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.
Students do not need to participate in the Research COD program to engage in research projects or other scholarly activities during medical school. While students may participate in several research projects throughout medical school, the Research COD requirements focus on one primary project of high academic rigor with the potential for publication; case reports and other projects representing lower levels of evidence do not meet this requirement.
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.