Surgical Research
Opportunities for Medical
Students
Priti Parikh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
and Research Director
Dept. of Surgery, Wright State University
What is Research?

Systematic investigation of a particular
topic
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The three major goals of research:
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establishing facts,
analyzing information, and
reaching new conclusions.
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The three main acts of doing research
are searching for, reviewing, and
evaluating information.
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Research requires organization,
resourcefulness, synthesis, patience
and above all, time.
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Type of Research Projects
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Basic Science
Clinical
Educational
QI/PI
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Basic Science Opportunities
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Research that involves basic
science laboratory and/or
animal assays and
procedures
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Basic science research with
General Surgery
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Dr. Lucile Wrenshall – Renal
reperfusion injuries
Dr. Mbaga Walusimbi –
Immune function of spleen
Opportunities with other depts.
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What is Clinical Research?

A branch of medical science
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The three main acts of doing clinical
research are:
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determines the safety and effectiveness of
medications, devices, treatment regimens,
hospital resources etc.
These may be used for prevention,
treatment, diagnosis or for relieving
symptoms of a disease.
Data collection (Retrospective or
Prospective)
Data analysis and interpretation
Publication
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Clinical Research Opportunities
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Department Specific (Retrospective) Clinical
Research
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General Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery
Plastic Surgery
ENT
Ophthalmology
Pediatric Surgery
OB-GYN
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Other Research Opportunities
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Educational Research
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Medical student education
Resident Education
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QI/PI
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Interdisciplinary Research
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Engineering
Community health
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What do I do?

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Complete CITI training
Meet with the appropriate Faculty
member/Research Director
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Identify your faculty advisor
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See current projects
Share your interests
Get an idea on future projects
Meet with the faculty advisor
Decide your research topic
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What do I do?
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Get IRB Approval
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Work with your faculty advisor and research
director
Conduct research
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(cont.)
Generate hypothesis & design your study
Collect, analyze and interpret data
Derive new conclusion(s)
Present in a local/state/national meetings
Publish a paper (write, edit, submit,
revise, resubmit)
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Tentative Timeline
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By end of 1st Year
Complete CITI course,
Meet the research director,
potential faculty advisor, get
IRB done
Year
Complete the research
work, write abstract and
submit for presentation
By end of 3rd Year
Submit the manuscript,
revise it per reviewers’
comments and resubmit
By end of
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2nd
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Want to Get More?
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Several student travel scholarships are
available
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Please discuss this with your research advisor or
Research Director for details
Longitudinal research study
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SUR 820 – Surgical Research Elective
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