Medicine is a scientific discipline. Entry to medical school follows on from early interest in science and progression through the speciality training curriculum demands an understanding of research and its impacts. All of our major advances and treatments have arisen from clinical research and the way you interact with patients and the treatment choices you consider are all drawn from a research evidence base.
There are as many routes in research as there are pathways though medicine. For some this may involve funded research and a PhD, for others it maybe a smaller project looking into a clinical question that you don’t have a ready answer to. Whatever your stage or situation opportunities are available to support you in engaging in research which will help you to develop your practice.
5 REASONS WHY MEDICS MAKE GOOD RESEARCHERS
We bring together different perspectives: biological, psychological and social.
We can consider how brain mechanisms, neurotransmitters may influence mental health presentations.
We are experts in psychopharmacology as practiced clinically and are ideally placed to research benefits and risks of pharmacological interventions.
We are able to explore the etiology of metal health problems using a biopsychosocial framework.
We are trained in medicine and understand the links between physical and mental ill-health.
Academic psychiatry careers webinar
Many clinical academics have followed a non-standard path in their academic work. Dr Vivienne Curtis, Dr Kate Saunders, Dr Shruti Garg and Dr Oli Sparasci shared advice and tips on all the options available to psychiatry trainees. Do check out the presentation slides, Q&A questions and links to a useful whatsapp group on the Royal College of Psychiatry (RCN) website.
