In the first year, students learn about research tools, especially those related to public health. This happens primarily in the Behavioral Science and Public Health course, which introduces students to statistics and epidemiology as well as research design. Students are also required to take two online CITI courses, a basic course entitled Responsible Conduct of Research and a next level course on research with human subjects. See the Research Ethics page for details.

The summer after the first year is an excellent time to participate in a health-related research project. See the Summer Opportunities page for details and links to programs.

In the second year students are busy preparing for the first level boards taken in the following summer. However, we do manage to work into the clinical sciences course additional instruction in biostatistics and epidemiology, particularly since these are on the boards.  Students are also prepared for the OMS3 year where they will have more research opportunities. 

Students who did summer research and prepared posters as a part of this are asked to present their posters at the August WCUCOM Summer Research Symposium. Many students will also present their work at the January meeting of the Mississippi Osteopathic Medical Association. Outstanding posters may also be presented at national medical conferences. To the left are four example posters.

The third year curriculum now has a required course called Introduction to Clinical Scholarship. This course will use a series of assignments to prepare students for forms of scholarship appropriate for primary care physicians. For example, one required component is a written case report from a case you have seen in your clinical rotations. Students are encouraged to present their cases at state and regional conferences. Outstanding cases should consider publication. 

A new rotation option is a research elective rotation in OMS3. The syllabus is available on the Research Rotations page.

The fourth year is focused on obtaining a match into a desirable residency. A research elective rotation is available in OMS4 even if one was completed in OMS3. Research electives should be arranged in advance. National opportunities for research electives are available through Visiting Student Learning Opportunities) or can be arranged on an individual basis.