FORTIFY-med: Fostering Ongoing Research Training In First-Year Medical Students
Abstract
Physicians are valuable contributors to the biomedical research process with unique perspectives that enhance the translatability of research to patient care. The benefit of physicians in biomedical research is further realized in the expansion of team science, which has reshaped the landscape of translational research and elevated the ability of PhD scientists to work with human populations and samples. Despite these merits, recent studies have demonstrated falling levels of research engagement amongst physicians, which has significant implications for the future of biomedical discovery and evidence-based medicine. To address this issue, we developed the FORTIFY-Med initiative, a pilot project designed to introduce first-year medical students at UNMC to biomedical research through an interactive e-learning module. This module, incorporated into the first-year medical curriculum, exposes students to a broad array of research methodologies, emphasizing the importance of aligning research experiences with individual interests. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether early exposure to personalized biomedical research content enhances medical students’ attitudes, participation, and satisfaction with research experiences. Specific aims include: 1) assessing the impact of early exposure on students’ perceptions of biomedical research and 2) measuring its influence on extracurricular interest and participation in research activities. The module’s efficacy is evaluated through pre- and post-module surveys, longitudinal tracking of research engagement, and focus groups. Our central hypothesis is that introducing interest-oriented biomedical research concepts early in medical training will foster positive attitudes and greater involvement in meaningful research activities. Our approach aims to mitigate the current trend of short-term, high output volume-focused projects while inspiring sustained research engagement. Although early in the implementation phase, we aim for this pilot project to serve as a model for medical programs seeking to enhance research education and foster generations of healthcare professionals committed to advancing translational research and improving patient care.
FORTIFY-med: Fostering Ongoing Research Training In First-Year Medical Students
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Physicians are valuable contributors to the biomedical research process with unique perspectives that enhance the translatability of research to patient care. The benefit of physicians in biomedical research is further realized in the expansion of team science, which has reshaped the landscape of translational research and elevated the ability of PhD scientists to work with human populations and samples. Despite these merits, recent studies have demonstrated falling levels of research engagement amongst physicians, which has significant implications for the future of biomedical discovery and evidence-based medicine. To address this issue, we developed the FORTIFY-Med initiative, a pilot project designed to introduce first-year medical students at UNMC to biomedical research through an interactive e-learning module. This module, incorporated into the first-year medical curriculum, exposes students to a broad array of research methodologies, emphasizing the importance of aligning research experiences with individual interests. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether early exposure to personalized biomedical research content enhances medical students’ attitudes, participation, and satisfaction with research experiences. Specific aims include: 1) assessing the impact of early exposure on students’ perceptions of biomedical research and 2) measuring its influence on extracurricular interest and participation in research activities. The module’s efficacy is evaluated through pre- and post-module surveys, longitudinal tracking of research engagement, and focus groups. Our central hypothesis is that introducing interest-oriented biomedical research concepts early in medical training will foster positive attitudes and greater involvement in meaningful research activities. Our approach aims to mitigate the current trend of short-term, high output volume-focused projects while inspiring sustained research engagement. Although early in the implementation phase, we aim for this pilot project to serve as a model for medical programs seeking to enhance research education and foster generations of healthcare professionals committed to advancing translational research and improving patient care.