A record number of Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine students are delaying graduation to dedicate a year to scientific investigation.<\/p>\n
Fifteen current students have put med school on hold to take a research gap year, double the number of previous years. It\u2019s part of a growing trend aimed at strengthening their chances of obtaining residencies in highly sought specialties. They gain invaluable experience by working in labs or clinical research environments under the guidance of expert mentors before returning to school to complete their fourth year of training and earn a medical degree.<\/p>\n
Nicholas Urbanski stepped away after his third year to work at the Johns Hopkins department of dermatology in Baltimore. As a fellow, he serves as the lead study coordinator for several clinical trials across different subspecialties, including studies on new treatments for conditions like cutaneous lymphoma, atopic dermatitis and cutaneous lupus.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve met incredible people through this research year, and the hands-on experience is giving me the tools to become a stronger researcher and, ultimately, a better residency applicant,\u201d says Urbanski.<\/p>\n
Residency programs provide newly minted doctors with the clinical training required for licensure and board certification in their chosen specialties. The pressure is most visible in historically competitive specialties that require extensive training but command high salaries. Fields such as dermatology, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, and orthopedics consistently attract far more applicants than there are available residency spots and command high salaries.<\/p>\n