It's never too early to take your first steps into research as a Foundation doctor. BGS Trainees' Council member Dr Katherine Chin shares her experiences of the Specialised Foundation Programme (previously known as the Academic Foundation Programme). Dr Chin is currently working as a research and teaching fellow at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in the Ageing and Health Department. She was previously a Specialised Foundation Programme Trainee (SFP) during her Foundation Years 1 and 2.
As medical doctors, we all need to understand basic research principles and know how to critically appraise the research that evidences our practice. But if you are someone who has even a small inkling that you would like to pursue academia as part of their career, then I could not recommend the Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP) more! I was a research trainee, so I will mostly be talking about that element of SFP, but there is also the opportunity to complete SFP in either teaching or leadership.
Why should I be interested in research?
Research interested me as a medical student because it provides the opportunity to improve care for patients and to further our own knowledge, which is a concept that I am enthusiastic about and keeps me motivated.
What was good about the SFP/AFP?
SFP gives you the unique opportunity to have dedicated and protected time to complete a research project. That meant that during my working hours, I had allocated time to focus solely on research. This also meant that I had access to academic supervisors who were able to mentor me and provide guidance. This is an extremely valuable aspect of the programme!
When should I start thinking about SFP/AFP?
I would start planning for applying as soon as possible! When you are applying you will be asked about any previous experience you have had with research. The sooner you start working on this, the more experience you will have to draw on for the application and interview. Remember that most research takes time, so you need to allow for this. That being said, there also needs to be a balance between completing the required work to complete the medical degree, and pursuing research opportunities while at university. Make sure you pace yourself and spend plenty of time enjoying what uni life has to offer.
I only had a couple of local poster presentations and no publications, but was able to talk in depth about what I learned from that experience, and from completing a BSc. (I will talk more about having minimal research experience below).
How can I obtain research experience?
There are lots of things you could consider. For instance:
- Get in contact with the Research and Academic Development Committee (RADC) of the BGS. They will be more than happy to facilitate medical students coming to observe meetings and to see how committee members work to improve geriatric research and increase the academic reach of the BGS. If you would like to, you can also apply to be a RADC medical student representative. Drop the team an email enquiry and they can advise on how to apply.
- Complete an intercalated degree, although this does then extend your study and there are associated costs with this, it is a good opportunity to complete a research dissertation and to gain experience of numerous research skills.
- Contact people who work in the academic field and express your interest to them! Generally, people are happy to talk to someone who has shown that they are eager and enthusiastic. You may find that they have useful insight into what life as an academic is like or you may even find that there are some projects you could input on.
Think about what projects you pick at university, particularly for any student-selected components. Some projects may be more amenable to developing into a completed piece of work that is ready to present at conferences than others. If this is something that is important to you, you can always speak candidly to the supervisors and explore what options there are to presenting or publishing your work.
If I have no research experience does that mean I have no chance?
Absolutely not! I had very little research experience when I applied. I had completed an intercalated degree in Health Sciences but this was not published or presented at any conferences. The important thing is that you can reflect on what you have learnt from any experience you do have. Make sure you also look at what each SFP deanery wants because they can vary considerably on how strict they are in terms of publications/posters etc.
How can I find out more?
You can find out more information, including application forms and deadlines, on the SFP page of the UK Foundation Programme website.
This page of the BGS Research Hub also provides specific information for medical students and Foundation doctors looking to get started in research.
