If you even think that you want to do surgery it is never too early to start building your CV. While some programs may not care if you have done research, these programs will be in the minority. One of the best ways to get involved in research is to find a good research mentor. As a medical student it can be daunting to reach out to an attending surgeon, so in this post we want to address how simple it can really be.
When selecting your mentor, be smart. Make sure your mentor has time they can devote to doing research with you. Lots of physicians are very willing to help students, but not all physicians have a schedule that will allow them to help in a meaningful way. Find a mentor that is already involved in research and has adequate time to educate you on both the research itself and your role specifically.
When picking a mentor it is valuable to consider what area of surgery you are interested in, especially if you want to apply into a subspecialty. It is beneficial to select a mentor that is in your specialty for several reasons. First of all, it allows you to start making connections in your chosen area. Second, when you apply for residency it shows your interest and commitment to this specialty. Third, you can connect with a mentor(s) that can help guide you through the application process. If you want to do surgery but don’t know specifically what specialty you are planning to pursue, that is ok. If this is the case, one of the best things to do is simply work on a project that interests you. The more you are interested in your work, the more likely you are to be prolific.
When thinking about a mentor you should also think about your goals. Do you want to work on one big project? Or, do you prefer to work on a few small projects that will result in publications? A mentor that does mostly large prospective studies is unlikely to put out a lot of publications in a short period of time. However, if you are involved in one important quality research project, that also has a lot of value. You should also think about whether you want to do bench research or clinical research. It doesn’t make a difference to programs, so choose what you like to do.
If you are hesitant to contact an attending to do research then you can see if your institution’s SIG can assist you in getting involved in a project. In general, contacting a mentor for research via email is acceptable (see below for a sample email).
Sample email: contacting a new mentor:
Dear [ insert mentor’s name ],
I am [ insert name ], a [ insert year in medical school ] at [ insert institution ]. I am currently seeking out opportunities to assist in research projects. I have read your work [insert study or project name] and I am very interested in learning more about your current research. Would you be available to meet and discuss this further? I am attaching my CV below.
Thank you,
[ insert signature ]
However you choose to go about finding a research mentor, getting involved in a research project will help your application and provide you experiential learning that will benefit you in the future.
National Surgery Interest Group 