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Research Opportunities in the MWU/OPTI

Research Objectives

The MWU/OPTI provides clinical training programs for interns and residents that integrate the science and art of the practice of medicine. One of the most important elements of this training is instilling an understanding of the scientific method and its role in improving the body of knowledge related to disease processes, which underscores the overarching need to promote and rely on evidence-based medicine in contemporary medical practice.

The DME at each affiliated training site monitors the clinical education program to ensure that didactic instruction emphasizes the importance of scientific method and biomedical research. Although the specialty colleges have unique educational objectives for each clinical specialty, many research-related educational objectives are common to all clinical specialties.

Midwestern University/OPTI supports numerous research-related educational objectives including:

Research Assistance

The Midwestern University Office of Research & Sponsored Programs (ORSP) will provide research assistance and resources directly to trainees for meeting specialty college requirements, including:

Future plans include training sessions for clinical researchers to provide trainees with numerous examples and resources and be held on both the University's campuses and include topics such as the following:

Access to Basic Sciences and Clinical Research Mentorship

The MWU/OPTI Program Directors serve as the assigned mentors for all trainee research projects. In addition, institutional Directors of Medical Education may identify clinical faculty members who may serve as mentors for trainees completing their specialty college research requirements.

Trainees participating in the MWU/OPTI may receive assistance from:

Program Directors
Program Directors are assigned overarching mentorship responsibility for all trainee research activities.

Directors of Medical Education
MWU/OPTI's institutional DMEs assist as needed to identify specific clinicians to serve one-on-one as mentors for trainees completing specialty college research requirements and to facilitate collaboration.

Office of Research & Sponsored Programs
Midwestern University's ORSP helps trainees identify basic sciences and clinical faculty members to serve as research mentors. Selected members of the basic sciences and clinical faculty identified by the DMEs and ORSP staff members are available as needed to provide in-depth support for studies that require complex designs, IRB review, informed consents that meet HIPAA standards, and statistical analysis of data.

Regional OGMEC offices
Trainees may contact their regional OGMEC Chair for easily accessed assistance in identifying appropriate mentorship.

The MWU/OPTI publishes and maintains a list of mentors available and willing to serve in this capacity. The list includes both basic sciences and clinical faculty members and a brief description of their research interests or area(s) of expertise.

The Office of Research & Sponsored Programs provides administrative mentorship to the MWU/OPTI in proposal development, identification of extramural sponsorship, and institutional clearance to ensure compliance with sponsorship and institutional requirements.

Academic Support

The Midwestern University Office of Research & Sponsored Programs provides research assistance and resources directly to the MWU/OPTI trainees to meet specialty college requirements. Such assistance shall primarily include:

The Office of Research & Sponsored Programs is enhancing its resources to offer direct assistance to trainees. To meet these initiatives, the approved 2010 staff budget includes a Manager of Clinical Research and a Manager of Bio/Clinical Statistics.

Training sessions on clinical research will be developed and held semiannually on the Downers Grove and Glendale Campuses of Midwestern University. Evaluations provide assessment for ongoing improvement, attendance is recorded, and copies of presentation materials will be provided to attendees.

Funding for Research Efforts

The MWU/OPTI provides research and scholarly activity support services to trainees in MWU/OPTI training programs through its Office of Research & Sponsored Programs. Offices established in both campus regions develop initiatives to ensure support for all basic biomedical and clinical research conducted under the auspices of Midwestern University and the Midwestern University/OPTI.

  1. "Mini" grants, usually up to a maximum of $2,000, to trainees and their faculty mentors (when appropriate) offset the cost of supplies and laboratory support services for some projects that could not otherwise be undertaken (Clinical Research Intramural Grant Program).
  2. Research funding is facilitated and expanded by identifying internal and external funding sources, assisting in proposal development, reviewing and endorsing proposals, negotiating agreements, and interpreting the guidelines of and promoting compliance with external funding agencies and University policies.
  3. Budgets include specific support for MWU/OPTI research; fiscal resources are provided directly as needed to trainees and their faculty mentors in support of their research projects to defray the cost of supplies, to hire statistical consultants, to cover poster costs, or to fund other research-related costs.

Recognition of Research Activities

The Midwestern University/OPTI ensures specifically that the scholarly activities and research of trainees are supported and recognized.

  1. The Chairs of the regional Osteopathic Graduate Medical Education Committees send congratulatory letters to trainees who have presented cases at national research meetings.
  2. Participating Partner Site Visit Reports will be forwarded to the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs (ORSP) to ensure that research accomplishments are noted in the ORSP monthly eNewsletter.
  3. The ORSP monthly eNewsletter will be distributed to the MWU/OPTI academic community and its trainees.
  4. All MWU/OPTI research and scholarly activities are formally recognized at Midwestern University's annual Dr. Kenneth A. Suarez Research Day held in the spring on each campus.
  5. An MWU/OPTI Research & Scholarly Activity Report is published and distributed to the MWU/OPTI academic community.

Annual Dr. Kenneth A. Suarez Research Day

The MWU/OPTI recognizes that all research accomplished within the MWU/OPTI should be presented at Midwestern University's annual Dr. Kenneth A Suarez Research Day, held in the spring on each campus, to best emphasize and promote research collaborations between the basic sciences and clinicians. Announcements and program information about Research Day festivities will be made available to all trainees, and participation from MWU/OPTI trainees will be encouraged.

Research Day abstracts are compiled into a booklet for in-house distribution, and the booklet is not published in any symposium proceedings to allow legitimate submission of research posters to national venues and ensure that the same data would not be published twice.

Research Opportunities at Participating Partner Institutions

Many of the MWU/OPTI Participating Partners also offer research opportunities for trainees including:

Advocate BroMenn Medical Center
Research by specialty

Advocate Christ Medical Center
Research by specialty

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
Reseach by specialty

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Research by specialty

Carle Foundation Hospital

MacNeal Hospital

Mt. Sinai Medical Center

Swedish Covenant Hospital

Specialty College Research Requirements

Through cooperative efforts with the specialty colleges, the DMEs at training sites have established additional research-related educational objectives for each clinical specialty. With increases in research requirements instituted by many specialty colleges, residents in the MWU/OPTI are advancing their research skills from performing in-depth case studies or retrospective/prospective chart reviews to conducting original research studies to satisfy their residency requirements.

The following residency programs currently require completion of a research component prior to completion of the training program:

Diagnostic Radiology - During the residency program, the trainee must present one exhibit at an Annual Convention of the AOCR no later than the Annual Convention of the trainee's third year of training.

Dermatology - During the residency program, the trainee must prepare one manuscript during each year of training, under the direction of the program director, which is suitable for publication in medical journals and is based on assigned topics which incorporate basic and clinical sciences. 

Emergency Medicine - The trainee shall complete a research project during the course of the program that will be sent to the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians.  

Emergency Medicine/Family Practice and Manipulative Treatment - The trainee must complete a research project that is approved by the program director which follows the requirements set forth in the Basic Standards for Residency Training in Emergency Medicine. The trainees must attend the ACOFP Annual Convention and Scientific Sessions or another ACOFP continuing education program once during the training program. 

Family Practice and Manipulative Treatment - The participation of each trainee in active research is required. This requirement can be met by participation in or completion of any of the following:

Gastroenterology (fellowship) - On the first year Fellow Annual Report submitted to the ACOI, the fellow must describe the title and type of research project planned. The fellow must complete one research project and submit a research project paper to the ACOI Council on Education & Evaluation during their subspeciality training. If the project is a case report, it must be submitted six months prior to the completion of the fellowship. If the project is a report of an original clinical research study, the report must be submitted by the completion of training. For fellowships that are only one year in duration, case reports may be submitted at the completion of the fellowship.

General Surgery - Residents must meet the applicable requirements for scientific research for their specialty. The Resident Scientific Research Paper or other research project submitted for credit toward the annual resident report must be approved by the Program Director and adhere to the American Osteopathic College of Surgery (ACOS) Trainer's Evaluation Format for the Resident Original Scientific Research Paper. Each resident is expected to do a scholarly project of their choice annually in one of four areas: 

Residents will be expected to attend sessions for review and evaluation of their projects with their  program director which should include a discussion of study design techniques and analysis.

Hematology/Oncology (fellowship) - On the first year Fellow Annual Report submitted to the ACOI, the fellow must describe the title and type of research project planned. The fellow must complete one research project and submit a research project paper to the ACOI Council on Education & Evaluation during their subspeciality training. If the project is a case report, it must be submitted six months prior to the completion of the fellowship. If the project is a report of an original clinical research study, the report must be submitted by the completion of training. For fellowships that are only one year in duration, case reports may be submitted at the completion of the fellowship.

Internal Medicine - The trainee must attend the ACOI Annual Convention and Scientific Sessions or another ACOI continuing education program once during the training program. The trainee must complete a scholarly project that is approved by the program director and submitted for publication, or presented at a scientific meeting, or participate in two critiqued evidenced-based presentations.

Neurological Surgery - Residents must meet the applicable requirements for scientific research for their specialty. The Resident Scientific Research Paper or other research project submitted for credit toward the annual resident report must be approved by the Program Director and adhere to the American Osteopathic College of Surgery (ACOS) Trainer's Evaluation Format for the Resident Original Scientific Research Paper. Each resident is expected to do a scholarly project of their choice annually in one of four areas: 

Residents will be expected to attend sessions for review and evaluation of their projects with their  program director which should include a discussion of study design techniques and analysis.

Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine - During the residency training program, the trainee must participate in scholarly activity that relates to neuromusculoskeletal medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine.

 Obstetrics and Gynecology - During the training program the trainees must complete and present a research project prior to graduation from residency training. The research project shall be presented according to the guidelines as outlined in the ACOOG Postgraduate Training Program Administrative Manual. Options for meeting the research requirement shall be determined by the program director and shall include any of the following:

Orthopedic Surgery - During the training program for training years OGME-R3 - OGME-R5, the resident must:

 

Urological Surgery - Residents must meet the applicable requirements for scientific research for their specialty. The Resident Scientific Research Paper or other research project submitted for credit toward the annual resident report must be approved by the Program Director and adhere to the American Osteopathic College of Surgery (ACOS) Trainer's Evaluation Format for the Resident Original Scientific Research Paper. Each resident is expected to do a scholarly project of their choice annually in one of four areas:

Residents will be expected to attend sessions for review and evaluation of their projects with their program director which should include a discussion of study design techniques and analysis.

Research and Scholarly Activity Policies

The MWU/OPTI research policies ensure that trainees and member institutions have established documented policies and guidelines for scientific research in accordance with local, state, and Federal guidelines. The Directors of Medical Education, Program Directors, and the regional Osteopathic Graduate Medical Education Committees are all charged with monitoring compliance with the stated MWU/OPTI research policies.

MWU/OPTI Basic Sciences or Clinical Research Mentorship Policy

This policy is designed to ensure that the MWU/OPTI offers ready access to basic sciences or clinical research mentorship for trainees participating in the postdoctoral training programs.

The MWU/OPTI Program Directors serve as the assigned mentors for all trainee research projects. In addition, institutional Directors of Medical Education may identify clinical faculty members who may serve as mentors for trainees completing their specialty college research requirements.

Trainees participating in the MWU/OPTI may also receive assistance from:

MWU/OPTI Research Policy

The MWU/OPTI promotes advancement of knowledge and scholarly activity through research facilitated by the institutional Directors of Medical Education and Program Directors. Additionally, the MWU/OPTI coordinates with Midwestern University's Office of Research & Sponsored Programs, where additional services are available. Program Directors and Directors of Medical Education ensure that all research conducted within the training program meets all Federal, state, and local guidelines for the conduct of medical research and is reviewed by the appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB). The Participating Partner postdoctoral training programs are required to include within their program descriptions and policies a statement describing the research requirement for each trainee as mandated by the American Osteopathic Association and the various specialty colleges.

MWU/OPTI IRB Policy

The MWU/OPTI does not operate its own IRB, and therefore it relies on the IRB reviews provided by Participating Partner institutions with a Federal Wide Assurance (FWA). The Participating Partner institution where specific research is performed may provide IRB review, or the Midwestern University IRB may review MWU/OPTI research proposals to ensure that research involving human subjects meets all regulations in 45 CFR Part 46. In some circumstances, dual IRB reviews may be required to remain compliant with the appropriate IRB policies of the institutions involved. Midwestern University will not require performance of a dual review provided that all of the following conditions are met:

If any of these conditions are not met, the research proposal must be submitted to the University's IRB for review and approval.

Program Directors and Directors of Medical Education are responsible for ensuring that no research involving human subjects is initiated without the prior IRB approval appropriate for each research project.

MWU/OPTI Conflict of Interest on Extramural Funding Policy

Research grants submitted to funding agencies often require that the Principal Investigator (PI) file a Conflict of Interest disclosure statement with the submitting institution prior to grant submission. It is the policy of the MWU/OPTI that all of its constituents submitting research grants must comply with all grant submission requirements of the submitting institution, including those pertaining to Conflict of Interest. Program Directors and Directors of Medical Education are responsible for ensuring that no research grants are submitted by MWU/OPTI constituents without following the policies of the submitting institution.

MWU/OPTI Clinical Trials Policy

The MWU/OPTI has not directly sponsored any clinical trials to date, but MWU/OPTI faculty and trainees are instead encouraged to participate in clinical trials at their institutions. It is the policy of the MWU/OPTI that all of its faculty and trainees follow the Clinical Trials Policies of the institution(s) at which the clinical trial will be performed. Program Directors and Directors of Medical Education are responsible for ensuring that no clinical trials are initiated without adherence to the policies of the Participating Partner institution.

Research Facilitation Policy

The Research Facilitation Policy establishes the minimum means by which the MWU/OPTI provides research instruction and facilitation to trainees and faculty mentors.

  1. The MWU/OPTI provides lectures, curricula, and handouts.
  2. The OGMECs ensure that all training programs deliver a research curriculum and document delivery of research instruction that utilizes a method approved by the OGMECs.
  3. The MWU/OPTI generates, maintains, and publishes on its website a list of basic sciences and clinical faculty research mentors available to provide collaboration or assistance to trainees conducting research projects.
  4. The MWU/OPTI offers an annual research competition to encourage trainee research.

    • Research award monies are budgeted for the MWU/OPTI
    • Research proposals are submitted to the regional OGMECs
    • Awardees are selected by an ad hoc committee
    • Two annual awardees receive $1,000 MWU/OPTI grant funding to complete their research projects
    • Awardees must submit their final papers for publication
    • Awardees are recognized in the MWU/OPTI Research and Scholarly Activity Report, and by special presentations as appropriate

Other MWU/OPTI Research-Related Policies

For any research-related policies and procedures not included above, such as those pertaining to the use of animals, radiation safety, biosafety, or similar research activities, the MWU/OPTI defers to the applicable institutional policies in effect at the specific location where the research is performed. Program Directors and Directors of Medical Education are responsible for ensuring that no research is initiated without following all applicable policies of the Participating Partner institution.

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