Students will participate in lectures and workshops learning the anatomy of research projects and the scientific method. They will learn how to critically appraise medical literature to determine if the findings impact evidence based medicine. Additionally, they will understand the importance of the IRB (institutional review board) and ethics in investigations involving human subjects.

As part of the Foundations of Clinical Medicine Course IV, students work in groups and perform a basic science research investigation under the supervision of the Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology. The teams will learn how to apply the scientific method to research. It consists of systematic observation of available information/data, identifying and defining a problem, accumulating relevant data, formulating a tentative hypothesis, conducting experiments to test that hypothesis, interpreting results objectively utilizing references, and repeating the process until an acceptable solution is determined.

Students work with a mentor on a research project. This consists of developing a hypothesis for evaluation during the rotation using clinic, translational, or basic science techniques. Students utilize appropriate research methodology to test their hypothesis. Then, data is independently collected and analyzed to test that hypothesis. The department with available research electives are listed here:

During the Health Systems Science course, students complete the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) modules. The modules introduce participants to healthcare improvement, quality improvement and patient safety. The curriculum encourages learners to become change agents for positive change in healthcare.