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URMC » Training Programs » Internal Medicine Residency » Faculty & Research

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  • Research Overview
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Research Overview

We believe all residents should participate in some form of scholarly activity during residency. However, we do not require that all residents participate in original research. All PGY1's complete a required two-week scholarship rotation. In addition all residents acquire skills in critical appraisal of the literature through participation in Journal Club and preparation of Educational Prescriptions for presentation to their colleagues and faculty members. Residents who wish to complete an ambitious research project during residency can participate in our Research Option. The Research Option is separate and distinct from the ABIM Research Pathway.

PGY1 Scholarship Rotation

All PGY1 scholarship rotations are supervised by a faculty mentor. Scholarship mentors should be identified well in advance with the help of Dr. John Grable, Assistant Program Director for Research.

The PGY1 Scholarship Rotation can be used for any one of four activities:

• Plan and initiate a research project: Residents who want to carry out a research project over the three years of residency can use their scholarship rotation to plan their project.
• Prepare a case report or abstract: Residents who encountered an interesting case in medical school or early in residency can prepare a case report or abstract for presentation at our annual resident poster day or other venue.
• Prepare a topic review: Residents interested in a specific medical topic can prepare a scholarly review. Completed reviews can take the form of a five-ten page manuscript or a slide presentation at a meeting of the mentor's division or a residency program conference.
• Complete a short project: Two weeks is VERY short. Some residents have been able to complete a very short project, but careful planning and close mentoring is essential!

The Research Option

The Research Option provides an opportunity for interested residents to receive their residency diploma with distinction in research. The resident should begin planning a research project during their PGY1 Scholarship Rotation and should have a proposal ready for review by the departmental committee no later than the beginning of the PGY2 year. If the project is approved, the resident may use four weeks of elective time in the PGY2 year and up to eight weeks of elective time in the PGY3 year for focused work on their project. Completion of the research option requires:

• Presentation of the completed project at a noon conference in the spring of the PGY3 year. The presentation will be attended and critiqued by a panel of faculty experts.
• Preparation of a manuscript suitable for submission for publication.