Medical students need opportunities to consider careers in research

Editor - Academic medicine seems to be in a crisis: mass redundancies,¹ low rates of recruitment, and lack of government support. This is very worrying for medicine as a whole, as research and innovation form the basis of tomorrows clinical practice.

From a students perspective, it is not difficult to understand where the roots of these problems really lie. Preclinical students often see their studies as a means to an end, rather than enjoying and appreciating them for their own sake. The proportion of students undertaking an intercalated year in biological science is still low, and clinical attachments are becoming increasingly common in the earlier years of the course.

It seems as though medical students are not being given sufficient opportunities or encouragement to consider a career in research. I have so far taken part in several research projects in my undergraduate career; one was part of my intercalated degree and the latest is being funded by a scholarship from the Wellcome Trust. These projects have enhanced my analytical, problem solving, communication, and presentation skills—all of which are relevant for practising clinicians. The collaboration with non-clinical scientists gives another perspective and encourages flexible thinking.

The problems in academic medicine should be addressed by creating more opportunities for undergraduate research, providing more information on career structure and pay in academic medicine, and by making intercalated degrees more attractive, with better funding.

The problem is not that medical students are not interested in research, more that current policies and curricula do not light the fires of scientific curiosity that almost all medical students undoubtedly possess.

1. Barratt H. Academic teaching staff face redundancy at British universities. studentBMJ 2002;10:220. (July.)