What Doing Research Taught Me That Training Alone Did Not

By Ian Jacob Esquivel, Cardiac Physiology Graduate from the University of Southampton

Students in healthcare programs are often encouraged to undertake research because it is “good for their CV”. While this may be true, it significantly understates the real value of research. The most meaningful benefits only become clear once you are actively involved in a project.

As a cardiac physiologist, I undertook a research study evaluating adherence to British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) standards, focusing on how body mass index and operator experience influence transthoracic echocardiographic window acquisition. The project later received the Elsevier Prize, a University prize, and I was invited to showcase it at a Conference. However, the most important outcomes were not related to recognition or awards!

This article shares some of the less obvious lessons that research can offer students.

Research Reveals the Difference Between Guidelines and Practice

Clinical guidelines are often presented as definitive. Research highlights how dependent their application can be on real-world factors.

In echocardiography, BSE standards outline the minimum dataset required for a high-quality study. However, analyzing routine clinical scans demonstrated that patient-related factors such as increased body mass index, alongside operator-related factors, can limit the ability to obtain all standard views.

This shifted my clinical perspective. Research emphasized that:

These considerations are fundamental to medical practice but are rarely explored in depth during training.

Research Changes How You Learn in the Clinical Environment

Once involved in research, clinical exposure becomes more active and analytical. Rather than simply observing practice, I began to focus on patterns and processes.

Research develops a habit of critical observation that carries directly into clinical work. Questions became central to everyday learning:

• Why is this view technically challenging in this patient?
• How does operator experience influence problem-solving?
• What adjustments are being made and why?

Research Highlights the Role of Experience

A consistent finding from my study was the impact of operator experience on image acquisition, particularly in technically difficult scans.

For medical students and early-career healthcare scientists, this is an important insight:

• Difficulty does not equate to incompetence
• Technical skill develops progressively with exposure
• Adaptation improves with experience rather than repetition alone

Seeing this reflected in the data provided reassurance that skill development is a process rather than an expectation of immediate proficiency.

Research Builds Tolerance for Uncertainty

Unlike structured assessments, research rarely leads to clear or absolute answers. Data may be incomplete, results may challenge expectations, and conclusions often require careful qualification.

This discomfort closely mirrors clinical practice, where:

• Decisions are made with imperfect information
• Multiple explanations may coexist
• Clear communication of uncertainty is essential

Research provides early and valuable exposure to this reality.

Why Research Matters Beyond Academia

Although this project resulted in awards, its greatest impact was on my professional development as a healthcare scientist.

Research:

• Improved my interpretation of clinical standards
• Strengthened my confidence in clinical judgement
• Encouraged reflective and evidence-based practice
• Changed how I learn from everyday clinical experience

These benefits extend well beyond a single project.

Practical Lessons from Experience

These three insights were shaped directly by experience rather than general advice:

• Let Clinical Challenges Shape Your Question

If a particular issue repeatedly arises in practice, it is often a strong starting point for a research question. My project developed from routinely difficult echocardiographic windows rather than a theoretical gap.

• Accept That Your Project Will Evolve

Research questions rarely remain unchanged. Refinement and adaptation are part of the process and indicate learning rather than failure.

• Focus on Skill Development in Early Projects

The primary value of an initial research project lies in learning how to ask questions and interpret findings. Outcomes and recognition may follow, but they should not be the primary aim.

In conclusion, research is not an additional requirement alongside clinical training. It is a complementary way of developing clinical insight and professional confidence.

For students considering whether research is worth the effort, engaging in a single well-supported project can provide skills and perspectives that influence practice long after the research itself is complete.