Hugo Romeu Discusses How To Become a Research Doctor
Research doctors investigate the science behind what helps patients heal from certain conditions, and clinical physicians then use those findings on patients. Unlike physicians who work directly with the public, research doctors work behind the scenes doing things such as testing the efficacy of a new treatment. Although they work behind the scenes, these doctors still make life-saving decisions that affect the lives of many. And of course, there are some people, such as Hugo Romeu, who do both. Here are some of the steps that it takes to become a research doctor.
Identify an Area of Specialization
Within the field of medical research, there are many specialized areas that you can pursue. Some of these areas include writing, working as a legal consultant, or working for an organization such as the World Health Organization. Because different areas may vary in the type of training and experience they require, it is important to identify which field you most want to pursue.
Obtain a Degree
To become a research doctor, you should obtain a bachelor’s degree as well as a more advanced degree from a medical school. Typically, the bachelor’s degree should be in something like biology, chemistry, or statistics, but people from all degree programs can go on to medical school with the right prerequisites and qualifications.
You may also be required to complete a residency program just as any other doctor would do. This helps to ensure that the research doctor has experience with the many sectors within the field of medicine, and starts their first job already having a large amount of medical expertise. Medical researchers can graduate with either a Ph.D. or an MD degree, depending on several factors.
Aside from official education and experience, some things that make good research doctors include data collection and analysis skills, keen observation skills and attention to detail, the ability to communicate effectively, and decision-making skills.
Gain Experience
Much of a research doctor’s experience comes from their time in medical school and from completing fellowships, residencies, and similar. However, it never hurts to gain even more experience to eventually be hired in a higher-paying position. For example, many laboratories and research facilities hire interns that they pay a low amount, but this gives those interns opportunities to build connections with others in the medical research field.
What Can a Research Doctor Do?
The medical research field is expected to grow much faster than most other industries. This makes the job a good option for those seeking reliable job opportunities. Some of the things that research doctors do include:
- Conducting studies having to do with monitoring patient treatment programs
- Researching pharmaceutical drugs and the doses at which they are most effective
- Developing and testing certain medical devices and technologies
- Overseeing the analysis of datasets to figure out correlations between lifestyle factors and disease
- Writing up the results of their findings for other scientists as well as the general public
There are many things that you can do as a research doctor. If you are a people person, you may prefer doing studies where you work directly with people during their health journey. If you prefer working behind the scenes, there are many research careers that are done predominantly in labs or similar settings.
If you are a scientific and detail-oriented person, becoming a research doctor might be right for you. Follow these steps to help begin your journey.
Hugo Romeu Bio
Dr. Hugo Romeu resides in Miami, Florida, where he practices pathology. Dr. Romeu went to medical school at the Ross University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Buffalo.
