Getting published in a medical paper?

**Katie_K** · 12-08-2012, 11:16 PM

Hi,

I have been given an opportunity to help research and maybe co(ish)write a paper for medical research practices etc. and I was just wondering if this would be a good this to put onto my personal statement or would be impressive.
I'm planning on doing it anyway because I think it will be really interesting and get to correspond with some professors of cardiology.
Basically, question: Will it be worth putting on my personal statement

**jcak** · 13-08-2012, 02:41 AM

Of course it will, even if it's just one sentence. "I enjoyed writing an article in a peer reviewed journal, this taught me xxxxxxx".
If nothing else it's a conversation topic at interview, but it will also get their interest in a good way which is always a positive!

**Profanius** · 13-08-2012, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by jcak

Of course it will, even if it's just one sentence. "I enjoyed writing an article in a peer reviewed journal, this taught me xxxxxxx".

Careful how you word it though. Scientists don't write science papers to be published in peer reviewed journals (or they shouldn't anyways). Scientists write papers to disseminate information and help their colleagues etc. Whether it gets published or not is irrelevant to the experience of working with colleagues and what you learned from it. Getting published is just a nice bonus that might attest to the quality of your work, but is irrelevant to the learning potential that it offers.

As jcak says, I'd definitely mention the paper but only in the context of who you worked with and what you learned from them.

**jcak** · 14-08-2012, 02:17 AM

I only meant to indicate that the work was of a quality to be noted, if you don't say it was peer reviewed then it's not worthy of anything at all and could be looked on as such. As the Prof mentions- who you worked with and what you learnt is worth mentioning. What you learnt is always worth mentioning.

**Profanius** · 14-08-2012, 06:06 PM

Sorry, if it was published in a peer reviewed journal I'd definitely mention that bit, but in the context of results rather than motivation.

I had a short story published once, which isn't quite the same thing, but if I had a paper published in a peer reviewed journal you guys would never hear the end of it!

**Mamba** · 15-08-2012, 03:48 PM

I really disagree with Profanius..... ALL journals are peer reviewed in some fashion. Be proud of it and tell them what you learned from doing it.

I would even mention the paper by name ! Make the most of tryng to stand out in a personal statement... but dont over do it because if you didnt do much of the work and they ask you about it, you may get stuck. But sure, let them know!

Most medics dont publish in anything until well after they qualify as doctors. It does not help as much as it used to in getting into a deanery (for F1 and F2).

I have just finished a paper that we want to get into the BMJ or Lancet, it may end up nowhere. I am doing it to improve my ability to research and write papers, there is no harm in that at all. There are millions of papers out there in journals, most are nothing more than people publishing for the sake of publishing. It really is not about the results, because sometimes you dont get any results... but that in itself is a result. However much is still learned by doing a good paper.

Mamba

**Profanius** · 15-08-2012, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by Mamba

ALL journals are peer reviewed in some fashion.

There are so many things wrong with this statement it just isn't funny. The New Scientist is a science journal and but isn't peer reviewed. The Journal of Creation isn't peer-reviewed, although it claims to be. Try writing for either of these journals, tell the interviewers they're peer-reviewed and see how far you get.

Originally Posted by Mamba

tell them what you learned from doing it.

That's what I said, so what are you dissagreeing with precisely?

The only difference is that you seem to be prioritising the act of getting published over the experience of writing the paper and working with healthcare professionals. If you want to come across as an ego driven fame-whore whose getting into medicine for the wrong reasons, then that's an excellent way to go about it.

Originally Posted by Mamba

I am doing it to improve my ability to research and write papers, there is no harm in that at all.

Again, precisely what I said. You wrote the paper to improve your skills and experience... not to get your name in print - that's just an added bonus. As I said, by all means mention the fact you got published as this attests to the quality of your work, but don't state it as your motivation.

Since the OP hasn't written the paper yet and it's now August, there is no way on earth they will be able to have the paper published before they have to write their PS. Therefore it's best to steer away from any mention of publication and stick with the self reflecting analysis that universities seem to love.

**jcak** · 15-08-2012, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by Mamba

ALL journals are peer reviewed in some fashion.

Are you serious or just winding us up?

Profanius is right here...

Serious research can be rejected from the community depending on where it's published. If it's not peer reviewed then nobody will really take it seriously anyway, and the content will often be deemed as not all that great as it couldn't make it into a peer reviewed journal.

All you really need to say about it is what you learnt from the experience so they can see you actually took something from it other than the 'fame'.

**Mamba** · 15-08-2012, 06:08 PM

I was just encouraging her to be proud of her achievement, whatever journal, whatever results etc. In some fashion was said for a reason.

Anyway... I assume that the PS is for next year as we are long past this years entry. Either way, well done Katie

Try to be co-writer, but if not, make the most of the opportunity it will really help x

Mamba