1/ Trying to navigate developing a “research niche” as a trainee?
I’m by no means an uber-successful clinical researcher. But, as I near the end of my @BrighamFellows fellowship, I have a few tips to share: 🧵
I’m by no means an uber-successful clinical researcher. But, as I near the end of my @BrighamFellows fellowship, I have a few tips to share: 🧵
2/ Tip 1: think about what topics interest you - caring for pts with certain illnesses (#cardiogenicshock), problems in how we care for pts (#GDMT utilization), or specific data types (hemodynamics)?
Ideally, your clinical and research interests are aligned.
Ideally, your clinical and research interests are aligned.
3/ Tip 2: review the guidelines relevant to your interests.
Note Class II recommendations and those w/ non-A level of evidence - these are areas of needed investigation and where the field could use your help.
Also look at the references cited for these recommendations.
Note Class II recommendations and those w/ non-A level of evidence - these are areas of needed investigation and where the field could use your help.
Also look at the references cited for these recommendations.
4/ Tip 3: once you’ve identified some outstanding issues in a field that interests you, find recent high quality papers related to them (eg, refs in guidelines, reviews)
Read them and note the Limitations and accompanying editorials. These spell out how the field can be advanced
Read them and note the Limitations and accompanying editorials. These spell out how the field can be advanced
5/ Tip 4: you have some direction, now you need to find a data source.
Get familiar with what’s available at your institution and more broadly (eg, STS, NCDR, UNOS, NIS, etc). Speak with others who have worked with these databases to learn their strengths/limitations.
Get familiar with what’s available at your institution and more broadly (eg, STS, NCDR, UNOS, NIS, etc). Speak with others who have worked with these databases to learn their strengths/limitations.
6/ Tip 5: as you hone in on a data source, develop your research question. The question has to be answerable by the data sources you have access to.
Most of the above registries post their data collection forms online - review them and see what’s captured.
Most of the above registries post their data collection forms online - review them and see what’s captured.
7/ Tip 6: keep reading. Set up @googlescholar_ alerts for search terms, and you’ll get a weekly email with new articles including those terms (I have one for “cardiogenic shock” in article title).
The more literature you consume, the more follow up questions you will develop.
The more literature you consume, the more follow up questions you will develop.
8/ Tip 7: try to balance projects across retrospective analyses, prospective work, and reviews/perspective pieces. This ensures a relatively steady pipeline and provides some variety, which always keeps things interesting.
9/ Tip 8: most importantly, surround yourself with peer and faculty mentors. They will be an invaluable source of knowledge, guidance, and feedback for your ideas. @ankeetbhatt @mvaduganathan @ddbergMD @ersied727 @Hirji1987 @DiegoMichilot @GivertzMichael @DLBHATTMD @MRMehraMD
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