Surgical Research Opportunities for Medical Students

Priti Parikh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Research DirectorDept. of Surgery, Wright State University

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What is Research? Systematic investigation of a particular

topic

The three major goals of research: establishing facts, analyzing information, and reaching new conclusions.

The three main acts of doing research are searching for, reviewing, and evaluating information.

Research requires organization, resourcefulness, synthesis, patience and above all, time.

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Type of Research Projects

Basic Science Clinical

Educational QI/PI

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Basic Science Opportunities

Research that involves basic science laboratory and/or animal assays and procedures

Basic science research with General Surgery Dr. Lucile Wrenshall – Renal

reperfusion injuries Dr. Mbaga Walusimbi –

Immune function of spleen Opportunities with other depts.

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What is Clinical Research? A branch of medical science

determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, treatment regimens, hospital resources etc.

These may be used for prevention, treatment, diagnosis or for relieving symptoms of a disease.

The three main acts of doing clinical research are: Data collection (Retrospective or

Prospective) Data analysis and interpretation Publication

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Clinical Research Opportunities

Department Specific (Retrospective) Clinical Research General Surgery Orthopedic Surgery Plastic Surgery ENT Ophthalmology Pediatric Surgery OB-GYN

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Other Research Opportunities Educational Research

Medical student education Resident Education

QI/PI

Interdisciplinary Research Engineering Community health

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What do I do? Complete CITI training Meet with the appropriate Faculty

member/Research Director See current projects Share your interests Get an idea on future projects

Identify your faculty advisor Meet with the faculty advisor Decide your research topic

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What do I do? (cont.)

Get IRB Approval Work with your faculty advisor and research

director

Conduct research Generate hypothesis & design your study Collect, analyze and interpret data Derive new conclusion(s) Present in a local/state/national meetings

Publish a paper (write, edit, submit, revise, resubmit)

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Tentative Timeline

By end of 1st Year

By end of 2nd Year

By end of 3rd Year

Complete CITI course, Meet the research director, potential faculty advisor, get IRB done

Complete the research work, write abstract and submit for presentation

Submit the manuscript, revise it per reviewers’ comments and resubmit

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Want to Get More?

Several student travel scholarships are available Please discuss this with your research advisor or

Research Director for details

Longitudinal research study SUR 820 – Surgical Research Elective