Faculty:   H. Lee Higdon, III, Ph.D., Elective Director

Institution: Greenville Memorial Hospital

Location: Greenville, South Carolina

Duration: 4 weeks

Course Offered: September - April 

Number of Students: 1 per rotation

Students Report To: Molly Ostrowski, UME Program Coordinator  EMAIL: mostrowski@ghs.org  PHONE: 864-455-8345  FAX:  864-455-3095  ADDRESS: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology  Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center  890 W. Faris Rd, Suite 470  Greenville, SC 29605

Format for the Course:  Participation in Departmental Research Activities

Description: Whether primarily conducting research or performing patient care, an evidence-based approach to medicine requires the ability to understand and critically evaluate scientific literature. This skill is emphasized in the scholarly activity required by all ACGME accredited residencies. This course is designed to prepare the fourth year medical student for the scholarly activity he or she will encounter in residency and to provide the student with the skills required to engage in lifelong practice-based learning and improvement. In addition, at the end of this course, the successful student will have a well-designed research protocol that he or she can use as a residency research project if so desired. This course is offered to students based on academic merit. Interested students should contact the program coordinator to request an application.

Course Objectives: To gain an understanding of research study design. To develop proficiency in searching and evaluating the scientific medical literature. To gain an understanding of compliance requirements for human subjects research. To develop proficiency in research hypothesis generation and selection of appropriate study design.

Instructional Methodology: Required Activities of the Course Student will perform background reading in study design and discuss topics with mentor. Student will identify a medical topic of interest and perform a systematic literature search. Student will generate a research hypothesis and design an appropriate study to answer the research question. Student will submit a written research protocol suitable for submission to an Institutional Review Board. Student will design and create case report forms for the proposed study protocol. Student will create a budget for study operations. Student will make an oral presentation to the faculty on study proposal The student will attend other educational opportunities as advised by the mentor. Conferences The student will participate in the Resident Reading Conference every Wednesday morning, which involved assigned readings from Evidence-Based Medicine Journal Club. The student will participate in Resident Educational Core Lectures every Friday from 8:30 am -12:00 pm.