There are many different reasons for pursuing an interest in research, not least a personal desire to answer some unanswered questions.
Some of the main pros and cons of dermatological research are listed below:
Advantages of dermatology research:
-
Dermatology research offers an interesting and diverse career – you are never bored!
-
Research publications and higher degrees enhance your CV and may improve job prospects
-
The skin is an organ that offers itself to clinical research – it is visible & relatively easy to sample
-
Dermatology training and practice allow a degree of flexibility for research time
-
The skin can be a good ‘model’ organ for the study of immunological mechanisms, environmental and genetic effects etc.
-
You can carry out research that is specific to human disease
-
Getting involved in research helps to develop skills to critically appraise new study evidence
-
Research can give you a better understanding of disease when seeing patients
-
Dermatology is one of the few specialties in which you can simultaneously combine clinical and academic work
Some disadvantages:
-
Research is time-consuming and publishable results are not guaranteed
-
Your salary may be lower whilst you spend time ‘out of programme’ for research and if you do a higher degree, you are likely to become a consultant later than those who do not take time to do research.
-
It can be a challenge to obtain funding for research
Exposure to research has now become a compulsory component of the postgraduate dermatology training curriculum, even for those who do not want to pursue a research career in the long-term.