Structured research

Our innovative research curriculum is designed to immerse residents in scholarly activities through a combination of didactic learning and hands-on experiences. This comprehensive program utilizes a 13-step structured roadmap to scholarly activity, which residents are expected to complete by their third year. By their fourth year (PGY4), residents are encouraged to begin manuscript writing.

The curriculum features a longitudinal mentorship model with dedicated Scholarly Activity Time (SAT) and a structured block schedule at the PGY3 level. Residents will undertake a research proposal and project, presenting their progress to research faculty throughout the year and culminating in a presentation at the annual Resident Research Day. Additionally, residents will be mentored to showcase their abstracts and projects at local, regional, and national conferences.

Before graduation, residents are required to fulfill one of the following criteria:

1. Submit a case report, review article, or original research paper to a peer-reviewed journal.
2. Participate in an ongoing clinical research project at Dignity Health Medical Group.
3. Complete a quality improvement project at Dignity Health.
4. Finish a Personal Wellness Quality Improvement (PWQI) project.
5. Present an abstract poster or oral presentation at a state, regional, or national CME program.

Residents will also have a dedicated one-month Research/Electives block, including a two-week segment specifically for preparing one of the above requirements. Research faculty will offer educational guidance and review of the final project before submission, presentation, or publication.

Reference:

Waheed A, Nasir M, Azhar E. Development of a Culture of Scholarship: The Impact of a Structured Roadmap for Scholarly Activity in Family Medicine Residency Program. Cureus. 2020 Mar 1;12(3):e7153. doi: 10.7759/cureus.7153. PMID: 32190522; PMCID: PMC7053682.