Here's what you can expect
For all Pathways students, the learning objectives of the scholarly project are to:
- Engage in original scholarly work addressing a question in medicine/health, using approaches from a range of scientific or social science fields
- Work closely with a faculty mentor on a scholarly project in a partnership that is mutually beneficial
- Inspire curiosity, develop critical thinking skills, and identify analytical tools useful for the future physician-scholar
- Craft a scientific plan through a written proposal that will be vetted by HMS faculty
- Review and reinforce (via quizzes) basic concepts concerning responsible conduct of research and IRB processes
- Write a report on one's scholarly work which will be critiqued by HMS faculty
Some Pathways students will also have the following experiences, depending on the nature of their projects:
- Review and reinforce (via quizzes) basic concepts concerning global health professionalism (for those working on global health projects)
- Prepare a submission to local IRB offices on the proposed human subjects or animal research
- Learn statistical tools and analysis techniques through practical experience
- Prepare for the challenges of working and living abroad
- Write a manuscript for publication and learn about publication requirements, processes, and protecting one’s intellectual property
- Identify the assets that communities possess and the challenges that communities face
- Interrogate the role of community-based organizations and clinics in building the fabric of the community to improve or promote? people’s health and well-being
- Consider how knowledge of your patients’ community and collaboration with community-based organizations can enhance your ability as a physician to optimize patient health