An invited keynote speech, delivered on April 22, 2014 at the 4th Medical Students Research Symposium, Faculty of Medicine ay King Fahd Medical City, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It argues the necessity of research methodology teaching in medical schools.

1. Research for Medical Students:
Luxury or Necessity?
Sohail Bajammal
April 22, 2014
@bajammal

2. This presentation was modified from its original
content which was presented as
an invited keynote speech
4th Medical Students Research Symposium
Faculty of Medicine ay King Fahd Medical City, King
Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

3. Research to make
your CV look better?

4. My story with research!

5. What got me into research?
“A joke”
What is a double blind study?
Two orthopaedic surgeons
reading an ECG

6. Applied to McMaster University
(MSc in Health Research Methodology) in 2002
• Raised a few eyebrows
• Both at the program & back home
• I got a reply “your qualifications did not meet our standards”!
• Signed by Dr. Geoff Norman
• Despite:
• Bachelor with honor
• Academic position
• High scores MCCEE, USMLE, TOEFL

7. Re-Applied in 2003!
• Same qualifications
• But with:
• Better personal statement
• Two research projects in progress
• 2nd Best Project in Orthopaedic Program, 3rd in all Surgical Programs
• Got accepted
• I picked Dr. Geoff Norman as the MSc Supervisor

8. A year later!

9. Lessons Learnt
1. Don’t get discouraged by people making fun of you
2. Don’t allow people to let you down
3. You will be rejected one day somewhere, be persistent &
fix YOUR problems

10. Medical Students
WILL shape
the future of
medical research
in Saudi Arabia

11. Change starts with simple ideas!
(by medical students)
Abdulelah Nuqali
Doaa Melebari
Hattan Badr

12. Simple ideas turn into national initiatives
@Nayef Dajim
proposed the concept of Research
Summer School when he was a
medical student

13. The first orthopaedic RCT in the region started
by a 2nd year orthopedic resident
(Dr. Husam Al-Rumaih)
@alrumaih

14. @KAMCResearch (Makkah)

15. Students ARE changing
the culture of research in Saudi Arabia
University of Galsgow Website

16. It’s your decision where to be!
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

17. What is research?
Systematic investigation towards
increasing the sum of knowledge
(Chambers 20th Century Dictionary)

18. Translational
Pure
Guidelines
Systematic
Review
Social
Knowledge
Translation
Therapy
Perspectives of Research Problems
Basic
Science
Diagnosis
Prognosis
Clinical
Access
Quality Cost
Legal
Education
Health
Services
Research
Health
Problem
“Back Pain”

19. What kind of research can you do?
• Quantitative Research
• Qualitative Research
• Mixed-methods Research

20. Why do we need to do research “locally”?
• Genetic
• Ethnic
• Psychosocial
• Cultural
• System
• Economic
Different

21. Research for Medical Students:
Luxury or Necessity?

22. Research Problem
Research Question
Research Design
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Research Dissemination
Literature Review
Research Steps

23. Research Problem
Problem-based Learning
Creative Thinking

24. Research Problem
Literature Review
Problem-based Learning
Critical Thinking
Critical Appraisal Skills  Better EBMer
Creative Thinking
Information Mastery Skills (IT)

25. Research Problem
Research Question
Research Design
Literature Review
Problem-based Learning
Critical Thinking
Analytical Thinking
Critical Appraisal Skills  Better EBMer
Ethics
Creative Thinking
Information Mastery Skills (IT)

26. Research Problem
Research Question
Research Design
Data Collection
Literature Review
Problem-based Learning
Team-based Learning
Critical Thinking
Project & Time Management Skills
Analytical Thinking
Critical Appraisal Skills  Better EBMer
Ethics
Creative Thinking
Information Mastery Skills (IT)
Professionalism: self-discipline, commitment

27. Research Problem
Research Question
Research Design
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Literature Review
Problem-based Learning
Team-based Learning
Critical Thinking
Analytical Thinking
Project & Time Management Skills
Collaboration Skills
Analytical Thinking
Critical Appraisal Skills  Better EBMer
Ethics
Creative Thinking
Information Mastery Skills (IT)
Professionalism: self-discipline, commitment

28. Research Problem
Research Question
Research Design
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Research Dissemination
Literature Review
Problem-based Learning
Team-based Learning
Critical Thinking
Analytical Thinking
Project & Time Management Skills
Collaboration Skills
Oral & Written Communication Skills
Analytical Thinking
Critical Appraisal Skills  Better EBMer
Ethics
Reflective & Conceptual Thinking
Creative Thinking
Information Mastery Skills (IT)
Professionalism: self-discipline, commitment

29. In addition to all of that,
• Research publications will SHINE your CV
• Conference presentations will SHINE your CV
• Higher chances of being accepted into residency
programs

30. What’s going on in Saudi Arabia?
• Ministry of Health
• King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC)
• King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST)
• National Science Technology & Innovation Plan (NSTIP)
• Medical Education Arguments

31. 2004!

32. Saudi Arabia will be
a knowledge-based economy by 2030

33. Ministry of Health

34. kaimrc.med.sa

35. kacst.edu.sa

36. nstip.kacst.edu.sa

37. The Medical Research
“Education” Arguments in Saudi Arabia
• Undergraduate Medical Education
• Internship
• Postgraduate Medical Education
• Continuous Medical Education

38. SaudiMED

39. Saudi Interns.com Project
Taken Over By

40. Saudi Commission for Health Specialties

41. Continuous Medical Education
•‫األبحاث‬ ‫نشر‬ ‫على‬ ‫يعتمد‬ ‫الصحيين‬ ‫للممارسين‬ ‫التميز‬ ‫بدل‬

42. The Medical Research
“Education” Arguments in Saudi Arabia
• Undergraduate
• Internship
• Postgraduate
• CME
They are all enforcing research

43. What’s going on
around us in the Middle East?

48. Research Publications – Saudi Arabia
1150 1362
7418
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
2002 2007 2012
Source: Nature Arabia, Feb 2013

49. What are International Medical Schools
doing for Students Research?

59. Remember
• Change starts with simple ideas!
• Simple ideas turn into national initiatives!

60. Research for Medical Students:
Luxury or Necessity?
What do you think?