Catalog of Electives 

Medical Scientist Training Program

Course #: MDCOR-871

 Title: Translational Sciences

Course Goals and Objectives

The goal of this elective is for MSTP students to learn how to better integrate the basic sciences and their area of research interest with a meaningful clinical/translational experience. The students are expected to discuss the patient's problems from a literature/research perspective. They will work in a clinic, one-half day a week with an extramurally funded clinician-scientist who is chosen based on his/her demonstrated commitment to research. This is an elective clinic and is not required of MSTP students. The mentors for his elective could help the students with a potential clinical study that may evolve from their basic science project. the course plan for the Elective Clinic in Translational Sciences follows:

Objectives

1. Create an environment where students begin to develop an appreciation for the process of translation research.
2. Introduce students to mentors who can serve as role models.

Structure

1. Requires prior approval from dissertation advisor and graduate program coordinator.
2. Students attend clinic no more than one half-day a week and with the same faculty mentor.
3. One semester blocks.
4. Program will be pass/fail.
5. One semester may be used to satisfy one month required for a clinical elective in the senior year of medical school.

Choosing Mentor

1. A list of mentors who are clinician-scientists is provided and approved by the Associate Program Director and/or Program Director.
2. Whenever possible and/or appropriate the students will choose a mentor/clinic that is related to their dissertation research.

Schedule with Mentor

1. Introductory period to gain familiarity with the clinic.
2. Mentor assigns patients.
3. Students will evaluate no more than one new patient per clinic and will see their return patients.
4. Students are responsible for patient care (history, physical examinations, diagnosis and treatment plan) while the patient is under the care of that clinic.

Clinical Research

1. Students will research the latest concepts concerning the patient's disease and discuss them with the clinician-scientist.

Expectations of Students

1. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of the disease.
2. Provide support for diagnosis and treatment that they propose.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of current literature and provide references.
4. Acquire proficiency in the history and physical examination.

Expectations of Mentors

1. Constructively challenge student's knowledge of current research literature.
2. Practice evidence based medicine.
3. Help the student gain skills in the history, physical examination, differential diagnosis and treatment.

Evaluation of the MSTP clinic in translational sciences

1. Both students and mentors will be required to fill out an evaluation form at the end of each semester

Evaluation Forms