FAQs

Yes, completing a research project is a graduation requirement at OUM.

Many students begin with little to no research experience. The program is designed to support you step by step, providing the skills, tools, and mentorship you need to succeed.

You will be guided through the process, from identifying a question to collecting and analyzing data, and finally presenting your findings. Your Research Advisor, along with Research Program resources, will help you navigate each stage. Completing a research project is a graduation requirement at OUM.

While some areas of research may be suggested, you are encouraged to pursue topics that align with your interests and career goals, with guidance from the Director or Deputy Director of Research.

A research prospectus is a written plan that outlines your research question, objectives, methods, and the significance of your research. After the prospectus is written and reviewed by the Director or Deputy Director of Research, it is presented to the Research Club. Final prospectus approval is then required from the Research and Ethics Committees. Students must submit their prospectus before beginning clinical rotations, so it is strongly recommended to start the process early.

A Research Advisor is a faculty mentor who supports OUM students throughout the research process. They provide guidance, feedback, and encouragement as students design, conduct, and present their projects. As part of the Research Program, Research Advisors assist with selecting a research topic, developing a clear research question, designing the study or project framework, conducting a focused literature review, identifying appropriate methods for statistical analysis, and reviewing the prospectus and manuscript drafts prior to submission.

You will be introduced to your Research Advisor once you are ready to begin your research project. Meeting frequency depends on your stage of research progress. Students typically schedule meetings as needed for guidance and feedback. Research Club attendance is also beneficial for exploring ideas and strengthening your understanding of the process.

Completing a research project is a graduation requirement at OUM, and Research Advisors are here to guide you from selecting a topic to submitting your final manuscript. After finishing the Ethics and Methods in Research Unit, students meet with the Director or Deputy Director of Research to be assigned a Research Advisor. Meetings are student-initiated and provide support with developing a research question, designing the study and statistical methods, conducting a literature review, and preparing the prospectus and manuscript drafts. A prospectus must be completed and approved before beginning clinical rotations. Students first present their prospectus to the Research Club for feedback, then obtain approval from the Research and Ethics Committees. The program is built around structured milestones that provide feedback and keep you on track, with the ultimate goal of completing a publishable research project required for graduation. Throughout this process, you will also have access to resources such as the Research Project Unit, Research Club, Journal Club, the Library, the Research Committee, and the Ethics Committee.

Journal Club focuses on reviewing and discussing published research. Once in practice, doctors must be able to read and understand the implications and possible role in patient care of information found in medical journals. All OUM students are required to participate in Journal Club meetings, which involve presenting a peer-reviewed article and then engaging in a faculty-led discussion. Students must attend a minimum of 50 Journal Club sessions, with at least 30 sessions required to be attended during the Pre-clinical Phase of the MD program.

Research Club highlights student projects and progress. Research Club attendance, although not compulsory, offers students the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the research process and hear a variety of research ideas, as well as receive feedback on other students’ prospectuses.

Students are not required to publish their research manuscript; however, it should be of publishable quality. Students, after consulting with the Director or Deputy Director of Research, may decide to submit their work to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

You may use previously collected data of your, or other, published studies to generate new questions, statistics, and results for your OUM research project.

Yes. Students may work together on collaborative research projects. These collaborative projects are usually larger-scale studies involving more in-depth statistical analysis. As a result, these types of studies have the potential to be published in high-impact journals.