Conference Oral Presentation vs. Paper

[Guest]

Is a lead author conference presentation at CNS/AANS worth more or less than a first-author paper in Nature/Cell/Science? On one hand the former gives you a way to present your work to attendings. On the other hand, the latter looks better on paper (if people do read the ERAS or CV carefully enough ha)

[Guest]

It depends who you ask and what kind of program you are aspiring to get into. However, for many a first-author paper in Nature/Cell/Science is viewed more favorably than just about any other accomplishment in the basic science realm. Many many people get oral presentations at CNS/AANS, very few people in neurosurgery publish in Nature/Cell/Science.

[Guest]

In terms of visibility, could one make the case that the oral presentation has higher “visibility” since it’s broadcasted directly to a crowd of neurosurgeons whereas the Nature paper is really only “visible” if the program director manages to catch it in a long list of pubs within the applicant’s ERAS/CV?

As to the point about the types of programs, do the research heavy programs comb ERAS/CV to a greater degree for high impact basic science publications more so than other programs?

[Guest]

Generally, if you get a nature paper, this will translate to visibility/awards/presentations, etc. presenting at CNS/AANS is generally not that important as few people (barring attendings) and a select few neurosurgical trainees actually get to present for more than 8-10 minutes. Just because you present to some attendings generally doesn’t matter as they won’t care, unless they are truly interested in your research topic.

I am not a PD. But I did have several first author basic science papers and it is likely I got several top research program interviews because of my prior papers. From what I can tell, programs may or may not identify your high impact papers at first. But once they interview you and discuss you in the rank meeting, they will be aware of your Nature papers (if you have them) and will give them the proper weight (according to their own preferences).

[Focus]

You overestimate the number of attendings that will be in the room and paying attention.

[Guest]

I see your points. I guess I’m also just wondering how closely PDs comb through the paper CVs of applicants for publications (they must be receiving hundreds).

[Guest]

They eyeball it. Anyone with nature/cell/science first author will pretty much always list it first on the CV regardless of format. It will get picked up on. If you have a science first author paper, it will show up on the CV in several other ways other than just a glanced over line on a CV. But this might be 1-2 applicants a year. I would not spend too much time worrying about it, it want be relevant to 99.9% of the applicants. It will obviously help you if you have it.

[Guest]

There’s no planet on which a first author in those journals is worth less than a conference presentation of any variety..

[Guest]

If someone is involved enough in research to get published in nature, that individual won’t have a hard time getting a poster/oral presentation at a meeting. It’s not an either/or situation. Don’t worry about it.