Abstract
Background and aims
Graduates in medicine are expected to become evidence-based practitioners and be research literate on entry to the profession. Research skills are included in all medical program curricula, but the delivery of this content varies between programs, depending on institutional context, mission, and research teaching capacity. The aim of this presentation is to highlight the medical student scholarly project programs delivered by three Universities in the Western NSW Health District.
Methods
The Research Educator’s Network (REN) was convened as a community of practice for research educators in all medical programs across Australia and New Zealand. This group meets quarterly to discuss research education, share ideas, resources and collaborate on research education delivery and projects. Here we present our different approaches to supporting development of research and scholarly investigation in our medical student cohorts in the Western NSW Health District.
Results
Three Universities offer scholarly projects in the Western NSW Health District. Western Sydney University (WSU) and Charles Sturt University (CSU) deliver a 360-hour research project in Year 3 and 4 of the Joint Program in Medicine (MD). Whilst WSU deliver the MD project in two 5-week blocks, CSU deliver the MD project concomitantly with clinical placements. Projects can be focused on research, education and/or service learning to prepare students for the roles of doctors as scientists, educators, and community leaders. The University of Sydney has a 14-week full time research project in Year 3 of their Post-Graduate MD Program. Students undertake an individual research project supervised by research staff and projects can be in any area of medicine or health.
Implications and conclusions
There are great opportunities for medical students to be involved in scholarly work and rurally focussed research projects in the Western NSW Health District. Building an understanding of medical research in a rural context is a vital component of the rural health agenda. The REN facilitates collaboration between research programs for the three Universities and we welcome any researchers interested in supervising student projects to contact us.
Graduates in medicine are expected to become evidence-based practitioners and be research literate on entry to the profession. Research skills are included in all medical program curricula, but the delivery of this content varies between programs, depending on institutional context, mission, and research teaching capacity. The aim of this presentation is to highlight the medical student scholarly project programs delivered by three Universities in the Western NSW Health District.
Methods
The Research Educator’s Network (REN) was convened as a community of practice for research educators in all medical programs across Australia and New Zealand. This group meets quarterly to discuss research education, share ideas, resources and collaborate on research education delivery and projects. Here we present our different approaches to supporting development of research and scholarly investigation in our medical student cohorts in the Western NSW Health District.
Results
Three Universities offer scholarly projects in the Western NSW Health District. Western Sydney University (WSU) and Charles Sturt University (CSU) deliver a 360-hour research project in Year 3 and 4 of the Joint Program in Medicine (MD). Whilst WSU deliver the MD project in two 5-week blocks, CSU deliver the MD project concomitantly with clinical placements. Projects can be focused on research, education and/or service learning to prepare students for the roles of doctors as scientists, educators, and community leaders. The University of Sydney has a 14-week full time research project in Year 3 of their Post-Graduate MD Program. Students undertake an individual research project supervised by research staff and projects can be in any area of medicine or health.
Implications and conclusions
There are great opportunities for medical students to be involved in scholarly work and rurally focussed research projects in the Western NSW Health District. Building an understanding of medical research in a rural context is a vital component of the rural health agenda. The REN facilitates collaboration between research programs for the three Universities and we welcome any researchers interested in supervising student projects to contact us.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 12 Aug 2023 |
| Event | Western Health Research Network 2023 Research Symposium - Online and Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre, Dubbo, Australia Duration: 11 Sept 2023 → 12 Sept 2023 https://whrn.network/previous-research-symposia-proceedings/whrn2023-research-symposium-programme/whrn2023-online-programme/ (Program) https://whrn.network/previous-research-symposia-proceedings/whrn2023-research-symposium-programme/ (Program) |
Conference
| Conference | Western Health Research Network 2023 Research Symposium |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | Health, research |
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Dubbo |
| Period | 11/09/23 → 12/09/23 |
| Internet address |