Achieving a place at a medical school more or less guarantees
you a well-paid and satisfying job for life with a good pension
at the end of it. In addition, there are enormous opportunities
to become an educationalist, a research scientist, or even a
hospital manager (!) either alongside or instead of a clinical
career while retaining all of the other bene fi ts. It is, of course,
true that any of these career options remain highly competitive,
and so each of us must make the most of every opportunity
to increase our chances of success in any chosen fi eld.
Research is de fi nitely an area where a doctor can enhance
their competitiveness with an eye to the future.
In the past, many trainees, particularly on hospital-based
career paths, have massaged their CVs by developing a
“research pro fi le.” The current view suggests that research is
best targeted at those who really want to be involved with it
and who have a long-term aim to continue to do it or at least
be associated with it thereafter. This is not designed to make
research an exclusive realm but should rule out any obligation
for doctors to go through “a process” if it does not interest
them.
Excellence – as Aristotle said – is a habit. It is a way of thinking and a way of acting such that doing the right thing becomes a habit. It is also true that if you are not at the forefront of developing your clinical practice, then you will be left behind by developments in that area. That does not mean that everybody has to be research active but everybody needs to know what research is and how it is done so that they can understand the scienti fi c output in journals and conferences and in casual discussion to be able to discern the truth from the “waffle” (and it is mainly waffle).
Tony Mundy
^Daron Smith • Dan Wood Research in Clinical Practice
I think only a callus straight talking surgeon can call a spade a spade.
" It was put to us before starting research that it is far worse to have done research and have little or nothing to show for it than not to do it at all. This remains largely true. There continue to be many problems with research that will not change imminently. There will never be “enough” money, and as long as there is no of fi cial regulation from the grant bodies or colleges for clinicians, anyone can take on a research fellow and offer supervision. The outcome of research is rarely checked (apart from indirectly – by training committees, etc.) and it is still true that huge numbers of projects undertaken are not written up. Research has frequently been a means to an end for trainees to achieve points and make themselves more competitive in the application process for clinical jobs. It remains true that points can often be gained by having registered for and completed a higher degree. If this is your only motivation, you can expect increasing frustration as you encounter the inevitable trials and tribulations of research – if you lack a genuine interest or enthusiasm for your work, it will drive down the quality of what you achieve."
If you are doing it because you have to – think again. Can you achieve your objective in other ways? If you fi nd a desire to do research later because you want to, then it will be better for all concerned.
Excellence – as Aristotle said – is a habit. It is a way of thinking and a way of acting such that doing the right thing becomes a habit. It is also true that if you are not at the forefront of developing your clinical practice, then you will be left behind by developments in that area. That does not mean that everybody has to be research active but everybody needs to know what research is and how it is done so that they can understand the scienti fi c output in journals and conferences and in casual discussion to be able to discern the truth from the “waffle” (and it is mainly waffle).
Tony Mundy
^Daron Smith • Dan Wood Research in Clinical Practice
I think only a callus straight talking surgeon can call a spade a spade.
" It was put to us before starting research that it is far worse to have done research and have little or nothing to show for it than not to do it at all. This remains largely true. There continue to be many problems with research that will not change imminently. There will never be “enough” money, and as long as there is no of fi cial regulation from the grant bodies or colleges for clinicians, anyone can take on a research fellow and offer supervision. The outcome of research is rarely checked (apart from indirectly – by training committees, etc.) and it is still true that huge numbers of projects undertaken are not written up. Research has frequently been a means to an end for trainees to achieve points and make themselves more competitive in the application process for clinical jobs. It remains true that points can often be gained by having registered for and completed a higher degree. If this is your only motivation, you can expect increasing frustration as you encounter the inevitable trials and tribulations of research – if you lack a genuine interest or enthusiasm for your work, it will drive down the quality of what you achieve."
If you are doing it because you have to – think again. Can you achieve your objective in other ways? If you fi nd a desire to do research later because you want to, then it will be better for all concerned.
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