About the Program
The Certificate of Distinction in Research is an extracurricular, optional, four-year longitudinal program that offers medical students structured opportunities to develop skills in clinical and translational research. The program combines foundational training, mentorship, and ongoing scholarly activities to help students learn how to design, conduct, and share original research. Through a mix of seminars, workshops, and required educational modules, students explore research ethics, study design, biostatistics, epidemiology, and scientific communication. Working with faculty mentors, students complete a scholarly project that progresses throughout the curriculum and culminates in dissemination through presentations and manuscript submissions.
Goals
- Develop foundational and advanced skills in clinical and translational research.
- Provide structured mentorship and guided scholarly growth over four years.
- Improve understanding of research ethics, regulatory procedures, and responsible research conduct.
- Enhance skills in study design, data analysis, interpretation, and scientific communication.
- Encourage participation in scholarly dissemination through presentations and publications.
- Recognize students who demonstrate excellence and commitment to research during their medical education.