"I think research is a wonderful experience to have because it gives you a greater appreciation of how science and clinical medicine are intertwined. I was able to see how the results of basic bench research after many years could be applied in the real world. Between my first and second year of medical school, I worked on a TB project at the NIH. I did basic bench research trying to improve the BCG vaccine. Not only was the project intellectually stimulating, the people that I met through the experience were wonderful! I was also excited about the possibility of finding a way to improve the vaccine and ultimately saving millions of lives. As doctors, you can help individuals. As researchers, your efforts have the possibility of reaching a much broader population. Most of all though, have fun and enjoy what you do. It will only lead to success!" Winnie Suen, MD, JABSOM Class of 2001

"I know it's hard to explain to 1st & 2nd year students the importance of research. I did not understand myself, and chose to do a community service project instead of standard research for my summer project. I regretted that decision at the end of my 3rd year. I worked hard to get a paper published in my 4th year and realized the importance of doing case reports, research and academic work. It looks good on your CY. If you spend the effort to get your work published, it puts you in a different class during your interviews. If you have more than one publication under your belt by the time you enter residency, your attending will see you in a different light, as you will know more about those particular topics than they will. It will help you in every step of your career, particularly if you are consistent in submitting works every year or two. More importantly, it keeps your intellectual curiosity alive. It keeps you looking for those unanswered questions that you could be the first to answer. Your contribution to medicine will give you tremendous satisfaction and overall you will become a better physician. The first step is the hardest. Take this opportunity to learn how to make a truly publishable paper now and your next will be exponentially easier. The rewards are well worth the work." Kevin L. Dawson, MD, JABSOM Class of 2000

"I am very glad I pursued a research project in the summer between my 1st and 2nd year of med school. My project won the Dean's Award for Medical Student Research in 1997, which was great for my application and opened doors in terms of getting interviews at residency programs. However, because I had done the research project by myself with little faculty support, it was very difficult for me to take it one step further and publish my research during 3rd and 4th year. When it came time to apply for residency programs, it seemed that the people who had publications on their CY were able to get interviews at the more prestigious programs. One of the things that made it difficult to publish was my lack of experience writing scientific papers and no one else to share the work. If I was doing it again I would definitely utilize any opportunity to contribute to an ongoing research project and in order to get my name on a serious publication." Josh Hantman, MD, JABSOM Class of 2000

"Join research projects that excite you. Do everything in medicine that excites you. NEVER do things because you think you will make your resume look better. If you love to teach (or whatever), your resume will be just as strong if it shows a commitment to teaching as if you have been involved in research. The other good reason to do research is if the faculty member who you work with excites you. Interesting people are good to be around no matter what they are doing. People who are good teachers will make any time you spend with them worthwhile. You are in medical school to LEARN, and you are alive to enjoy yourself, so choose your activities (research and otherwise) according to these goals and not according to arbitrary ideas of how a medical career should be. That said, the little research project I did this year was tremendously rewarding. A lot of work, but absolutely worth it." Katie McLane, MD, JABSOM Class of 2000.