sunymed Registered User Posts: 1 (9/27/00 6:04:44 pm) Reply Ortho Research/Taking a year off for Research Hello all, I am a second year med student interested in ortho. I have read your postings and have found them extremely helpful. I realize that grades/evaluations are crucial to the application for orthopedics. During the past summer, I did some clinical research in opthalmology (retrospective study) that hopefully I will be able to publish. I am finishing and writing up the project this year. However, during the summer, I really developed a fascination for ortho. while observing surgeries. My worry is that I have not done any research in orthopedics. How important is doing ortho. research, and can I wait until next year (third year to start a project)? Is publication crucial? Also, what do you guys/gals think about doing a year of ortho. research after med school (since research is so important and since I am still not 100% sure I want to do ortho.) I read somewhere that it might not look good to take time off. I would greatly appreciate if anyone could respond. Thanks a lot, Confused little med student sportsmed Unregistered User (9/28/00 11:53:03 am) Reply Research Year As with all things, there are advantages and disadvantages to taking a research year. Ortho, for better or worse, is quite competitive, and research is becoming a prerequisite for the better programs. My decision to take a year off following my second year of medical school served two purposes: to pursue a research project I had initiated the previous summer and to enjoy a break from school. In the past few months I've picked up a few more projects, and have had the opportunity to spend time in the clinic and the OR with many of the attendings at this institution (including the residency director). I've also had the chance to experience the normalcy that the majority of my friends have enjoyed for the few years since graduating college. However, this year is becoming an expensive propostion. The grant money that I've received is inadequate, and I've been forced to take out loans to support my living expenses. In addition, I would have enjoyed finishing medical school with my class, which included a number of my good friends. You have to ask yourself a number of questions. Have you taken a previous break from your education? Can you afford to take a year off? Can you work on viable projects that will be in manuscript or poster form before you apply to residency? Would you potentialy want to go out of house to do research( your med school may/may not have a strong ortho department)? Are you sure you want to be an orthopod? (although this research would be beneficial regardless of what you eventually decide to do). These are the questions that are relevant to the decision. I feel that a year of research can only augment your CV. Others may feel differently. I can only speak from my experience. It's a great way to get exposure to the field, and maybe get a few letters from reputable surgeons in the interim. Having said all of this, its only one year, and it won't make or break you either way. You have some research done, which is more than most students can say. Decide what's good for you, and don't sweat it. Good Luck, FAP