Current Projects
Overview
A major goal of our residency program is to produce Emergency Medicine Physicians who are able to critically appraise the literature. This involves understanding the steps involved in formulating a research question to developing a study through producing a manuscript. Only those truly versed in these steps are able to critically evaluate the work of others and apply this information to the care of their patients.
A theme of evidence-based medicine and research has been developed for the three year residency, beginning with the first year orientation. Selected lecture and small group topics are given throughout the three year curriculum. Orientation and year one are dedicated to the concept of evidence-based medicine, reading a journal article, and research ethics. The remainder of the three year curriculum highlights subjects such as developing a research question, statistics, study design, manuscript preparation, and funding. During the second year there is a dedicated two week block allowing for the resident to work closely with a mentor on their scholarly activity. Most of our residents develop a project based on questions that arise during the course of patient care in the emergency department. Research will be an on-going endeavor throughout residency, consisting of:
- CITI Human Subjects Protection Course during the first year orientation.
- A dedicated research lecture and small group curriculum given throughout the residency.
- Assigned readings from texts and articles along with associated assignments.
- Learning to critically appraise and present articles at journal club.
- Developing a question from patient care experiences and translating that into a scholarly activity.
- Completing a scholarly activity leading to a publishable manuscript or text.
- Residents may choose to crate their own project or assist in an on-going faculty research project that will qualify for co-authorship.
- Residents may choose to do a one-month research elective in either their first or third year to supplement their training and to meet the scholarly activities goals.