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Emergency Department Research Associate Program

URMC / Emergency Medicine / Research / EDRA Program / Becoming an EDRA

 

Becoming an EDRA

The course titled “Emergency Medicine Research Experience/Internship: PH394e” was developed as the initial training required to function as an EDRA, including shifts actively working as an enroller in the Strong Hospital Emergency Department. This is a 4 credit course, and students who successfully complete this course are eligible to apply for a paid position as an ED Enroller through student employment. The course meets twice weekly for 85 minute sessions and is offered Spring and Fall with occasional Summers based on demand. Some preliminary details about the course are listed below. We know that adding another course can be challenging. Depending on your department/major you may be able to obtain writing credit for this course which means it could take the place of another course you might be planning to take just to fulfill a writing requirement. Most departments accept this course for upper level writing but it is always based on permission from your advisor.

If you are interested in registering for the course, please fill out this redcap survey.

Course Description

This course is designed to expose students who are interested in careers in health and/or research related areas to clinical research in the emergency department setting. In addition to hands-on clinical experiences in the Emergency Department, students will learn to think critically about research protocols and successful study execution, and develop competencies that will support successful transition to post-graduate education or job opportunities.

Format

  • Short lectures followed by group discussion
  • Guest speakers from various areas of research linked to reading assignments, followed by discussion of the reading and the lecture content
  • Interactive multi-media content provided online
  • 1:1 mentoring in the Emergency Department with an experienced enroller
  • Actively enrolling subjects into research protocols in the Emergency Department

Target Population

Current First Years, Sophomores, or Juniors interested in careers in health and/or research will benefit the most from this course.

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand and apply concepts relating to the protection of human subjects in clinical research.
  • Assess personal strengths and skills required to function in a challenging ED environment and apply these findings to future education and career choices.
  • Practice and refine communication skills through interactions with busy health professionals and patients of varying acuity and diverse cultural backgrounds.
  • Understand strategies for successful interactions with potential research subjects.
  • Apply critical thinking to review and understand research protocols and the steps necessary to successfully enroll subjects and gather data in a challenging clinical environment.

Student progress will be measured through classroom participation, interactive online activities, self-assessment and ED observations, short reflective writing assignments, and a cumulative evaluation of skills observed in the ED at the end of the semester.