einstein (São Paulo). 01/Oct/2025;23((Suppl 2)):eEDS1.

The role and importance of scientific training in medical school and other healthcare specialties

Luiz Vicente

Rizzo

, Edécio

Cunha-Neto

DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2025ED1

The issue of scientific training – scientific initiation (SI) in Brazil – for medical students is as old as evidence-based medicine. It goes far beyond training a new generation of physician-scientists needed for the continuous advancement of human health care. Advancements that throughout the 20^th century led to doubling the average life expectancy, by saving lives in childhood and prolonging life in adults and the elderly through prophylaxis and treatment of deadly diseases. Science training is crucial for medical students, as it equips them with fundamental skills for their careers. It fosters an inquisitive mindset that urges questions about the validity and appropriateness of any health intervention and enhances their ability to critically evaluate medical information. Scientific training helps them become better physicians by enhancing their critical thinking, problem-solving ability, and analytical skills. Furthermore, it prepares them for the constant need to stay up-to-date with advances in knowledge.^(,)

Research training involves identifying gaps in medical knowledge compared to what is available in the scientific literature, formulating research questions, defining a working hypothesis and methodology, experimenting and analyzing the data generated, and critically interpreting results against the literature. Experience with all of these steps directly enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, the exchanges between undergraduate students, their advisors, and peers working on other aspects of the same scientific problem, and the presentation of their work at scientific conferences ultimately foster a more holistic mindset, enabling them to view the scientific problem in question within the context of the “big picture.” An undergraduate research experience in the early years of school will equip students with tools for their clinical careers. By becoming proficient in research, medical students will better understand the scientific basis of diagnosis and treatment and will be trained to stay current with scientific discoveries, resulting in better patient care.^(–)

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