How to Be Research Physician - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Jul 6, 2021 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

Professional Organizations

FAQ

Links

Physical activity plays an important role in the overall health of a person. Research conducted by physicians has shown that regular physical activity can help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some forms of cancer. Furthermore, regular physical activity can reduce stress, improve sleep, and help to promote a healthier weight.

In addition to these benefits, research has also shown that physical activity can help maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints, as well as improve balance and coordination. Therefore, by engaging in regular physical activity, individuals can experience a multitude of positive health benefits.

Steps How to Become

Complete a Bachelors Degree Program. To become a research physician, you must first complete a bachelors degree program. This should include courses in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and other related sciences.
Complete a Medical School Program. After completing a bachelors degree, you must then attend medical school. This typically takes four years to complete and will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to practice medicine.
Obtain a Medical License. Once you have completed medical school, you must obtain a medical license in order to practice medicine. This requires passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
Obtain Clinical Experience. As a research physician, you will need to have clinical experience in order to understand the needs of patients and their illnesses. You should obtain hands-on experience with patients by working as an intern in a hospital or clinic.
Complete a Fellowship or Residency Program. After obtaining clinical experience, you should complete a fellowship or residency program in order to gain specialized knowledge in a particular field of medicine. Research physicians typically choose a specialty such as pediatrics, internal medicine, or neurology.
Pursue Research Opportunities. After completing your fellowship or residency program, you should pursue research opportunities in order to gain experience in the research field. This could include working as a lab technician, collaborating on research projects with other medical professionals, or writing grant proposals.
Obtain Board Certification. Finally, you should obtain board certification in your chosen specialty in order to prove your expertise in the field of research medicine. This certification is obtained by passing the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) exam.

As a research physician, it is important to stay up-to-date and capable in order to provide the highest quality of care. Regularly attending conferences, lectures, and workshops can help a physician keep their knowledge current. working closely with colleagues and peers provides the opportunity to share new insights and best practices.

Keeping up with recent developments in the field through reading journals and articles is also beneficial. Finally, utilizing the latest technology can help research physicians stay on the cutting edge of advancements in healthcare. By taking advantage of these opportunities, research physicians can ensure that they remain knowledgeable and capable in their field.

You may want to check Research Consultant, Research Architect, and Research Facilitator for alternative.

Job Description

Clinical Research Physician
Clinical Research Director
Clinical Trial Physician
Clinical Research Coordinator
Clinical Research Associate
Clinical Research Manager
Clinical Research Scientist
Clinical Research Consultant
Regulatory Affairs Physician
Biostatistician

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of clinical research protocols, standards, and best practices.
Ability to review, interpret, and report data from clinical studies.
Proficiency in the use of relevant medical software and databases.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals.
Knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements for clinical research.
Understanding of ethical considerations related to conducting clinical research.
Ability to develop and implement clinical trial protocols.
Familiarity with patient safety regulations and guidelines.
Ability to provide informed consent to research participants.

Having the ability to interpret and analyze data is an important skill for a research physician. The ability to recognize patterns and trends in data is critical for determining the cause and effect of a particular medical condition or treatment. This skill helps the physician to determine the best course of action for the patient, as well as helping to identify potential risks and benefits of a particular medical approach.

Research physicians also need to be able to effectively communicate their findings to colleagues and other healthcare professionals. Clear and concise communication can help ensure that all parties are working together towards the best possible outcome for the patient. Furthermore, research physicians should have excellent problem-solving skills, so they can come up with creative solutions to difficult medical problems in order to provide optimal care.

Research Historian, Research Geologist, and Qualitative Market Research Analyst are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in the field of research medicine?
How would you approach conducting a medical research study?
What challenges have you faced while working on research projects?
Describe a successful research project that you have been a part of.
How do you stay up to date on the latest research methods and developments?
What methods do you use to evaluate the validity of research studies?
How do you ensure ethical standards are upheld when conducting research?
What techniques do you use to collaborate with other researchers?
How have you used your findings from past research studies to inform new studies?
What steps do you take to ensure accuracy and quality of data collected during a research study?

Common Tools in Industry

Medical Record Software. A software application used to store, track and analyze patient medical records (eg: Epic, Cerner).
Electronic Health Record (EHR). A computerized medical record system that stores and records patient data and health information (eg: Allscripts, drchrono).
Clinical Data Management System (CDMS). A computerized system used to manage patient data collected during clinical trials (eg: Oracle Clinical, Medidata).
Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS). A computerized system used to aid in the diagnosis of medical conditions based on patient data (eg: IBM Watson, Outcome Engines).
Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS). A computerized system used to manage the data, documents and resources associated with a clinical trial (eg: Veeva Vault CTMS, Medidata Rave).
Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning. A field of study focused on developing algorithms and computer programs that can learn from data and perform tasks with minimal human input (eg: Google DeepMind, IBM Watson).
Bioinformatics/Genomics. A field of study focused on using computers to analyze and interpret biological data (eg: Curoverse, 7 Bridges Genomics).

Professional Organizations to Know

American Academy of Physician Assistants
American College of Physicians
American Medical Association
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Society of Hematology
American Society of Nephrology
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association of University Radiologists
Endocrine Society
Infectious Diseases Society of America
National Institutes of Health
Society for Clinical Research Professionals
Society of Hospital Medicine
Society for Neuroscience
Society for Research and Experimental Biology

We also have Research Interpreter, Research Lawyer, and Research Technician Assistant jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Clinical Trials. Clinical trials are research studies designed to test the safety and effectiveness of new treatments, procedures, and medications.
Data Analysis. Data analysis is the process of examining, organizing, and interpreting data in order to draw conclusions and make informed decisions.
Epidemiology. Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related events or conditions in populations.
Research Ethics. Research ethics is a set of principles that guide the conduct of research. It includes issues such as informed consent, data privacy, and conflict of interest.
Study Design. Study design is the process of planning and implementing a research study to answer a scientific question.
Protocols. Protocols are detailed plans for conducting a research study, including objectives, methodology, data collection, and analysis.
Statistics. Statistics is the discipline of using data to draw meaningful conclusions from data sets. It includes methods such as descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and regression analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Research Physician?

A Research Physician is a medical doctor who specializes in conducting clinical research to advance medical knowledge and treatments.

What qualifications do Research Physicians need?

Research Physicians typically need to have a medical degree, usually from an accredited medical school, as well as board certification in their specialty. They must also have a strong understanding of research protocols and regulations.

What tasks do Research Physicians typically perform?

Research Physicians typically design and oversee medical studies, manage clinical trials, collect and analyze data, and write research papers. They may also provide feedback on new medications and treatments.

What skills do Research Physicians need?

Research Physicians need excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, as well as strong communication and interpersonal skills. They must also be detail-oriented and able to work independently.

How much do Research Physicians typically earn?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for physicians and surgeons was $208,000 in 2019. Salaries for Research Physicians may be higher or lower depending on experience, location, and other factors.

Web Resources

Physician-Scientist Training Program - Research at Penn State research.med.psu.edu
Physicians | School of Medicine | University of Nevada, Reno med.unr.edu
Research at Mayo Clinic - Mayo Clinic Research www.mayo.edu