MEDICAL STUDENT RESEARCH

Office of Medical Student Research

Design of the cornerstone of research and scholarship

The curriculum integrates four cornerstones, one of which is research and scholarship. Knowledge of the forefronts of research and individualized mentored research experiences are the two major goals of this cornerstone. The objective is to help students acquire tools and experience in asking questions, critically assessing literature, and other aspects of the life-long pursuit of learning that is a critical aspect of the career of all physicians and physician/scientists. This cornerstone will also provide a formal mechanism for students to develop interactions and relationships with one or more research advisors who have expertise in shared interests.

The opportunities for research and other scholarly work are immense at CWRU. Research opportunities in basic, translational, clinical, and population-based science are numerous. Research programs investigating disease at the molecular and cellular levels exist within both the basic science and clinical departments. Translational research programs act in two directions, to bring observations made at the laboratory toward advances in clinical care and to bring problems evident at the bedside to the basic science laboratory. Clinical and population-based research programs are based primarily within the clinical departments. The core facilities within the School offer cutting edge technologies.

1. The required Foundations of Research and Scholarship, which will take the form of seminars 1 hour a week from August of year 1 through February of year 2. The topics will parallel the core curriculum.
2. The elective 8-week mentored research opportunity in the summer following year 1 (please see "Summer research" icon).
3. The required 4-month mentored research project during the last third of year 2 or the first two 4-month blocks of year 3 (please see diagram and "Research block" icon).
4. Opportunities in the later years to pursue research if desired or needed to complete the thesis work ("Elective research opportunities" in diagram).
5. Opportunities to pursue a fifth year in research (please see "Fifth year" icon).

The research and scholarship component culminates in an M.D. thesis, which is required for graduation.