INTRODUCTION AND RESEARCH ELECTIVES

1. INTRODUCTION AND RESEARCH ELECTIVES Umer Latif Uqaili Clinical Electives Nephrology (NUH) Clinical Electives Transplant Surgery (NUH) Research Exchange Student – Ped. Cardiology (NUS)

3. What is a ‘Research Elective’ • It is basically a fixed amount of time (optimally 8 – 10 weeks) that you spend in any university under the guidance of a mentor working on a specific or a number of ongoing research projects.

4. Research Electives • Can be done virtually in any country • 2nd or 3rd year of medical school • Having contacts is an advantage • Available in almost every university in the US • Foreign Exposure + Lab Exposure + LOR + Networking

5. Before Applying • Research Background VERY IMPORTANT • Set a good impression about Dow. • Learn about research Methodology. • PMA – Seminars and Workshops • Basic Laboratory Procedures (not in Dow).Research Elective at AKU/SIUT in first year.

6. When to Apply • 2nd or 3rd year • Students usually have a background and experience regarding research • DO NOT waste time in 4th and Final Year on research electives – do Clinical Electives or Sub-Internships.

7. When to Apply • No fixed time (optimally 6 months) • Having a contact is an advantage • If no contacts (Don’t worry) • Some universities have lengthy application procedures for research programs and others have almost no application requirements once a supervisor approves you

8. Where to apply • Anywhere you want (US, UK, Singapore, Australia) • Certain institutions are more research oriented – Greater chances of securing a research placement.

9. Institutions USA: Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Washington University, UPenn, University of California, Columbia University, Duke University, University of Michigan, Yale University, Cornell University, Stanford University, Baylor, UCLA, Vanderbilt University, Mayo Medical School, Pittsburgh University, University of Texas, University of Chicago, Emory, Northwestern, Case Western UK: Cambridge, Oxford, Kings College, Imperial. Singapore: National University of Singapore, Duke-NUS Medical School, Johns Hopkins International Medical Centre.

10. Impact • PUBLICATIONS (most important) • Foreign Exposure • Foreign Contacts and Networking (will help during residency process) • LORs • Laboratory Exposure (we hardly get any in Pakistan) • Awareness about research practices abroad

11. PUBLICATIONS • Name gets published as an author in the research project • Publications in an indexed journal with a high impact factor have the most value • Number of Publications (After Step Scores and US Clinical Experience) in indexed journals are the most important aspect when applying for the match. • Nobody will just gift you a publication – YOU NEED TO EARN IT

12. PUBLICATIONS • Does not necessarily means greater ‘number of hours’ • It is the intellectual and working input that you give to the research project which determines whether your name gets published or not. • Optimal time to spend on a research elective (8 – 10 weeks)

13. Pre-Requisites for research electives • No pre-requisites (Unlike Clinical Elective Programs) • You only need approval from an Attending or Research Professor • Most important step is finding a research supervisor – rest is just university formalities.

14. Other factors • Offerings • State/city • Climate • Finances • Relatives • Visa status

16. Done in a departmental clinical setting and the student is involved in all areas of research ranging from patient follow up, data collection and data analysis e.g. Value of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in an ESRD Paediatric Cohort • Lab research: student spends time in a lab and gets to learn basic lab procedures • A combination of both clinical and lab optimal. Talk to your mentor about this beforehand.

17. How to Apply • Lets divide it into 5 simple steps • Interest in Specific Specialty and Medical School Website Search • Drafting a correct Cover letter • Making the right CV • Emailing • Following up after acceptance

18. Specialty and Medical School • Think of what field interest you (If you want to do your residency in Pediatrics, a pediatrics related research will go a long way in achieving that goal) • Medical school departmental website where you want to apply. • Search for Associate/Assistant Professors who are involved in various research projects (Professors and HODS usually don’t have time to reply)

19. Best mode of contact – EMAIL (DO NOT call) • Medical School websites almost always have faculty names and email addresses and their research interests.

20. Cover letter • First mode of contact with potential research mentor • Brief and to the point (Professors might even close your email on the basis that it is too long) • DO NOT send the exact same email to every professor (be specific)

21. Salient points to mention in your cover letter • Basic introduction (Name and year of medical school) • Mention when you are available • Convince your research mentor that you are interested in their research specialty and that you will be able to significantly contribute to the research project • You are considering the specialty as your future career option • You will be responsible for all lodging, boarding, finances and fulfillment of application procedures • What you hope to learn from your experience

22. Making the Right CV • For your potential research mentor your CV is what you are since he has never met you and has no idea about your capabilities • Your CV will make you stand out • RULE OF THUMB – Mention the most relevant data FIRST • Simple and professional

23. Don’t hurry • Give it multiple reads and get it reviewed by various people. • Professional font and template (MS WORD) • Don’t worry if you don’t have much to write about. Your CV becomes better as you progress through medical school.

24. Relevant headings could be your Educational Background, Research Experience, Clinical experience, Basic Laboratory Skills, Volunteer ship • Question yourself. Never overlook any of your achievements • Be relevant and concise. If you are applying for your research electives, state your research experience and capabilities first.

25. Emailing • Email your cover letter, CV and if possible (an LOR) to around 15 associate/assistant professors. • DO NOT MASS EMAIL. • Do not send the same email to every professor. • Do not repeatedly email. • NEVER call the professor..

26. After acceptance • Once a professor is willing to sponsor you, thank them • Their secretary will guide you to the right person in the university for completion of further formalities (if any) • Invitation letter so you can apply for your visa right away

27. Some universities have extensive application requirements (Bonafide certificate, LORs, Immunizations, Grade Transcripts, HIPA) and other have almost none. These are generally the same documents you need for a clinical elective. • Getting the documentation from Dow – Akbar will speak about this in detail

28. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS • Dr Faraz Khan Luni and Dr Muhammad Ali Khan for their guidance, support and encouragement. • Akbar ArifHerekar for his editing capabilities. • Principal, Dr JunaidAshraf without whom this seminar would not have been possible.