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PGY-2/3 Research Rotation

Goals

The overall goal of the research option is to give residents the opportunity for an in-depth research experience. The project scope should be appropriately matched to the available time. That will take careful planning with your mentor. Some general ideas for projects include the following:

  • Critical analysis of a topic, with literature review, and leading to publication
  • Retrospective analysis of a disease or a therapy
  • Hypothesis-driven research (may be a resident's design or an existing project)
  • Educational or clinical initiative in the Department of Medicine

Time Commitment

Four weeks in PGY-2 and four weeks in PGY-3 is the minimal time commitment for the research option. In PGY-3, residents can allot more time in two-week blocks, as needed, for a total of eight weeks. Or PGY-3 residents can allot eight weeks at the start of the project, if that amount of time is needed. Regardless of time period (four, six, or eight weeks), residents must deliver both written and oral presentations to a faculty panel (as described below).

Expectations for Residents

Each resident in the research option should submit a project proposal. It will require approval by David Bushinsky, M.D., John Grable, M.D., and Donald Bordley, M.D. Residents are expected to pursue their projects in an academic fashion. During the PGY-2 rotation, the resident should select a research panel: two faculty members in the department with expertise in the research area, in addition to the mentor. This panel will evaluate both the resident's written and oral work.

  • Written work. Submissions for publication are highly encouraged at the end of the PGY-3 rotation. But that may not be possible for everyone. For those without a publication or draft, a short thesis is required. (Abstracts or posters alone are not acceptable.) The short thesis should contain critical scientific appraisal of a problem; development of methods to access the thesis; and discussion of the thesis results. The length of the thesis should be adequate to address the chosen topic. (A minimum of 10 pages is acceptable. The required thesis format will be provided to interested residents.) The research panel will critically evaluate a thesis and make recommendations. Written work will be compiled into a publication, the "R3 Research Summary," and distributed throughout the department.
  • Oral Presentation. PGY-3 residents are required to present a "R3 Research Seminar." This is a one-hour presentation during a noon session near the completion of the research option. The resident will present the work to the faculty research panel and to an audience of residents. The panel of experts will first question the resident. Then the resident will field questions from the general audience. Faculty attendance is encouraged.

Expectations for Mentors

Over the course of a research option project, faculty mentors are expected to provide academic guidance to the resident. If collaboration with other faculty is required, mentors will be expected to arrange it. Mentors are also required to budget the necessary time for a resident project. They must also critically evaluate the resident's written and oral presentations, joined by other members of the research panel.