine is a long one, it is intellectually challenging, financially secure, and personally rewarding.

Understanding factors to consider when applying for medical school is a good first step toward pursuing your interest in a medical career. It is never too early to become informed so that you can make the most of opportunities to prepare yourself for the application process.

A medical school admissions committee is likely to be made up of teaching physicians from the clinical faculty, research faculty from the biological sciences, and medical students. Alumni or community physicians may also serve on admissions committees.

Here are key factors to consider as you prepare to apply for medical school.  

1. Choose a pre-med major you have a real interest in.

  • 2. Research specific medical school admissions requirements

3. Build a strong academic record that goes beyond your GPA.

4. start preparing for the mcat early., 5. write a personal statement that makes you stand out., 6. prepare for personal interviews., 7. participate in extracurricular activities., 8. get some work experience related to the medical field., 9. shadow health professionals to learn more about the career you are choosing., 10. get involved in your community by volunteering., 11. get experience in academic research..

When choosing a pre-med major, keep in mind that medical school admissions committees have no prerequisites when it comes to degrees. Choose a degree or major in which you have a real interest. Be sure to take English, biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and math (college algebra or above), regardless of your major choice.

2. Research specific medical school admissions requirements.

Begin to research specific medical school admissions requirements, timing, and other application factors as early as possible, even during your freshman and sophomore years of undergraduate study.

Although GPA is important, medical school admissions committees seek students who demonstrate a balance between their academic success and other interests.

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) publishes the average applicant GPAs and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores for US medical schools from the previous academic year. This information will give you a good idea of current averages.

Whether you meet or exceed the averages reported, remember that each application involves a variety of factors, including but not limited to academic performance. Don't let your GPA determine whether you apply.

The MCAT is a medical school admission requirement for most U.S. institutions, except for very few special consideration medical programs. The computer-based, multiple-choice, standardized test assesses critical thinking, writing skills, and basic knowledge of science.

The MCAT consists of four sections:

  • Biological and biochemical foundations of living systems
  • Chemical and physical foundations of biological systems
  • Psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior
  • Critical analysis and reasoning skills

Your MCAT scores

The medical college admissions committees will consider your MCAT scores in the admission decision process. While an MCAT score in a high percentile can boost your medical school application, it is not the only consideration for admissions. Medical schools look at many factors in an application, and may even consider individual MCAT section scores to be as important as an overall score. 

Studying for the MCAT

A variety of guides and materials are available to help you study for the MCAT. No matter what study resources you decide to use, be sure you are familiar with all that the MCAT will test on before you invest in any products. As you plan out your study schedule, leave plenty of time for practice tests. Taking practice tests will help ensure you are meeting your study goals and know what to expect once the big day arrives.

Here is what you should know as you begin to prepare :

  • The MCAT exam takes approximately seven and a half hours to complete.
  • You can take the MCAT a maximum of three times over one year, and a total of four times maximum over a two-year period.
  • Medical school admissions officers usually suggest that you take the MCAT in the calendar year prior to the year in which you plan to enter medical school.

Make it a priority to become familiar with MCAT eligibility and overall testing requirements before signing up to take it. If you have financial limitations, you may apply for fee assistance to minimize the costs of taking the MCAT.

Learn more about the MCAT on the AAMC website»

When applying for medical school, you will be required to write a personal statement. Although, this essay is often the last part of the application process, you should start preparing for it as early as possible. This is one part of the admissions process in which you can have direct influence and should aim for the best product possible.

While admissions committees often emphasize that they do not advise students about what to write in their personal statement, there are specific themes and topics that can be included. Your personal statement should reflect your goals and the qualities that are unique to you, so that you stand out. As you start your essay, take the time to carefully reflect on the academic foundation you have built and the experiences that have contributed to the development of your character and led to your decision to pursue a career in medicine.

Medical school admission requirements include a personal interview, though the specific processes differ among schools. Interviews may take place on or off campus. Interviews may be conducted by an admissions committee member, by multiple members of the admissions committee, or by off-campus interviewers, such as practicing physicians and/or current students. Generally, the interview assessments are added to the admissions file.

During the interview be prepared to answer questions in the following topical areas:

  • Critical thinking skills and problem solving
  • Ethical questions and scenarios
  • Grades and test scores
  • Personal attributes and experiences including philosophical viewpoints
  • Career choice - be prepared to verbalize the answer to “Why do you want to go into medicine?”
  • Attributes that make you a great fit with the medical school

Medical school admissions committees view involvement in extracurricular activities very favorably. If you can maintain a competitive grade point average in a rigorous curriculum and still actively participate in extracurricular activities, this demonstrates a high aptitude and work ethic. Many successful pre-med students join a variety of organizations, play varsity and intramural sports, participate in theatrical and singing groups, and volunteer. Leadership positions in these areas can also show commitment and personal growth. However, it must be emphasized that no amount of involvement in extracurricular activities can substitute for a good academic record or strong MCAT scores. Successful pre-med students have clear priorities and have learned to manage their time wisely.

Work experience related to the medical field is of particular value when applying to medical school. The primary value of working in a hospital, doctor’s office, public health clinic, or nursing home is to increase your exposure to the field and also help you decide whether to pursue a career in medicine. Many admissions committees will view this type of medically-related work experience favorably. This is not a medical school prerequisite to admissions, but is becoming increasingly important.

Students who have shadowed health professionals show that they have taken the initiative to investigate their career choice and have spent time and effort learning about the career. It is very important to keep track of physicians you have shadowed and the number of hours you spent in their offices. It is a good idea to shadow different professionals, not just physicians, to give you a broad perspective of the health care system. It is also important to shadow one or two professionals on a regular basis so that they may become familiar with you and your career goals. These individuals are more likely to feel comfortable writing you a letter of recommendation if they have mentored you or allowed you to follow them on an ongoing basis. It would also be a good idea to journal your experiences while shadowing. Journaling provides an opportunity for you to document your experiences for future application materials and experiences that can be written about in your personal statement.

If you want the chance to see medicine through its widest window, try shadowing a family physician. Because family doctors take care of everyone, from infants to older adults, these shadowing experiences are particularly rewarding and will help you get a jump start understanding medicine’s most popular specialty.  

Volunteering not only helps students decide whether medicine is the right field for them, it is a way to provide service to the community. Medical school admissions guides strongly urge their applicants to have engaged in some kind of volunteer activity before applying to medical school. Volunteering is viewed as increasingly important when it comes to admission decisions. It conveys commitment and integrity. You cannot demonstrate those traits in only a few days or a month of volunteer service.

Experience in scientific research is recommended by admissions committees for the academically strong student who has such an interest. This type of experience is essential if you aspire to a career in academic medicine or research. Many undergraduates develop an interest in pursuing research as a career while participating in projects in the laboratory of a faculty member.

Other Considerations for Acceptance

Other considerations that may be a factor when applying to medical school include:

  • Evaluations from faculty members who had the student in class
  • The applicant's state of residence
  • The applicant's specialty choice
  • Physician specialty needs in the state where the medical school is located

Thoroughly review each medical school's application requirements to ensure that you are supplying all of the information requested.

Copyright © 2024 American Academy of Family Physicians. All Rights Reserved.

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do you need research for medical school

December 18, 2018

How Important is Research for Medical School Admissions?

How important is research for medical school admissions

Why Medical Schools Value Research Experience

Research experience isn’t a requirement for med school admission. You won’t find a section about it on your application, but it is still valued and important. So important, in fact, that at some of the most competitive research-oriented med schools, 80-90% of admitted applicants have at least some research experience.

If research for medical school admissions isn’t required, why is such an emphasis placed on it? Why is it valued?

Here are 4 reasons why medical schools value research experience:

1. The science you learn in the classroom all comes from research.

Having research experience can deepen your understanding of what you learn in school. Knowing more about how hypotheses are formulated and how to investigate them can improve your med school experience and aid the development of skills that will help you in your medical career.

2. Research helps develop critical reasoning skills.

Research puts you in an environment that encourages you to understand the links between ideas, identify reasoning that is inconsistent or in error, and be consistent and systematic in how you approach problems. These are all skills that you will need in medical school and beyond. Participation in research shows that you are curious and able to think for yourself.

3. As a physician, you will need to continue learning throughout your career.

Research experience will help you read and evaluate journal articles to judge their findings and assess their legitimacy for treating your patients. Having familiarity with conducting scientific research will help you gauge how credible a given study is. Physicians need to be able to “think like a scientist.”

4. It will prepare you if you want to attend an MD/PhD program.

You need to have considerable research experience to be admitted to an MD/PhD program . Your ability to do research is a major factor in acceptance to these programs. Your letters of recommendation must emphasize your ability to conduct research and to impact the academic area you wish to study.

Once you’ve done your research you need to be able to share what you’ve learned with the admissions committee – both in your application and interview. Here are some pointers to make you shine as you discuss your research experience:

• Know every detail of your research. You will be the expert, so know all of the answers. Review your research before your interview to be sure you can handle any questions asked.

• Clarify the part you played in collaborative research. Be sure to specify what you did in the research project. Be prepared to discuss the importance of your role while giving credit to your team members.

• Change your emphasis depending on your interviewer. You should emphasize the parts of your research that are relevant to the person interviewing you.

8 Steps to Finding the Right Research Experience

Now that you know why research experience is an important part of your med school application, and how to share your knowledge with your adcom, let’s discuss how to find the ideal research opportunities for medical school admissions.

1. Get an early start.

It would be wonderful to have had 1-2 years of research experience before you submit your medical school application. The sooner you can find likely prospects, the better.

2. Identify your passions.

Are you more interested in Chemistry or Physics? Does Psychology really get you excited? Once you know where your real interests lie, check out the possibility of helping a professor in one of those areas. Adcoms can differentiate between someone who did research just to be able to say that they did it, and someone who was truly engaged in the experience. According to Faith Rushford, pre-health advisor at the University of Vermont Career Center, your experience should include “…contributing meaningful data, helping to improve or develop a new protocol, co-authoring parts of, or entire, manuscripts, and in some cases, presenting at conferences. This kind of substantive engagement, along with a strong letter from a principal investigator, can truly have an impact on an applicant’s profile.”

3. Get in touch with professors to see if they are looking for research assistants or lab volunteers.

Check to see if your school has a research office or centralized record of undergrad research opportunities. If not, you’ll need to explore what professors are currently working on (through department websites, etc.). Once you’ve identified possible positions and contacts, email them and inquire about speaking to them about your possibility of volunteering in their lab. Be sure to tell them about any background you have in their field – emphasizing prior research experience. Don’t lose hope if they don’t have any current openings. They may allow you to shadow them in their daily tasks, or you may need to find someone else to talk to. Your opportunity for research is out there!

4. Look at job lists.

Look for opportunities outside of your school. Hospitals, labs, pharmaceutical companies – even other universities – may be looking for research assistants.

5. Consider doing a thesis.

Different schools, and fields of study, may allow you to design you own research.

6. Investigate research programs exclusively for college grads.

If you’ve already graduated and realize that your research experience is lacking, look for programs designed just for you. The NIH and National Cancer Institute offer these types of programs, as do big research institutions.

7. Think about doing research during the summer.

You can spend 6-12 weeks working closely with faculty and doing research at a top US med school. You’ll have the chance to complete a research project and present it at the end of the summer.

8. Use the contacts you already have.

Network with professors, current students, and alumni. Do you have family, friends, or people you work with who may have contacts that can lead to an opening for research for medical school admissions? Do you know anyone that works in a lab or a college? Call your contacts and see if there are any research internship or job openings, have an informal interview to find out more about their work, or get names of further contacts.

It may take some legwork on your part, but finding the ideal research position will be well worth the effort.

Do you need help evaluating your candidacy and presenting a strong case for admission? Our expert medical school admissions consultants can guide you through every aspect of the application process. View our catalog of Medical School Consulting Services for more information on how we can help you get ACCEPTED!

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Related Resources:

• Medical School Admissions Action Plan: 6 Steps to Acceptance , a free guide • 7 Traits of a Competitive Medical School Applicant • 5 Tips For Aspiring Premed Researchers

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How to Conduct Research During Medical School

Researching

Table of Contents

Most med schools in the United States require that you participate in some sort of scholarly project. Participation in the academic life of medicine is a great way to enhance your residency applications, and it may even be expected or required to successfully match in the most competitive specialties.

Traditionally, medical student research took the shape of a formal research opportunity in a research lab with a research mentor, culminating in a publication. Today, research in medical school takes a variety of forms, including the traditional one.

Beyond the typical lab format, medical students engage in scholarship by conducting poster presentations, writing up case presentations of interesting diseases they have encountered on the wards, or participating in quality improvement initiatives or other health systems science projects. All of these scholarly pursuits fall under the broad category of “research”, which may be required during medical school, and all contribute to the strength of a student’s residency application. 

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Is It Even Possible to Do Research in Medical School? 

With all the day-to-day challenges of medical school, it can be difficult to see where time for research fits in. With good planning and time management, however, you can include research in medical school. While fulfilling your clerkship requirements, studying and passing exams and courses, and taking care of patients are all top priorities, carving out time for research is certainly a possibility, especially on lighter rotations and with the udicious use of elective time. 

Many medical schools now offer a dedicated research period for you to engage in scholarship. Depending on the project, this period may be more or less time than you need to complete your research. You should check to see if your school offers dedicated time for research, and when it is.If you do have a dedicated research block, checking with your school about the expectations for deliverables at the end of the time period, as well as whether the block is structured or unstructured, will help you to make the most of this block.

If your school does not offer a specific time period for research and you anticipate needing to work on a project full-time, using elective time for research or scheduling research during lighter rotations can be a great way to make the time you need for research. 

When is the best time to do research in medical school? 

For many medical students, especially those applying to highly competitive specialties, you’ll want to start thinking about when to do research in medical school early in your academic career. If you know you have specific research or subspecialty interest going into medical school, start looking for a research project or mentor as soonas possible. This will maximize your chances of completing published research by the time you need to apply for a residency program.

If you are not sure about research or aren’t interested in conducting research at all, waiting until closer to your residency application and choosing an interesting case or project to present as a case conference or poster may make more sense. If you do intend to publish a paper or complete a large scholarly project, make sure you start early so that your project is complete in time for residency applications, recognizing that not every project results in a publication. For larger projects, it makes sense to have identified a research mentor and to start working on your project sometime before the beginning of your second year.

Keep in mind that the publication process of peer review and article revisions can take longer than anticipated, and your article may not appear in print until several months after you submit your abstract.

Smaller projects, such as a case vignette or poster presentation, typically have a much faster turnaround time – usually only a few months from project inception to presentation, depending on the venue where you present. 

Do you have to do research in medical school?

Even for physicians in training who have no desire to do research after medical school, research can be a useful way to build skills that will be helpful in their future career. For instance, a student interested in hospital medicine might use the research time to complete a quality improvement project on reducing the risk of infections acquired in a hospital, which in turn might help them in a future role as a medical director.

A future general surgeon might decide to use the research time to get an MBA, helping them gain the business skills necessary to run a successful independent practice. A prospective infectious disease specialist might conduct a public health study that gets them comfortable with interpreting statistics, which could be beneficial when running a local health department.

Students who are not interested in staying in academics after graduation but are required to do research should make use of dedicated research time to build skills that they can apply outside of the academic world. 

How to Do Research as a Medical Student

Every good research project starts with a question. You’re far more likely to stay engaged in research, and to produce a good research product, if you have a real interest in the question your project aims to answer. Once you’ve identified a question you hope to answer, ask your professors, attending physicians, and even other classmates if they know of anyone working on a similar question.

While you might not identify someone working on exactly what you are interested in, you’ll likely find someone with similar interests who can direct you to someone who is well-aligned with your interests. Once you identify a research mentor, it’s up to you to determine what your goals are in doing research.

If you intend to publish a paper that appears in a top-notch medical journal, for instance, your research will probably require more time and effort than if you hope to do a case presentation of an interesting disease you encountered on rounds.

Try to tailor the scope of your project to the time you have available to complete it. “I want to cure cancer” is not a realistic goal for a research project to complete as a medical student, but working on a specific gene pathway with a goal of presenting a poster at a national conference might be! 

How to find research opportunities

Finding research opportunities as a medical student starts with identifying your area of interest. Do you have a subspecialty you are particularly fascinated by? If so, reaching out to an academic specialist in your area of interest is a great first step to finding research opportunities.

Fascinated by a particular case you saw on rounds? Ask your attending physician if they think the case might be appropriate for a poster presentation or to present at an academic conference. Not interested in writing up case reports or writing long research abstracts? Maybe an opportunity in quality improvement is right for you – ask your attending physicians if there are any hospital-level projects or initiatives which could benefit from some help.

Do you have a specific idea that you think could change the world? Try applying for a research grant or scholarship to help fund that opportunity and make it a reality. In many medical schools, and especially in those associated with academic research centers, the only limitations on research opportunities are those of your own imagination! 

How is medical research funded?

Most medical research projects conducted by medical students are not funded and occur on the side, with a student volunteering their time and effort toward a project. However, if you are planning on a more extensive project that would take you away from your normal studies for a year or more, there are a variety of foundations and funded research opportunities that you can use to support yourself during the time you are conducting your research.

Generally speaking, the best opportunity to engage in funded medical research is by enrolling in a combined MD/PhD program.

If you are interested in a specific field of study and want to have protected, dedicated time to engage in medical research prior to residency, a combined MD/PhD program will give you the best balance of clinical and research training. However, MD/PhD programs are highly selective and are not available at every medical school.

You can learn more about combined degree programs on the AAMC website . The American Physician Scientists Association also maintains a list of funding opportunities for MD/PhD candidates on their website.  

To Sum It Up…

Spending some time engaging in research during medical school can be rewarding, both personally and professionally. Although opportunities to engage in traditional research abound in medical school, students who are not interested in this can explore alternatives to traditional research, like case presentations, quality improvement projects, or even dual degree programs like an MBA. Pursuing research in any of these forms can be a great way to improve your residency application and help you develop the skills you need to succeed long after medical school.

Brennan Kruszewski

Dr. Brennan Kruszewski is a practicing internist and primary care physician in Beachwood, Ohio. He graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in 2018, and recently completed his residency in Internal Medicine at University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He enjoys writing about a variety of medical topics, including his time in academic medicine and how to succeed as a young physician. In his spare time, he is an avid cyclist, lover of classical literature, and choral singer.

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  • Medical School Application Articles and Resources

Do I Need Research Experience for Medical School Admissions?

Dr. Freedman answers this common question.

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Dr. Freedman answers: Do I need research to get into medical school?

Often I am asked: Do I need research for medical school admissions?

Here’s the thing:

Research is something that I consider to be a prerequisite for medical school.

Does it have to be medical or scientific research?

No! It doesn’t necessarily have to be scientific research.

For example:

If you’re an art history major, you can do art history research. It’s important to understand how research is done, and understanding how to analyze data.

You should also know how to critically evaluate data, how to draw conclusions, and how to do a literature search.

All of these things can be applied to medicine.

It get’s better:

More traditionally students will do either basic science research in a lab or they will do clinical research.

Why, you ask?

This tends to be something that most students can find more easily. Students might be more interested in this type of research and sometimes it is more directly applicable to medicine.

The bottom line:

Some type of research, to me, is a prerequisite for for medical school.

It is not an option.

I consider those two types of research to be requirements.

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do you need research for medical school

Navigating Research in Medical School

Seeking research activities to become a more competitive residency applicant.

By:  Visakha Suresh

Although not usually required, participating in a meaningful, productive research  during medical school has become increasingly integral to putting together a competitive residency application. For some specialties, such as dermatology, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, and neurosurgery, research in the field is one of the best ways for an applicant to stand apart from his or her peers during the residency application process. Still other medical schools are integrating research blocks into their curriculums, signifying a shift towards developing a future cohort of physicians who have appreciation for the scientific process through direct exposure. However, the process of picking a research project and mentor can seem daunting, especially for students who did not have such experiences as undergrads. Thus, it is very important to consider the following when faced with the decision of whether or not to pursue a research project in medical school.

IRead More:  Most Important Factors in Residency Match

What do I want out of a research experience?

Consider your main goal in participating in a research experience. Is it something tangible like a publication? Is it a chance to network with faculty in your specialty of interest? Is it the prospect of acquiring a letter of recommendation? Is it an opportunity to go through the scientific process from start to finish? No matter what the reason, it is important to keep this in mind. For example, certain surgical subspecialties place little to no weight on letters of recommendation from individuals outside their field, so submitting an LOR from a principal investigator from an unrelated department may not be as useful. On the other hand, if you are seeking more autonomy in your research experience, it might not be satisfactory for you to work on a project that is assigned to you. Be honest with yourself about what you want to take away from this experience and seek out mentors and projects that fit these goals.

How much time do I have to dedicate to this experience?

Many traditional US allopathic medical schools have curricula that consist of 2 years of didactics (separated by a summer break) and 2 years of clinical rotations. Others have shifted towards curricula that incorporate a more significant block of time (such as 3 or 6 months) to be dedicated to research alone. Certain types of research may be more or less amenable with your schedule. For example, it may be hard to balance the daily classes and lectures of the didactic years of med school with a time-intensive basic science project. However, clinical research that involves chart review/data-mining may be more easily accommodated. At the end of the day, it is much better to do a few things well than try to overextend yourself and do many things poorly.

IRead More:  Navigating the Pre-Clinical Years in Medical School

What kind of mentor do I want to work with?

This is, by far, one of the most important considerations. Developing a strong relationship with your mentor can help you in countless ways, from achieving a short term goal like completing a manuscript to more intangible benefits such as getting plugged into a network that can help you reach your career goals before, during, and after training. It is important to reach out to other individuals who may have worked with a mentor that you are considering to get a sense of their mentorship style. Is this mentor very involved and likes to schedule regular meetings to give you feedback and assess your progress? Or is this mentor more hands-off and expects his/her mentees to troubleshoot on their own before stepping in? It is important to consider what sort of mentorship style would work best for your personality and goals.

These three questions are only some of the considerations that need to be taken into account when pursuing research as a medical student.  However, these initial guidelines can help you determine the type of research experience that will be most beneficial for you as a medical student, residency applicant, and eventual attending physician.

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What To Expect In Medical School: Part 1

Medical Research

How to conduct research as a medical student, this article will address how to conduct research as a medical student, including details on different types of research, how to go about constructing an idea and other practical advice., kevin seely, oms iv.

Student Doctor Seely attends the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

In addition to good grades, test performance, and notable characteristics, it is becoming increasingly important for medical students to participate in and publish research. Residency programs appreciate seeing that applicants are interested in improving the treatment landscape of medicine through the scientific method.

Many medical students also recognize that research is important. However, not all schools emphasize student participation in research or have associations with research labs. These factors, among others, often leave students wanting to do research but unsure of how to begin. This article will address how to conduct research as a medical student, including details on different types of research, how to go about constructing an idea, and other practical advice.

Types of research commonly conducted by medical students

This is not a comprehensive list, but rather, a starting point.

Case reports and case series

Case reports are detailed reports of the clinical course of an individual patient. They usually describe an unusual or novel occurrence or provide new evidence related to a specific pathological entity and its treatment. Advantages of case reports include a relatively fast timeline and little to no need for funding. A disadvantage, though, is that these contribute the most basic and least powerful scientific evidence and provide researchers with minimal exposure to the scientific process.

Case series, on the other hand, look at multiple patients retrospectively. In addition, statistical calculations can be performed to achieve significant conclusions, rendering these studies great for medical students to complete to get a full educational experience.

Clinical research

Clinical research is the peak of evidence-based medical research. Standard study designs include case-controlled trials, cohort studies or survey-based research. Clinical research requires IRB review, strict protocols and large sample sizes, thus requiring dedicated time and often funding. These can serve as barriers for medical students wanting to conduct this type of research. Be aware that the AOA offers students funding for certain research projects; you can learn more here . This year’s application window has closed, but you can always plan ahead and apply for the next grant cycle.

The advantages of clinical research include making a significant contribution to the body of medical knowledge and obtaining an understanding of what it takes to conduct clinical research. Some students take a dedicated research year to gain experience in this area.

Review articles

A literature review is a collection and summarization of literature on an unresolved, controversial or novel topic. There are different categories of reviews, including meta-analyses, systematic reviews and traditional literature reviews, offering very high, high and modest evidentiary value, respectively. Advantages of review articles include the possibility of remote collaboration and developing expertise on the subject matter. Disadvantages can include the time needed to complete the review and the difficulty of publishing this type of research.

Forming an idea

Research can be inspiring and intellectually stimulating or somewhat painful and dull. It’s helpful to first find an area of medicine in which you are interested and willing to invest time and energy. Then, search for research opportunities in this area. Doing so will make the research process more exciting and will motivate you to perform your best work. It will also demonstrate your commitment to your field of interest.

Think carefully before saying yes to studies that are too far outside your interests. Having completed research on a topic about which you are passionate will make it easier to recount your experience with enthusiasm and understanding in interviews. One way to refine your idea is by reading a recent literature review on your topic, which typically identifies gaps in current knowledge that need further investigation.

Finding a mentor

As medical students, we cannot be the primary investigator on certain types of research studies. So, you will need a mentor such as a DO, MD or PhD. If a professor approaches you about a research study, say yes if it’s something you can commit to and find interesting.

More commonly, however, students will need to approach a professor about starting a project. Asking a professor if they have research you can join is helpful, but approaching them with a well-thought-out idea is far better. Select a mentor whose area of interest aligns with that of your project. If they seem to think your idea has potential, ask them to mentor you. If they do not like your idea, it might open up an intellectual exchange that will refine your thinking. If you proceed with your idea, show initiative by completing the tasks they give you quickly, demonstrating that you are committed to the project.

Writing and publishing

Writing and publishing are essential components of the scientific process. Citation managers such as Zotero, Mendeley, and Connected Papers are free resources for keeping track of literature. Write using current scientific writing standards. If you are targeting a particular journal, you can look up their guidelines for writing and referencing. Writing is a team effort.

When it comes time to publish your work, consult with your mentor about publication. They may or may not be aware of an appropriate journal. If they’re not, Jane , the journal/author name estimator, is a free resource to start narrowing down your journal search. Beware of predatory publishing practices and aim to submit to verifiable publications indexed on vetted databases such as PubMed.

One great option for the osteopathic profession is the AOA’s Journal of Osteopathic Medicine (JOM). Learn more about submitting to JOM here .

My experience

As a second-year osteopathic medical student interested in surgery, my goal is to apply to residency with a solid research foundation. I genuinely enjoy research, and I am a member of my institution’s physician-scientist co-curricular track. With the help of amazing mentors and co-authors, I have been able to publish a literature review and a case-series study in medical school. I currently have some additional projects in the pipeline as well.

My board exams are fast approaching, so I will soon have to adjust the time I am currently committing to research. Once boards are done, though, you can bet I will be back on the research grind! I am so happy to be on this journey with all my peers and colleagues in medicine. Research is a great way to advance our profession and improve patient care.

 Keys to success

Research is a team effort. Strive to be a team player who communicates often and goes above and beyond to make the project a success. Be a finisher. Avoid joining a project if you are not fully committed, and employ resiliency to overcome failure along the way. Treat research not as a passive process, but as an active use of your intellectual capability. Push yourself to problem-solve and discover. You never know how big of an impact you might make.

Disclaimers:

Human subject-based research always requires authorization and institutional review before beginning. Be sure to follow your institution’s rules before engaging in any type of research.

This column was written from the perspective from a current medical student with the review and input from my COM’s director of research and scholarly activity, Amanda Brooks, PhD. 

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  • Premed Research

How Important is Research for Medical School

How important is research for medical school

How important is research for medical school? Research is a critical part of your medical learning, and its important for both how to prepare for med school applications and of course your entire medical career. Research experience of any type is a valuable asset on medical school applications, and clinical research experience even more so. If you’ve completed a stint in a clinical research position, these can count towards how many clinical hours you need for medical school . Some of the most competitive or research-focused medical colleges even require students to have prior research experience to be accepted. Not every med school asks for research experience, but every medical student will need some research experience under their belts by the time they graduate. In this blog, we’ll look at how important research is for medical school, what research experience can do for you and where to look to find medical research opportunities. 

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 6 min read

How important is research for medical school.

There are two sides to this question. The first is whether research experience is important for medical school applications. The second is whether gaining research experience is an important part of attending medical school. The answer to both of these is undoubtedly yes, research is very important for medical school.

Of course, there are some qualifications to this importance. Having research experience is not a hard requirement for the vast majority of medical school applications and students can still be accepted without pre-med research experience. For highly competitive medical schools, such as Stanford Medical School , or medical schools with a heavy focus on research, it may not only be a requirement but a huge asset and a way for you to ensure your medical school application stands out . For a majority of competitive, research-heavy medical colleges, up to 90% of matriculating students have prior research experience.

Check out our video for more advice on how to find premed research experience

It’s a good idea to check Medical School Admission Requirements ( MSAR ) to see if your choice of med school requires applicants to have any research experience, and if the admissions board has any preference for what type of research experience. A majority of schools will gladly accept students with research experience, but your priority should be on crafting an excellent med school app first and foremost. If you have a strong application and you have the time, you can consider looking for pre-med research opportunities to add to your application as a bonus.

But even if your choice of med school doesn’t require research experience, it is still extremely important to your journey as a med student and your future career as a doctor. If you are planning to apply to a very competitive medical school program, intend to pursue an MD/PhD program or are applying to a research-intensive medical college, research experience is an absolute must. And if none of these apply to you, eventually you will want to add research experience to your medical school resume, too.

First, let’s look at what research experience can do or your medical school applications.

Research experience for medical school applications

Research experience might be a necessary requirement for many med school applications, depending on the school and the program, but the type of research experience can vary significantly. For most med schools, they aren’t choosy about the type of research you have experience in, even if it’s not directly related to the medical field. Having any kind of research position in a scientific discipline will lend you invaluable experience and skills that will transfer to your time at med school.

But something that can help you stand out, and which medical schools value more heavily is clinical research experience. To gain clinical research as a premed might not always be possible for all students. Many try to find virtual research for premed students or look into virtual shadowing opportunities. But straight research experience and even shadowing experience is not considered actual clinical experience, and if you have any direct clinical experience on your med school application, it is considered an asset no matter where you apply.

Even if your choice of med school isn’t bothered by a lack of premed research experience or you don’t plan to pursue a career in medical research, this doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Research is still an important aspect of medical school and being a practicing physician. Research experience provides you with pivotal skills you’ll employ as a doctor, but it can also broaden and deepen your medical knowledge and medical skills. Doctors rely on research to inform them and broaden their understanding of the medical field. And plenty of clinical physicians take the time to do their own research or publish research as a way to further their careers and open up new opportunities. Research experience also serves as a way to make your medical school resume stand out when you’re applying for jobs in residency and beyond. It might even be a requirement if you want to apply for research training positions or specialty medical research jobs.

For medical students in particular, they will be expected to undertake research projects and will be provided dedicated, protected research time to not only conduct their own individual or team research but to read the work of other researchers, too. Not all of your research experiences need to come directly through school, either. You can and are encouraged to pursue research opportunities outside med school as well. Any experiences you can add to your portfolio will be to your benefit. In short, research is a foundational part of the med school experience and in developing your skills as a medical professional.

So how can research experience help you in medical school? What advantages and benefits can it bring you? We’ll take a closer look at how important research is for medical school students and how it can be a long-term advantage in their careers.

In the vein of critically evaluating research work, conducting research will naturally develop your critical thinking and analysis skills. Throughout med school you will be asked to participate in, read about and conduct research, as doing so is part of the foundation of your medical knowledge. Research experience can also be influential in developing other important medical skills, too, such as better communication, teamwork and writing skills. It\u2019s also been shown through research that doctors who continue to learn about medicine and study medical research provide better care to patients overall. If nothing else, making a habit of regular research and study will keep you fresh and up to date on the medical field and its latest developments. "}]">

How to find medical research opportunities

Students who do want to attach some research experience to their applications or resumes often wonder where to start looking. Whether you’re a premed, current med school student or graduate student, gaining some research experience is important for your career. There are a number of places to look for opportunities, but the best ways are to use your network of contacts and ask them for recommendations. There are many programs, internships and study programs which offer research experience of any kind, and your school professors, mentors and advisors will have more insight into where to find them.

Research is a critical and eventual must-have skill and experience for medical school. Whether you add some research experience as a premed, med student or medical graduate depends on where you want to go to school and what your chosen career path as a medical professional will end up being. While you will almost certainly be given some research opportunities in medical school, it’s to your advantage to pursue some outside of your studies as well, to give yourself a competitive advantage in the job market, to continue your lifelong medical learning and to ensure you become the best doctor you can be for your future patients.

Research can a big advantage on both medical school applications and on medical school resumes for graduate medical students. Research experience is also very important to gain during your time at medical school, as it is a foundational skill you will need to become a physician.

Yes; research experience is not a definite requirement at most med schools and students without experience can still be accepted with a strong application. However, good research experience should not be considered a substitute for poor academic performance.

A majority of medical schools don’t require research experience for med school applications, with some exceptions. However, as a matriculating med school student you will be expected to gain research experience and participate in research projects during your school years.

Premed students can find valuable research positions through summer internship programs or by consulting with a college advisor. Professors and mentors are also a good option for finding research opportunities. Premeds can also look into study abroad programs that offer research experience.

No; most medical schools consider direct clinical experience more important than lab or field research for admissions. However, if you plan to apply for medical research positions, to a research-intensive med school program or want to pursue an MD/PhD, then research experience will be considered more important to have.

Research is part of the foundational skills med students will learn and will take with them into their future careers. Research experience can also provide a competitive advantage in the job market and prepare them for residency positions or work as a practicing physician.

Even if this is the case, research is a large part of being a physician and you will be required to gain at least a little experience with medical research throughout your med school career.

Generally speaking, no. Medical schools aren’t picky about the type of research experience you have, or even if the subject of the research undertaken was non-medical. Any research experience is valid.

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The Guide to Becoming a Medical Researcher

  • February 1, 2023

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As a medical researcher, your job is to conduct research to improve the health status and longevity of the population. The career revolves around understanding the causes, treatments, and prevention of diseases and medical conditions through rigorous clinical investigations, epidemiological studies, and laboratory experiments. As a medical researcher, simply gaining formal education won’t suffice. You also need to hone your communication, critical thinking, decision-making, data collecting, data analyzing and observational skills. These skill sets will enable you to create a competitive edge in the research industry. On a typical day, a medical researcher would be collecting, interpreting, and analyzing data from clinical trials, working alongside engineering, regulatory, and quality assurance experts to evaluate the risk of medical devices, or maybe even preparing and examining medical samples for causes or treatments of toxicity, disease, or pathogens.

How To Become a Medical Research Doctor?

The roadmap to medical research is a bit tricky to navigate, because it is a profession that demands distinctive skills and expertise along with mandatory formal education. If you harbor an interest in scientific exploration and a desire to break new ground in medical knowledge, the first step is to earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as biology, chemistry, or biochemistry. After completing your undergraduate education, you will need to earn a Medical Degree ( MD ) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, from a quality institution such as the Windsor university school of Medicine.

After that, the newly minted doctor of medicine (MD) may choose to complete a three-year residency program in a specialty related to medical research, such as internal medicine, pediatrics, or neurology, in addition to a doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree—the part that provides the research expertise. In some  medical school  programs, students may pursue a dual MD-PhD at the same time, which provides training in both medicine and research. They are specifically designed for those who want to become research physicians. Last but not the least, all physician-scientists must pass the first two steps of the United States Medical Learning Examination (USMLE).

Use your fellowship years to hone the research skills necessary to carry out independent research. You may also take courses in epidemiology, biostatistics, and other related fields. In order to publish your research in peer-reviewed journals to establish yourself as a medical researcher. To apply for a faculty position at a medical school, research institute, or hospital. To maintain your position as a medical research doctor, you must publish your research and make significant contributions to the field.

How Much Do Medical Researchers Make?

Having a clear idea of what to earn when you become a medical researcher can help you decide if this is a good career choice for you. The salaries of Medical Researchers in the US range from $26,980 to $155,180, with a median salary of $82,240. There is also room for career advancement and higher earning potential as you gain experience.

The Most Popular Careers in Medical Research

  • Medical Scientists  – conduct research and experiments to improve our understanding of diseases and to develop new treatments. They also develop new medical technologies and techniques.
  • Biomedical engineers  – design medical devices, such as pacemakers, prosthetics, and imaging machines. They also develop and improve existing medical technologies.
  • Clinical Trial Coordinators  – oversee and manage clinical trials, which test new drugs and treatments. They are responsible for recruiting participants, collecting and analyzing data, and ensuring the trial is conducted in compliance with ethical standards.
  • Medical Laboratory Technicians  – analyze bodily fluids and tissues to diagnose diseases and conditions. They perform tests using specialized equipment and techniques, and report results to physicians.
  • Biostatisticians  – collect statistics to analyze data and test hypotheses in medical research. They design and analyze clinical trials, and use statistical models to understand the causes and effects of diseases.
  • Epidemiologists  – study the causes, distribution, and control of diseases in populations. They collect and analyze data, and use their findings to develop strategies for preventing and controlling diseases.
  • Pathologists  – diagnose diseases by examining tissues and bodily fluids. They use microscopes and other diagnostic tools to identify and study the changes in tissues caused by disease.
  • Genetic Counselors  – help individuals understand and manage the risks associated with inherited genetic disorders. They educate patients about genetic tests and help families make informed decisions about their health.
  • Health Services Researchers  – study the delivery of healthcare and identify ways to improve it.
  • Medical writers  – write articles, reports, and other materials related to medical research.
  • Microbiologists  – study microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses, to understand their behavior and impact on human health.
  • Neuroscientists  – study the brain and nervous system to understand the underlying causes of neurological conditions.
  • Toxicologists  – study the effects of toxic substances on living organisms and the environment.

Skills You Need to Become a Medical Researcher?

To be a successful medical scientist, you need a range of soft and hard skills to excel in your work. First things first, medical researchers must be able to analyze data, identify patterns, and draw conclusions from their findings. They must be able to think critically, ask relevant questions, and design experiments to answer those questions. Additionally, you should also have the knack of articulating your findings clearly and effectively, be it writing research papers, grant proposals, or technical reports that are clear, concise, and free from errors.

Medical researchers must be proficient in using various computer programs and software to collect, manage, analyze and interpret research data. They must be able to use laboratory equipment and techniques, as well as statistical analysis software and other tools for data analysis. Since medical research involves precise and meticulous work, so you must also pay close attention to detail to ensure that your findings are accurate and reliable. Not to mention, medical researchers often work in teams, so it pays off if you are good at collaborating with others effectively, sharing ideas, and working together to solve complex problems.

Lastly, medical researchers must have a thorough understanding of regulations and ethical guidelines that govern research, such as obtaining informed consent from study participants, ensuring data confidentiality, and adhering to safety protocols.

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How to Choose and Prioritize Extracurricular Activities as a Premed Student

Engage in activities that reflect your passion and commitment to serving others, and choose quality over quantity.

Premeds and Extracurricular Activities

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Extracurriculars are a great way explore what kind of field you want to go into.

Extracurricular activities can help to differentiate your application in the medical school admissions process and require thoughtful decision-making and careful planning.

Here's some advice on choosing and prioritizing extracurriculars, plus some examples of activities that may impress med school admissions officers.

Identify and Understand Your Career Goals 

The best extracurricular activities will be personally tailored to your specific goals in medicine and in your career. It is essential to align extracurriculars with your goals, so dedicate some time to reflecting on your personal interests, values and career aspirations. Work to identify areas of genuine passion . Try not to bend to outside pressures or negative comparisons with other premedical students, but instead pursue opportunities that excite you. 

For example, if you have no interest in research but a proclivity for service and volunteering, pursue those activities at the expense of joining a laboratory. If you feel particularly excited by a medical or surgical subfield, it is never too early to get involved in specialty-specific interests, such as clinical volunteering in an emergency department or dialysis unit, as a sitter in a psychiatry department, etc. 

A great way to gain exposure to a specific field, and validate your early interest, is by joining a clinical research laboratory. Many clinical labs and trials are run by practicing clinicians. Select ones in your area of interest and ask for opportunities to contribute.

You will likely dedicate significant time to two or three extracurricular activities as an undergraduate premed student, so be sure they align with your actual interests. 

Carefully Select and Manage Commitments to Extracurricular Activities 

Assess your personal time constraints and prior commitments. When you know you have available time, reach out to several possible opportunities, such as clinical work, service, basic or translational research projects, or leadership activities. Don’t be shy – cold email to get your foot in the door! 

Start a single extracurricular activity at first, and verify that you can balance your academics and personal life before you take on more responsibilities. It can reflect poorly if you back out of a commitment soon after it was made, so begin only activities you know you can commit to.

Admissions committees value significant, longitudinal time investments in a single activity more than brief involvement in many extracurriculars, and you will find sticking with activities more personally rewarding in the long term, as well. 

Don’t underestimate the time required to meaningfully contribute to a research endeavor. Expect to commit significant time to lab work in order to gain meaningful skills or contribute to a project.

At the same time, if you enjoy the work, advocate for yourself to present an abstract, contribute to a publication or write an honors thesis. Purposeful involvement in any extracurricular activity will shine through in your application. 

Describe Your Extracurriculars With Purpose in Your Application 

When it comes time to apply to med school, spend significant time on the extracurricular activity descriptions. Describe explicitly and concisely what you did, but also craft a compelling narrative around your decision to pursue each activity. Highlight any personal growth that has come as a result, lessons you’ve learned and any impact you’ve been able to have on others.

Even if an activity is common, your experience is unique. Describe a unique clinical encounter you had, a memorable patient or mentee you helped or a service experience that changed the way you see your career. 

You did the legwork and spent many, many hours on a research project, volunteering in a free clinic or leading a tutoring program, so be sure to present these experiences thoughtfully. You want your application to read like a coherent and engaging story, and you want admissions committees to feel that they have gotten to know you through your decisions and experiences presented in your application. 

What Are Meaningful Extracurricular Activities? 

Many possible extracurricular activities can be meaningful on a medical school application. 

If clinical work interests you, working in a free clinic, volunteering in an ER or other hospital department, "sitting" in a psychiatric department or shadowing physicians in any specialty can be significant experiences. 

If you find yourself drawn to service, consider opportunities such as mentoring underprivileged youth, organizing preventative health care fairs in underserved communities and working in shelters or soup kitchens. 

Leadership opportunities can be less easy to find, but serving as president of a student organization, leading an initiative to address a health disparity or coordinating a team of volunteers are realistic examples of meaningful leadership experiences that can be attained before medical school. 

If you’re excited by the possibility of expanding your understanding of biology and medicine, then basic, clinical or translational research is a substantial activity readily available at most major academic centers and universities. The only limit is how much available time you have, as this is a significant investment.

Nonetheless, if research excites you, many faculty members are eager to have an enthusiastic undergraduate premed student join their laboratory. All you need to do is reach out.

Additional Tips for Success 

Engage in a diverse range of activities, if possible. Exploring different interests is an essential aspect of the undergraduate premed experience, and you may not know what interests you until you try.

Avoid subconsciously boxing yourself into a career plan too early, and don’t be afraid to take the leap and explore a new extracurricular activity. It is never too late to gain experience and discover a passion. 

Within extracurricular activities, seek out opportunities to showcase initiative and demonstrate leadership potential. The more you show that you can do, the more responsibilities you are likely to be given, and the more meaningful the experience will be to you and your application. 

Above all, pursue activities that align with your long-term career goals and personal values. While exploring new avenues is important and exciting, if you want to pursue a career centered on service , for example, try to build up significant experience in service-oriented extracurriculars so that you are prepared for such a career. The same goes for research, clinical subspecialty work, etc. 

Don’t force yourself to continue in an extracurricular activity you don’t enjoy, just because “everyone is doing research” or because of an existential need to “check the box." Your time is much too valuable to make decisions in this manner. Pursue opportunities that make you excited and will help prepare you for a career in medicine, and you will be well positioned to be a great medical school applicant. 

Thoughtfully select extracurricular activities that reflect genuine passion and commitment to serving others, focus on quality over quantity and describe your activities with purpose and thoughtfulness throughout your application. With hard work and commitment, you should be able to leverage extracurricular experiences to learn, expand your skill set and stand out in the medical school admissions process.

Medical School Application Mistakes

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About Medical School Admissions Doctor

Need a guide through the murky medical school admissions process? Medical School Admissions Doctor offers a roundup of expert and student voices in the field to guide prospective students in their pursuit of a medical education. The blog is currently authored by Dr. Ali Loftizadeh, Dr. Azadeh Salek and Zach Grimmett at Admissions Helpers , a provider of medical school application services; Dr. Renee Marinelli at MedSchoolCoach , a premed and med school admissions consultancy; Dr. Rachel Rizal, co-founder and CEO of the Cracking Med School Admissions consultancy; Dr. Cassie Kosarec at Varsity Tutors , an advertiser with U.S. News & World Report; Dr. Kathleen Franco, a med school emeritus professor and psychiatrist; and Liana Meffert, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Iowa's Carver College of Medicine and a writer for Admissions Helpers. Got a question? Email [email protected] .

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University of Georgia to found state’s sixth medical school

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The University of Georgia plans to launch an independent medical school amid a worsening shortage of medical professionals.

The school will be transitioning from a 14-year partnership with the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and expanding its own reach across the state. Almost two-thirds of Georgia’s 159 counties lack adequate dental, mental health, and primary care services, largely due to a lack of providers, according to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. The University of Georgia’s School of Medicine would be an addition to the state’s five existing medical schools.

Related: HCA Healthcare expands academic partnership to boost staffing pipeline

Partnerships between colleges, K-12 schools and health systems are an increasingly popular option as industry stakeholders nationwide attempt to bolster the clinical workforce through pipeline programs .

Development of the University of Georgia’s School of Medicine will be supported by research funding from the National Institutes of Health and more than $240 million raised from alumni and industry partners, the university said in a Tuesday news release.

The university did not respond to questions about when the medical school is set to open.

“The School of Medicine will significantly expand the pool of medical professionals in Georgia, attract more top-tier scientists and researchers to the state, and produce more physicians to serve underserved and rural Georgia communities,” said Jere Morehead, University of Georgia president, in the news release.

Medical students are expected to work with local healthcare providers, including rural hospitals and clinics, to extend the school’s impact throughout the state.

Internal demand for clinical education is high among University of Georgia undergraduates—the school is the ninth highest producer of medical school applicants in the U.S., according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Since 2010, the university has partnered with the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University to educate physicians in Athens, Georgia. Now, the University of Georgia has said it will begin transitioning medical students from the partnership to its new medical school as it seeks accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

In 2023, the Medical College of Georgia had nearly 1,000 students enrolled. The University of Georgia received more than $6.5 million in state funding to put toward its partnership with Augusta University, according to the school’s 2023 financial statement.

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Everything You Need to Know About Medical School Interviews

P rospective medical school students should prepare for their interview as if it were a full-time job. That means dressing professionally, avoiding speaking too casually and preparing for prompts and questions.

“The interview day is very important in the process, and of course, you have to get invited for an interview,” says Beth Piraino, associate dean of admissions and financial aid at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania. “The interview day sort of makes or breaks the candidates.”

Interview Approaches Vary by Medical School

How med schools conduct interviews differs across institutions, Piraino notes.

“We not only do two one-on-one interviews, one with one of our medical students and one with the faculty, but we also do a team exercise or a small group exercise, which I don't think most schools do,” she says.

The admissions team finds this helpful because the school curriculum is virtually all small group-based, she says.

At Pitt, applicants have a “menu” of questions they can choose from, and they must choose four. Prospective students invited for an interview can expect to devote about 40 minutes to answering a dilemma-based question in the small group Zoom.

“Each facilitator picks a different dilemma, so, one example is a case of a woman who's been diagnosed with breast cancer,” Piraino says. “It's not really about the treatment for the breast cancer, it's about the communications with the health care team, which is a little bit fraught, so it's not really being managed as patient-centered care and the patient is very frustrated with the lack of good communications with the team.”

Another dilemma Pitt has used in interviews is a pandemic occurring in which the emergency room is completely overrun.

“They're running out of ventilators – what should the poor doctors in the health care team do in this situation?” she says. “It sounds a little too familiar, but they do really well with that one, actually.”

The University of New Mexico School of Medicine takes a holistic approach to interviews, similar to about half of U.S. medical schools, according to Robert Sapien, the school's associate dean for admissions.

“What that means is that when we’re looking at an applicant, we look at the grades , we look at the scores, but it's really more about the full applicant, a 360 view and what are they are going to contribute to medicine and their patients and are they going to be a positive attribute to the field,” Sapien says.

Other than a panel interview or virtual interviews, many med schools conduct multiple mini interviews, which he compares to speed dating. The University of Minnesota Medical School uses MMI, for example.

“These are short-form, very focused interviews on either specific questions or scenarios that are designed to give the admissions committee evidence of certain attributes or competencies,” says Dimple Patel, associate dean of admissions at the school.

Some of the “stations,” as they are called, include one focused on gauging an applicant’s empathetic skills . Some role-playing is involved, with the applicant having to deliver bad health news to someone.

Another station aims to provide the admissions team more information on a candidate's ability to work through challenging situations in a professional manner. This could include admitting a mistake, explaining how they identified the mistake, working through it and explaining the steps the applicant would hypothetically take to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Each station lasts about seven minutes.

Current Topics Discussed

Patel said another element of medical school interviews is gauging an applicant’s knowledge and experience with certain hot topics.

One example is having the applicant explain what in their portfolio can touch on the subject of health disparities and inequities in health care – or simply displaying knowledge on the topic.

Sapien says his school does the same.

“Committee members will ask controversial questions around abortion, about ICU beds that you have, like if you don't have enough of those and you have three patients, who are you going to choose?” Sapien says. “They ask a lot about the healthcare needs and challenges of our state and challenges the applicant has gone through in life.”

Applicants Ask Questions

Admission interviews also give applicants a chance to ask questions about the school to make sure it’s a good fit.

“We also advise our interviewers to make sure they leave time so a candidate can ask them questions,” Patel says, “so it also serves as a little bit of a recruitment conversation where we're trying to recruit the candidate to our institution.”

Sapien says this is the chance for applicants to reflect on what they want out of a med school experience and how it will translate to their medical career.

“We have a number of applicants every year who have literally perfect MCAT scores that don't get into our school, and that's because they usually fail the interview or there's some other part of their application in that holistic review that is lacking,” Sapien says.

There are medical schools for applicants who have a perfect MCAT score and might be a star academically, but some med schools – like the University of New Mexico – don't make a stellar test score the end all, be all.

“The applicant just needs to be aware of that,” Sapien says. “So, you know, is this school completely based on numbers? Maybe I need to be realistic as an applicant, and maybe my numbers just aren't there. Or is this school more open to some of the other values of an applicant?”

Etiquette and Keys to Success

For interviews, med school applicants "should be dressed professionally, and because it is on Zoom, it's very important to make eye contact with the other students who are the facilitators for the small group or the individual interviews with the person doing the interview,” Piraino says.

If the interviewer feels that an applicant is looking off the screen or constantly checking on notes, that's not a good sign, she says.

“Also, because we do an interview with students on the panel, it's very important applicants take it seriously,” she says. “They shouldn't become overly casual with the student interviewer and they need to treat that person with respect and be very professional.”

Sapien underscores that point.

“Chances are the medical student is going to be closer in age to (an applicant) and there could be some informality, some familiarity that occurs,” Sapien says. “But please remember that's a full-on interview, because we have had applicants in the past that have been too casual with the medical students.”

Still, Patel says, it's important for an applicant to be comfortable and professionally conversational with interviewers, especially since schools are partly judging if the applicant will be a good fit with the culture of a school and the field of medicine.

Sapien says an open mind is also key to interview success.

“Sometimes an applicant, you know, young 20s, will be in a clinical setting and will observe something and bring about a judgment, and then they'll bring that judgment to the interview,” he says. “So, judging something without a lot of experience is something the committee hasn't really liked.”

A student who had a negative experience in a clinical setting or shadowing should realize that such an episode might not occur or play out the same way in every medical setting they’re a part of in the future, Sapien says.

“You don't want to be overly casual in particular settings, but I think it is important that applicants be themselves and let their true self shine forth,” Piraino says. “You don't want to be overly scripted, but it's a good idea to practice a little bit with maybe a friend or a mentor just so you understand that you're going to have to answer questions, speak well and so on.”

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  2. Research for Medical School Admissions: What You Need to Know

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  3. Medical School FAQs: Do You Need Research for Medical School?

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  4. How Important is Research for Medical School Admissions?

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  6. Finding Research For Medical School

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  1. The Shocking Truth Behind Medical Funding

  2. How Much Work Experience Do You Need For Medicine?

  3. School of Medicine students present summer research projects

COMMENTS

  1. Premed Research That Impresses Medical Schools

    My short answer: No. It's not necessary for a medical school applicant to be involved in research, let alone publish a paper, in order to have a strong application. However, research only...

  2. What admission officers wish premeds knew before applying

    Learn what medical schools look for in applications and how to make your research relevant to your goals and fit with the school's mission. Find out how to communicate your story, clinical experience, and research experience in a way that shows your motivation and alignment with the school's mission.

  3. Success in medical school: Research

    Nearly every medical student believes they need to add research to their CV prior to the residency application process, but many don't always know how to begin. If you don't have prior research experience, don't be dismayed.

  4. Research for Medical School Admissions: What Do You Need to Know?

    ‍ Importance of Research for Medical School ‍ Most but not all students accepted to medical school have research experience. According to a survey of incoming medical students conducted by the AAMC, 60% of students participated in some kind of laboratory research for college students.

  5. Is Research Required to be Accepted to Med School?

    No, research experience is not required to get into medical school. You can do research as a premed without publishing it in a journal. The goal of research is to help you think critically and learn about medicine. You can do clinical, bench, or animal research as a premed.

  6. How to Get Research Experience

    Working in a research setting can help make you a competitive medical school applicant and help you to determine if a career in medicine or medical research is right for you How do I find a research position?

  7. How research experience can strengthen your medical school application

    Research and admissions A medical student's admissions portfolio—the varying aspects of an application—is going to include an undergraduate transcript, MCAT scores and a number of experiential factors that speak to one's readiness for a career in medicine.

  8. How to Get into Medical School

    Here are key factors to consider as you prepare to apply for medical school. 1. Choose a pre-med major you have a real interest in. 2. Research specific medical school admissions requirements. 3 ...

  9. Medical School Requirements: The Ultimate Guide (2023-2024)

    What medical school requirements and prerequisites do you need? Discover medical school requirements and medical school prerequisites, which scholarly and extracurricular activities you need, and how to fulfill your premed requirements while standing out in the 2024-2025 medical school application process.

  10. Considering a research year in medical school? 5 things to know

    That creates a time-management challenge that isn't typical during medical school where students are often adhering to an external schedule. "In a research year, your time is pretty much yours, and you divvy it up however you see fit," she said. "So it's very easy to get off the schedule because you have to make it by yourself.".

  11. How Important is Research for Medical School Admissions?

    2. Research helps develop critical reasoning skills. Research puts you in an environment that encourages you to understand the links between ideas, identify reasoning that is inconsistent or in error, and be consistent and systematic in how you approach problems. These are all skills that you will need in medical school and beyond.

  12. How to Conduct Research During Medical School

    · May 17, 2023 Table of Contents Most med schools in the United States require that you participate in some sort of scholarly project. Participation in the academic life of medicine is a great way to enhance your residency applications, and it may even be expected or required to successfully match in the most competitive specialties.

  13. Do I Need Research Experience for Medical School Admissions?

    It is not an option. I consider those two types of research to be requirements. Previous article Do I Need Clinical Experience to Get into Medical School? When planning your pre-med years, it is important to understand that scientific or non-science based research is important. Research experience will demonstrate that you can analyze data.

  14. Navigating Research in Medical School

    Although not usually required, participating in a meaningful, productive research during medical school has become increasingly integral to putting together a competitive residency application.

  15. How to Conduct Research as a Medical Student

    Clinical research requires IRB review, strict protocols and large sample sizes, thus requiring dedicated time and often funding. These can serve as barriers for medical students wanting to conduct this type of research. Be aware that the AOA offers students funding for certain research projects; you can learn more here.

  16. How to Find Research Opportunities in Medical School

    Ask faculty at your institution. The faculty members at your school are one of the best resources for finding research opportunities. Many of your professors will be conducting their own research. If they work in a field that interests you, ask them if you can work with them. If they are not accepting students, they may know a colleague who is.

  17. How Important is Research for Medical School

    Research is a critical part of your medical learning, and its important for both how to prepare for med school applications and of course your entire medical career. Research experience of any type is a valuable asset on medical school applications, and clinical research experience even more so. If you've completed a stint in a clinical ...

  18. Do I Need Research Experience to get into medical school?

    You don't need to present posters. Now, this student said they did do research they've been involved in one project. And in my mind, that is enough. Research is nothing more than how inquisitive are you. That's the goal of research. "You don't even need to do any research and you will still get into medical school.".

  19. How to Become a Medical Research Scientist as a Premed

    The role of a medical researcher is versatile. Medical researchers are employed in a wide variety of industries and often communicate with specialists in other fields, many of whom have little to no medical knowledge. As a medical researcher, you may start your day with an 8am lecture, followed by a day of lab work.

  20. Pre-med frequently asked questions

    Interview. Applicants that a medical school are considering for admission will be asked to come for an in-person interview that will allow the school to assess how suitable a candidate is for their institution and program. It also provides an opportunity for applicants to learn more about the school. Step 5. Background check.

  21. The Guide to Becoming a Medical Researcher

    As a medical researcher, simply gaining formal education won't suffice. You also need to hone your communication, critical thinking, decision-making, data collecting, data analyzing and observational skills. These skill sets will enable you to create a competitive edge in the research industry.

  22. How to Choose and Prioritize Extracurricular Activities as a Premed

    All you need to do is reach out. ... just because "everyone is doing research" or because of an existential need to "check the box." ... Medical School Admissions Doctor offers a roundup of ...

  23. UC Davis medical school ranked among the nation's best for NIH research

    (SACRAMENTO) The UC Davis School of Medicine is among the nation's leading medical schools in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, according to the latest Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research ranking. The medical school broke its record of NIH funding with a total of more than $209 million, placing it 33 rd nationally. "Research is foundational to our mission of delivering ...

  24. Applying to Medical Research Programs

    February 02, 2021 Check out our calendar Research Career Paths Interested in becoming a physician scientist? There are numerous professional paths available. Learn more at Careers in Medicine Subscribe: Premed Navigator

  25. University of Georgia to open medical school

    Development of the University of Georgia's School of Medicine will be supported by research funding from the National Institutes of Health and more than $240 million raised from alumni and ...

  26. UCSF Tops Public Universities in NIH Research Funding in 2023

    The School of Medicine received $700 million in funding. The School of Pharmacy, the top school in its field for 44 years, received $37 million. The School of Dentistry received $27 million. And the School of Nursing received $19 million. These public research funds lay a foundation for a healthier future for everyone." Catherine Lucey, MD

  27. Everything You Need to Know About Medical School Interviews

    Interview Approaches Vary by Medical School. How med schools conduct interviews differs across institutions, Piraino notes. "We not only do two one-on-one interviews, one with one of our medical ...

  28. What I wish I knew in medical school about Match rank-order lists

    "The whole process is so individualized to what means most to you as an applicant," said Dr. Foster during an interview for the AMA. "Somebody who interviewed at the same programs but had slightly different priorities for residency may make an entirely different rank-order list and be just as happy with the outcome of the Match as I was."