Medical Student Research Opportunities

We Emphasize the Importance of Research in Medicine and Continually Communicate Research Training Opportunities

Research experience is important for students as they learn to think as physicians. Evidence-based medicine has become of paramount importance in making treatment decisions. Research has also become increasingly important for residency applications, especially as Step 1 transitions to a Pass/Fail assessment. Additionally, research experience in medical school may start a student on the path to a career in academic medicine, or pursue a job in the pharmaceutical or the biotech industry. At SUNY Downstate, the importance of research in medical education (SUNY Downstate College of Medicine Curriculum Renewal Map) is evident in both the Pre-clerkship (i.e., 1.5 years of Foundations where students develop the foundational understanding and skills necessary to begin to clinically care for patients) and Clerkship (2.5 years of Core and Advanced Clinical Medicine where students enhance interdisciplinary learning across clerkships with integration of relevant basic science knowledge). Student learn scientific method, hypothesis testing and scientific writing in Foundations year 1, and progress to data organization and analyses by Foundations year 2. Biostatistics is interwoven throughout the Pre-clerkship years. Summer research experiences are available and encouraged between the first and second year. Many students present their research at national meetings or during the Annual Research Day which is held every spring. All students are required to complete a Research Experience Project (REP) in the 4^th year, which involves the writing of a hypothesis driven research paper. Projects can become publications that help propel a student’s research career. Alumni association, college of medicine and school of graduate studies support is available for research training and also to cover attendance and presentations at scientific meetings.

Getting Started in Research Occurs Immediately

As early as orientation, students learn about research opportunities that are available. It is suggested that students begin to think about possible areas of interest starting in the fall of the first year, after Unit 1 (SUNY Downstate College of Medicine - Foundations of Medicine). The first step involves finding a research mentor. There are mentors available from all of the SUNY Downstate schools, including Public Health as well as the School of Graduate Studies in addition to Medical School Faculty members. Some students elect to do summer research at outside institutions. In the fall of the first year, lunchtime programs are held that introduce students to potential research mentors. Information on and presentations by Faculty who have recently mentored students is provided to students at that time. A Downstate Medical Student Research Support Team of faculty researchers provide continual research communication and significant support/advice to link medical students with internal faculty research mentors or to help students successfully compete for outside training available for first summer and year off research.

Funded Summer Research Training

Summer Research Training is available on many levels. with funding at SUNY Downstate as well as many other Institutions. Funding for student summer research is available through the Alumni Summer Research Fellowship Program, which requires a 3-page application that is submitted in the spring before the summer in which the research is to be performed. For students who are not accepted to the Fellowship, work study money is often available.

One-Year Funded Research Fellowships

One-year Funded Research Fellowships are available and can provide a more extensive research experience, one-year funded research training programs are available through national and international sponsors and through our Alumni Association. These prestigious year-off research opportunities are pursued by some students between their second and third or third and fourth years of school.

MD/PhD and MD/MPH Advanced Degrees

The College of Medicine and the School of Graduate Studies jointly sponsor the MD/MPH Program leading to a combined MD/PhD degree. This program combines a medical education with an intensive research experience and is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in academic medicine. Students receive a stipend and a tuition scholarship throughout the duration of the program. Students already entered in the MD program who develop an interest in research and an academic career can apply at any time during their first three years in medical school. MD/PhD page

Medical students at SUNY Downstate can earn a Master of Public Health degree at the same time they earn their MD degree through the MD/MPH Program. Some students choose to complete the MPH by taking summer courses starting before the first year of medical school. Others take a year off between the third and fourth year of medical school to complete the MPH. Students may decide to enroll in the program after they begin their Medical School education as well. The program focuses on the health of immigrant and urban populations and includes concentrations in biostatistics, epidemiology, community health sciences, health policy and management and environmental and occupational health. MD/MPH page.

Integrated Pathways Curriculum

Research focus on writing, analysis, interpretation of scientific data is built into our Integrated Pathways Curriculum (SUNY Downstate College of Medicine - Curriculum Renewal) with many opportunities for volunteering, joining many specialty/interest groups, and faculty mentoring in individual laboratory or population research. Research exposure and training throughout the medical school curriculum from the Pre-clerkship - Foundations 1.5 years (SUNY Downstate College of Medicine - Foundations of Medicine) through the Clerkship – Clinical 2.5 years (SUNY Downstate Core Clinical Medicine (Clerkships); SUNY Downstate College of Medicine - Advanced Clinical Medicine). As above, students learn the scientific method, testing and writing and progress to data organization and analyses. Biostatistics is interwoven throughout the Pre-clerkship years. Again, summer research experiences are available and encouraged between the first and second year. Many medical students participate in research during the clinical years for elective credit. There are many medical student interest groups, clubs and professional organizations that are currently active on campus (i.e., with many involving research exposures; Student Clubs & Organizations). The “Academic Pathway” components of the Integrated Pathways Curriculum provides medical students with an extracurricular and structured longitudinal program that explore their interests beyond that required in the curriculum alone. Thus, “Academic Pathway” students obtain enhanced exposure to Neuroscience (Clinical Neurosciences Pathway), Medical Education (Medical Educator Pathway), Ethics (Ethics Pathway), Global Health (Global Health Pathway), Social Determinants of Health (Social Determinants of Health Pathway) or Kidney-Urology (Kidney-Urology Pathway) while pursuing the MD degree. Integrated Pathways Curriculum page.

4th Year Research Experience Project, Scientific Meetings and Research Awards

The research requirement for all medical students in the 4^th year is 4-8 weeks working with a mentor in the Research Experience Project (REP; SUNY Downstate College of Medicine - Advanced Clinical Medicine, where each student must complete an hypothesis driven scholarly report that culminates from previous research training/experience and provides students with excellent preparation for residency interviews. Medical Students who have made a significant research contribution are eligible to present at research day, local meetings and at national meetings (funded by the Alumni Fund). Students also can obtain training support in writing papers and grants. Top research students graduate with a Distinction in Research Award. There is also the Commendation in Investigative Scholarship award that is given to a student who has participated in a basic science or clinical project for a limited period of time or who has participated in a project, which has not reached maturity. These awards are made at the graduation Convocation ceremony. Medical Student Research page.

Searching SUNY Downstate Research Mentors and Medical Students

There are many Experienced Faculty Research Mentors in SUNY Downstate colleges, schools and departments: