How will my project affect my residency placement?

Residency programs generally like to see some participation in scholarship during a student's medical career. A project in a particular field or specialty in the first two years of training does not need to match the ultimate career choice of a student. In fact, the majority of students will not make their final decision on a career until the end of their third year of medical school, so it is not likely that you will be able to choose a project this early based solely on your "career" goals.

Therefore, what is most important early in one's training is a demonstration of intellectual curiosity in a medically relevant area of scholarship as well as a genuine commitment to a project from its inception to its completion. The presentation of your project in either oral or written form is helpful, and this can be achieved in any one of the Emphasis areas.

For more information regarding residency programs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, please click here.