Conducting Research as a Medical Student: A Need for Change

Abstract

This article is a short opinion piece addressing the personal and professional importance of performing research, while also highlighting some of the difficulties we might face while doing so. With this said, a historical perspective on research conducted by medical students is given, which exemplifies the significance of this component in students' lives and future careers. Alongside this, the statistics also exemplify the student's desire to do more research and how universities have failed to meet students’ expectations. Finally, some examples of small but immediate measures are offered that can help reform medical curricula through new mentorship regimes, better communication, more financial support, and better overall opportunities that will be key in motivating more students to conduct research.