Should medical students be doing research?

I posted here some thoughts on biomedical research from a newbie’s perspective. In my current role I work with many medical students and residents with varying levels of research (and statistics) experience. They are expected to produce publishable research products as part of their program while also training to be good physicians. That seems like asking alot of students.

In my past experience mentoring undergraduates in research the focus was on using research as pedagogy and not on creating valuable research products (they were undergraduates, after all). Most graduate students are learning how to be researchers (e.g., a PhD requires producing original research), so of course they would be expected to produce more impactful research. Where do medical students fit in?

I offer no solutions since it seems the “creeping” research expectations in medical school is prevalent throughout academia. Add in the abundance of journals ready to publish, well, anything if the price is right makes for a massive challenge.

I will, though, continue to help medical students and residents improve their use of statistics.

I am concerned about this issue since I work with medical students and residents with varying research (and statistics) experience. They are expected to produce non-trivial research products as part of their training. In my experience mentoring undergraduates in research the focus was on using research as pedagogy and not on creating valuable research products (they were undergraduates). And as a graduate student, research was a focus (i.e., a PhD requires producing original research). To expect med students and residents to do high-level research while also training to be good physicians seems a bit much to me.