Student/Mentor Application
Combined applications due by February 22, 2008.
Please email application to bsbenson@dor.umsmed.edu
Several challenges in medical training are currently leading to a decrease in scientific literacy in physician trainees and major problems in the development of clinical scientists who perform basic, clinical, and behavioral research. Some of this is due to the loss of role models and mentors for research, which has led to a decline nationally in the numbers of physician-scientists and an increasing estrangement of medical students from research. Major organizations such as the Institute of Medicine, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Burroughs-Wellcome Fund, and the major medical subspecialty societies are attempting to address this growing problem through advocacy and support of research at all levels of medical training.
UMMC has an opportunity to assist in the reversal of these trends in academic medicine by promoting interest in research and academia. There is a need to develop mechanisms to better interface basic science PhDs with MDs during medical school as well as in postgraduate/residency programs to stimulate an appreciation of basic science and critical research skills. With the recent emphasis by the NIH on translational research, clinician scientists will play an increasingly important role in the overall academic mission of the institution. The MSRP is designed to develop the future generation of academicians, who will make up the UMMC faculty.
The overall goal of the MSRP is to foster the development of
students into Academic Clinicians who will pursue clinical, behavioral, or
basic research. The provision of in-depth and meaningful involvement in
research activities of the
A. Duration: The duration of the program will be throughout three or more years of medical school.
B. Certification:
Students, who are selected for the program, will receive recognition as MSRP Scholars at entry into the
program and upon graduation from the
While the MD-PhD training program could be included in the MSRP, it currently has specific entry criteria prior to matriculation into the medical school.
Implementation:
1. The program will begin with exposure of new M1s to research performed by the M2s in the previous summer. The M2s are encouraged to share their summer research experiences with M1s.
2. Later in the fall of the M1 year, specific lunch hours will be set-aside for faculty researchers to present brief introductions to the students concerning their research activity. M1 students will be invited to the MSRP Journal Club. These activities would act as a prelude to the M1-M2 summer research program.
3. The program should have several options:
a. M1-M2 summer
b. M1-M2 summer + research elective in 3 rd/4 th year
c. M1-M2 summer + 1 year block in 3-4 th year
4. Specific requirements of the program:
a. Summer, Year 1 :
Intensive Research Experience in a productive, preferably grant funded lab;
weekly seminar series; students present their work at national meeting in next
year
b. September, Year 2: Application for the MSRP with recommendation from
summer faculty mentor and approval by the Associate Vice Chancellor for
Research. After successful completion of the summer research
program, a faculty mentor would recommend to the Dean a student for entry into
the MSRP. The requirements of the student would be specified up front for the
next three years. Upon approval, the student is a candidate for the designation
as a UMMC Research Scholar,
which will be conferred upon successful completion of the program at
graduation. At graduation, the student’s diploma and the student’s
transcript would reflect that they were part of the program and a Research
Scholar.
c. Year 2-4 (minimal
requirement): Monthly Attendance and participation (with a minimum of 2
presentations/year) at MSRP Journal Club that will include discussion/courses
on:
i. Basic Science
ii. Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Outcomes Research
iii. Molecular Medicine and Genetics
iv. Ethics in research (clinical, basic, behavioral)
v. Research survival skills (reading/writing scientific papers, presentation
skills, grants preparation)
d. Year 2 :
Students entering the program will be provided with a list of skills to be
obtained over the remaining 3 years in
e. Year 3 : Because of the typical intensive nature of the clinical training of the M3 year, the MSRP requirements of this year should be minimal, unless the schedule permits time off for research.
f. Year 4 suggestions: 1-2 months of elective or a “distributed research elective” which amounts to an average number of hours per week or month but would be kept flexible for the student.
g . Year 4 at completion: during April: written and oral presentations of a proposal for continuation of the research (equivalent to a qualifying exam for the PhD). Publication of research results in a peer-reviewed journal.
D.Additional means of facilitating research
1. A web-based, central clearinghouse for all research opportunities is housed in the Office of Research with a separate one for other educational/clinical experience opportunities for the M1-M2 summer http://research.umc.edu/ .
2. Student Research Day:
A SOM Student Research Day would combine presentations by the Dean’s
Student Summer Research Program, the Medical Student Research Program, the
Neuroscience Program, the Cardiovascular Research program, the MD-PhD program,
and others.
i) Abstract applications will only be accepted for research.
ii) It will be scheduled early in the year to capture the new M1s and M2s.
iii) An outside speaker will be invited, preferably a former graduate.
iv) It will be held in the Student Union with food and drink.
v) Faculty attendance will be encouraged.
vi) Prizes for the best two presentations will be given.
vii) All oral presentations will be given in Power Point (ppt).