SMD 617: Research Learning Community 2
DEPARTMENT: Research Affairs
COURSE DIRECTORS & FACULTY: Mark Willis and Adam Deardorff; other faculty to
be determined
TIME & LOCATION: September-April; monthly seminars and workshops in White Hall
PREREQUISITES: MS 2 in good academic standing
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The elective for M2 students builds on the concepts and activities established in SMD 616 (Introduction to the Research Learning Community). The M2 elective provides a supportive environment for continuation or completion of research projects begun in SMD 616, but SMD 616 is not a prerequisite.* The M2 elective also supports students who have participated in research SIE’s (student initiated electives) or extracurricular research projects.
In September-December, students will participate in monthly seminars surveying models and methodologies in translational research, clinical research, evidence-based medicine, and other research topics. In addition, students will participate in ongoing meetings of the Translational Research Lecture Series, the Medical Student Research Club, and the Medical Student Journal Club, completing reading and reflective writing assignments associated with program content. Each student will prepare and lead a discussion of a recent research article at a seminar or Journal Club meeting.
In January-April, students will participate in skills development workshops on making and presenting scientific posters. Students will prepare a capstone project that may take several forms. Option 1 is presenting a scientific poster at the annual Medical Student Research Symposium in April. Option 2 is writing a paper on a critically-appraised topic (CAT) in evidence-based medicine that could serve as a roadmap for a future translational research project. Option 3 is participating in a faculty-mentored research project during the academic year.
* Students who have not taken WSU’s training workshop on research misconduct and the CITI course on the protection of human subjects (training included in SMD 616) will need to acquire both certifications sometime during the M2 elective.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
a. Participate in a research-focused learning community organized around monthly seminars and online assignments. (50%)
b. Participate in monthly meetings of the Translational Research Lecture Series, the Medical Student Research Club, and the Medical Student Journal Club. (10%)
c. Prepare and lead a seminar or Journal Club discussion of a recent research article. (10%)
d. Complete a capstone project (30%)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
a. Learn collaboration strategies and skills through engagement with a research-focused learning community.
b. Survey a range of translational research fields and career models.
c. Gain experience in effective oral presentation and discussion.
d. Develop skills to synthesize and disseminate knowledge in a scientific poster presentation or other capstone project.
EVALUATION:
a. Students will receive a grade of Pass/Fail.
b. Students will be required to attend monthly seminars, lectures and skills workshops.
c. Students will be evaluated by the course directors related to level of engagement with the Research Learning Community: completion of assignments; and synthesis and dissemination of knowledge in the capstone project.
ELECTIVE CREDIT: 1 elective (80 hours)
Enrollment in SMD 617 is by permission of the course director. Please contact Mark Willis (937-775-3814; mark.willis@wright.edu) to schedule an interview. The admission deadline is August 30.
