RESEARCH DISTINCTION TRACK

• All health care professionals should have a working understanding of the research that provides the basis for standards of care
• Many people learn best by doing the MSRP program provides opportunities for students to gain understanding of the process of research and how results can and should be interpreted

• Any student who has an interest in research beyond gaining a working understanding of the process- are you interested in combining patient care with research following your training?
• Students who have interest in specialties that require distinction beyond scores, e.g., orthopedics

• Any willing LSU Health Shreveport faculty member can act as an RDT mentor
• The faculty mentor does not have to be the direct research supervisor

No.  You may choose a basic science, translational or clinical research project.  However, the project should not include only library research.  It must include generation of a hypothesis, design of a project to test the hypothesis/es, and data gathering and analysis.

• No, you may declare your intent before, during, or after you have completed your project(s), BUT no earlier than MS1 Orientation Week and no later than June 30th of the MS3 year
• Completing the MSRP can provide a great start- if you find that research is really interesting to you, you can arrange to continue (or start a new project) and declare your intent at that point
• If you started a research project before entering medical school, you may use that as a starting point for your RDT project, BUT the research for the RDT must have been done as a medical student AND under the mentorship of an LSUHSC-S faculty member

Several reasons:

• Setting the research down as a coherent story allows you to see what is missing/what could be improved
• Communication skills are enhanced by presenting the research to a wide audience
• “Selling” your project via a grant proposal makes you think more deeply about what you will do or have done- how can you convince someone that they should provide funding for your research?
• Seeing your project as part of a project of greater scope facilitates your understanding of what it means to be a PI (and interacting with a faculty mentor helps you learn to lead a group)

There is no penalty for withdrawal from the RDT, just notify the Coordinator.

All forms (seven pdf files suitable for printing) and more information can be found on the RDT Moodle page, under Medical Student Research:

• Declaration of Intent
• Research Completion
• Presentation certification
• Manuscript Submission (with manuscript copy)
• Grant Proposal certification (with proposal copy)
• Ethics Training certification
• Faculty sponsor Letter of Completion

Completed forms should be emailed to Ms. Crystal Morton, the RDT Coordinator; forms may be turned in as completed, no need to wait until all are complete.

All forms must be completed and turned in by July 1 at the end of the MSIII year to ensure recognition on Dean’s letter, transcript, and diploma.  You will hear from the Coordinator if any issues arise.