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Student Research

NSU KPCOM students are encouraged to participate in research to help develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving, identify and practice ethics, learn how to explain research to others in the field and broader audiences and strengthen residency or graduate applications. KPCOM has a strong focus on providing research opportunities to all students interested in pursuing such scholarly activity. KPCOM students can participate in research within the medical curriculum, research elective courses as well as awards and fellowships. These opportunities include: COM 9600 research elective courses, OMS-II Research Fellowship, Dr. Kenneth Burnell Student Research Award and the Blue Ribbon Fellowship (OMS-IV). Each of these opportunities engages students in the research process, providing them insight into what research entails and how the results of these efforts impact clinical practice and future research efforts.

KPCOM Student Elective Research Courses COM 9600A, 9600B and Research Year COM 9601, 9602

These courses aim to advance the level of knowledge and skills of scientific research, relative to the student’s level at the beginning of the course, as assessed by the research mentor. The KPCOM research mentor/faculty members supervise the students’ research. The students taking part in these courses may develop an original research project and/or participate in a research mentor’s scientific research in a health-related field. Publications and/or presentations are expected outcomes from the work.

These courses allow students to select an area of interest in which to learn and/or apply research concepts applicable to their specific area of interest. Dependent on the individual student's needs and/or the research mentors' area of research, each student may have different responsibilities and assignments.

All students must be in good academic standing in order to participate in a research elective course.

COM

9600's

Description Contacts

COM

9600A

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • Offered to OMS-I or II students
  • Registration begins the second half of first year
  • Students are responsible for finding a research mentor

Student Research Director 

Dr. Randal Gregg

COM

9600B

  • 8 Credit Hours
  • Offered to OMS-IV students (may do two rotations)
*OMS-III students are excluded from enrollment to concentrate on core rotations

Student Research Director

Dr. Randal Gregg

COM

9601

9602

  • 3 Credit Hours
  • OMS-III students
  • Taken for one year following the M1, M2 or M3 year
  • Requires personal leave of absence
  • Begins fall semester (9601) and can continue through winter semester (9602) 

Student Research Directo 

Dr. Randal Gregg

For more information on the Student Research Elective Courses, please contact the student research director, Dr. Randal Gregg (studentresearchdir@nova.edu).

 

OSM-II Research Fellowship after completion of OMS-II only

Students taking part in the fellowship program carry a full-time load of 37.5 hours per week for one year.

NSU will pay the tuition for years 4 and 5 of the Fellow’s medical training. At the completion of the fellowship, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of research methods, enhanced skills in the written communication of scientific data (co-author paper peer-reviewed journal), as well as,- demonstrate oral communication of scientific results (present at a national or international meeting) and enhanced ability to understand research literature. Students should also be able to incorporate the latest research findings into practice of osteopathic medicine and exhibit improved insight into the ethical principles of treatment of human participants in research studies. Students will also gain extensive experience working with institutional review boards.

Students taking part in the fellowship program will be responsible for preparing an individualized training plan in consultation with the research mentor, completing all academic coursework as outlined in the individualized training plan and have taken the COMLEX-Level 1 Exam by the start of the fellowship year. In addition, students will need to complete CITI training. They will participate in conducting an individual research project, the writing of scholarly articles or participate in an ongoing study. In addition, they will participate in regular meetings with their research mentor and participate in scheduled rounds with other COM fellows.

For more information on the Pre-clinical OMS-II Research Fellowship program, please contact the program director Dr. Robin J. Jacobs at rjacobs@nova.edu.

Dr. Kenneth Burnell Student Research Award

KPCOM medical student first and second year students who conduct outstanding research in either clinical medicine or biomedical science may apply for the award. Each student chosen for the award receives a $500 cash award, as well as, elective research credit on his or her transcripts.

Students need to apply for this award with an application that includes an abstract, background/significance, hypothesis, methodology, and evaluation. Research proposals are awarded based on the following criteria: originality, purpose of research, hypothesis, research methodology, method of data collection, and planned method of dissemination of findings.

For more information and the application for the Dr. Kenneth Burnell Student Research Award, please contact Dr. Debra Cohn Steinkohl at steinkol@nova.edu.

Blue Ribbon Fellowship OMS-IV Block Rotation

This occurs as one of the fourth-year block rotations. The fellowship is awarded to a student who participates in research in field of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine. This award is under development. Please contact Dr. Alison Bested at abested@nova.edu for more information.

Student Osteopathic Association for Research (SOAR)

SOAR is an organization established to identify research interest among the KPCOM students, to mentor them and connect them with the appropriate faculty member and to guide them through their research endeavors. Please contact Dr. Randal Gregg, the faculty advisor at studentresearchdir@nova.edu for more information.

Research Days: Poster Presentation Days

Students will have the opportunity to present research during the year. Please check the websites for the various changing deadlines.

  1. Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP) of AACOM research symposium – deadline in the fall and meeting in January

  2.  Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA) – deadline in December and meeting in February

  3.  NSU Health Professions Division (HPD) Research Day – deadline in December and meeting in February

  4.  Eastern-Atlantic Student Research Forum (ESRF) – deadline in December and meeting in February

  5.  Florida Academy of Sciences (FAS) – deadline in February and meeting in March

  6.  Consortium for Excellence in Medical Education (CEME) Research Poster Competition – deadline in March and meeting in April

  7.  Osteopathic Medical Education Conference (OMED) – deadline in July and meeting in October

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