If you’re considering medical school or a pre-med track, you’re probably familiar with the many requirements for application. You’ll ace your classes, volunteer at the hospital, and maybe even shadow a doctor. One item on that list, getting research experience, can seem like an optional chore.
I’ve welcomed dozens of students into my lab, and I can tell you that research is much more than a box to check. It’s an opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are fundamental to your future practice.
When a student joins my lab, they’re doing more than advancing science. They’re learning to navigate uncharted waters, to organize complex information, and to prepare for a career where no two patients are the same.
But you don’t have to take my word for it. Nikita Jaiswal is a standout student in my lab, and she’s earned the 2025 Student Scholarship in Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke, sponsored by the American Heart Association and Stroke Council for good reason.
As a student, the truth is I didn’t really see research the way Dr. Divani describes, at least not until I got involved. I’d been focused on patient care, because I love the personal interaction and direct impact. I didn’t think neurology research was for me, but I’ve learned that scientific inquiry is deeply linked to clinical care at the bedside.
If you’re thinking about medical school, don’t skip the research. It’s an invaluable part of your education, and UNM Health provides many opportunities to get involved in the lab to help you become a more well-rounded and impactful doctor.
Nikita’s Journey: An Opportunity to Think Differently
As long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a doctor. The reasons why are probably familiar to a lot of medical students like me.
In high school, I was fascinated by biology and the pathways of interaction that drive the complicated human body. More than that, though, I really wanted to be able to help people. I thrive on speaking with people, learning from their experience, and helping them achieve their best health.
I enrolled in UNM’s Combined BA/MD Degree Program out of high school, which prepares students for medical school and to practice medicine in New Mexico.
I didn’t have much interest in neurology or research right away. But after an eye-opening experience shadowing in neurology and learning about how neuromodulation and deep brain stimulation is helping so many people, I started to think differently.
I met Dr. Divani at the Community of Scholars, a research organization on campus that meets monthly, and his reputation preceded him. I had heard that he was doing groundbreaking work in neuromodulation. What’s more, I knew many students had great experiences working in his lab.
This experience has been as exciting as I expected. We’re working on an innovative, non-invasive method to stimulate the vagus nerve that could improve treatment after ischemic stroke or traumatic brain injury. Today I’m writing the manuscript presenting our data and findings.
I know what you’re thinking: Yes, going to medical school and conducting National Institutes of Health-funded research can get busy! It can be a challenge to balance my academic workload and responsibilities in the lab. Thankfully, Dr. Divani is generous with his time and forgiving with mine, because the benefits are tremendous.
I’m learning that research will be in my future. I intend to participate in clinical trials and to encourage my patients to do the same, because the studies we’re doing here make a real difference for patients today and tomorrow. That’s the kind of impact I want to have in my career—one that changes lives for the better.
Related reading: How a UNM HSC Resident’s Quest for Adventure Turned into a Neurology Career
The Divani Lab: Learning to Drive the Car
In my lab, we focus on preclinical and clinical research related to stroke, intercerebral hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). We’re working to shine light on how risk factors influence outcomes and we’re developing new options to help improve treatment.
We’re currently working on a study funded by the NIH to explore a minimally invasive method to stimulate the vagus nerve to improve outcomes for patients who have had an ischemic stroke. This alternative treatment modality is showing promise and could give providers and first responders a faster option for neuromodulation to promote neuroprotection and improve functional recovery post-TBI.
I’ve welcomed more than 80 students like Nikita into my lab during my career, because I know this opportunity changes their perspective and prepares them to advance in their own practice.
Most importantly, in my lab students of all levels learn to think through a problem and organize a solution. This education in the process of problem solving is critical to a career in medicine, because despite many guidelines directing our care, no two patients are the same.
Doctors in all specialties, not just neurology, are confronted with this biological variability and must be able to adapt to new and evolving circumstances if they are to provide effective treatment.
I tell my students doing research is a bit like learning to drive. In my lab, I can teach you how to turn on the ignition. We’ll study the rules of the road, including the fundamental steps of research. We’ll even go out and motor around to practice, conducting trials in the lab and advancing our understanding of neurology.
Once you’ve learned how to drive, you can select the car (your research topic) you love and drive it with confidence. One medical specialty may be a Porsche, and another a BMW. Once you’ve learned how to drive, you can maneuver them all.
There’s another big benefit to conducting research as a medical student: Fame.
Okay, it’s not really fame, but publishing original research does have a real benefit for students. Having peer-reviewed publications in their name gives my students a big leg up when they’re applying for the next stage in their career, whether that’s residency, fellowship, or a full-time practice. Sometimes, it’s the edge they need to separate themselves from the competition in an intense field.
Related reading: 6 Learnings on My Journey from Medical Student to Epilepsy Attending
Research Experiences Build Better Doctors
If you’re considering a career in medicine, consider research. Clinical trials make a real difference for patients, and getting involved in the lab improves your education, too. At UNM Health, and in the Department of Neurology, we’re committed to proving our trainees with unparalleled access to opportunities that make their education uniquely impactful.
And while publishing original, peer-reviewed research might not lead to fame and fortune (at least not right away), it helps you learn to think through complex challenges, gives you a leg up on the competition, and helps you become a better doctor.
Exploring your medical education options? Request an appointment with the enrollment team. Information.Neurology@salud.unm.edu