Building a Career in Clinical Research- Tips for Clinicians in Research Poor Environment: The Mindful Surgeon

Whether your interest in research is genuine or you are looking to bolster your portfolio, gaining insights into pursuing a research career can be invaluable. As clinicians, it is essential for us to have a foundational understanding of research methodology. Interpreting research articles is crucial for practising evidence-based medicine, enabling us to modify treatment approaches based on individual patient needs, circumstances, and available resources. This ability to interpret evidence is at the core of being a skilled clinician.

In the CV Building webinar by T.A.N.I, we heard from a fellow at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) about how to embark on a research career within the NHS. For those within the NHS,  you can use this as a blueprint for pursuing a research career in NHS. However, what if you are not part of the NHS or find yourself in a resource-limited research environment? Then this blog post might be for you.

Now a summary of my background in research. I have presented nationally and internationally with posters and oral presentations. I have also published in various journals and am an ad-hoc reviewer for Elsevier. I have led teams as part of national and international collaborative projects and worked as a Sub- investigator in a clinical trial.

I have been keener to develop my clinical and teaching portfolio, than my research. It is not only because I enjoy them more, but I think deep down, early in my training I feared research, especially statistics! But looking back,  there are compelling advantages to pursuing this path:

1. Expanding Your Network: Engaging in research opens doors to a broader professional network, fostering connections that can shape your career trajectory.

2. Influencing Clinical Guidelines: Contributing to research allows you to influence clinical guidelines and effect positive changes in patient care practices.

3. Academic Associations: A research background can link you to academic institutions and lecturers, enhancing your reputation within the medical community.

4. Balancing Clinical Work: Research provides a valuable diversion from clinical responsibilities, allowing you to maintain a well-rounded professional life.

5. Career Advancement: In institutions like university hospitals, research experience can provide a competitive advantage when seeking job opportunities.

6. Skill Development: As part of your research journey, you learn how to present, write and defend your work. This is a very important transferable skill.

Now doing research does not make you a good clinician! You do not necessarily need to do research to get a good job. You just need something to put in the research section of your CV. This was emphasized by Prof. Loubani in his talk about how interviewers assess candidates for job interviews.

So, based on my experience and research on this topic, these are the steps you can take to boost your research profile anywhere in the world :

1. Enrol in Research Methodology Courses: Seek online research methodology and statistics courses from platforms like FutureLearn or Coursera to acquire essential skills. Even just by seeing YouTube videos, you can learn a lot of essential concepts for free!

2. Start a Journal Club: Forming a journal club hones your critical appraisal abilities, giving you the confidence to evaluate literature effectively. In my opinion, this is the most important skill you can learn from your journey in research. This critical appraisal skill is what you need to read journal articles and assess evidence. Not only does this get handy in your post-graduate examination, like FRCS.  You also get to use this in your teaching and leadership portfolio.

3. Present at Conferences: Identify national and international conferences in your region, check their submission dates and guideline and previous presentation. Then submit presentations or posters, demonstrating your commitment to ongoing learning. You do need to have at least a consultant to submit the poster with. You cannot just present at a conference on your own if you are a trainee especially. I had an oral presentation at an international conference while working in Bangladesh, which counted in my registrar interview.

4. Begin with Small Publications: Start with institution-based journals and gradually work your way up to more significant publications, like national and international. Journals. Whatever you publish, make sure it has a peer review process. Start with care reports, then move on to case reviews or literature reviews, following that you can move to systematic review and metanalysis. These are key blocks in building your research portfolio for publications.  I had 5 publications in my medical college journal, which was peer-reviewed. This also added a mark to my portfolio station.

5. Collaborative Research Projects: Join local or global collaborative research projects, like Globalsurg in surgery.   This collaborative project also gives you collaborative authorships,  when they publish their result. Not to mention, you get to build networks.

6. Editorial Involvement: Join the editorial board of a local medical journal or become a reviewer for international journals. You don’t need to have an academic background to contribute your clinical expertise. But serving as an Ad hoc reviewer also helps to build your profile.

7. Build Research Profiles: Create profiles on platforms like ORCID and ResearchGate to connect with fellow researchers and showcase your work. You cannot do high-impact research unless you are part of a team. So, build your profile and grow your network!

8. Engage on social media: Utilize LinkedIn and Twitter to follow experts in your field, share insights, and participate in relevant discussions. Always make sure your comments are respectful and relevant to the subject matter.

Ultimately, a successful academic journey in research requires honesty, dedication, and authenticity. Upholding these principles ensures your contributions are meaningful and reliable, positioning you as a trustworthy source of knowledge. Embrace the process of learning, collaboration, and growth, regardless of your current setting, as these steps will serve as building blocks for your future in research.