I. Resident Scholarly Projects Objectives

1. To acquire knowledge in organizing and implementing a project to test a hypothesis, in reviewing the literature, and in preparing and submitting manuscripts.
    
2. To know the common methods of statistical analysis, the various types of research studies, and how to critique the medical literature.
    
3. To acquire knowledge in organizing an oral presentation, preparing visual aids, and
   formally presenting to an audience.
    
4. To emphasize and encourage research, formal presentations at scientific meetings, and
   publication of manuscripts.

1. Types of Projects: By the completion of the third year, each Pediatric resident will have completed a hypothesis driven, scholarly research project. Hypothesis-driven projects may be prospective or retrospective, and must use gathered data to validate or disprove the hypothesis. Alternatively, with the written approval of the project's principal investigator, the Pediatric Resident may elect to fulfill the Pediatric Department's hypothesis-driven research project requirements by completing a previously initiated research project. All hypotheses-driven research projects must be reviewed by the Pediatric Residents' Scholarly Projects Sub-Committee (Sub-Committee) prior to submission to the IRB/IRC. The final results or preliminary data from this hypothesis-driven, scholarly research project must be orally presented at the Residents' Research Forum during the PL-3 training year. A poster presentation of the resident's scholarly project is also encouraged.
   
   In lieu of a hypothesis-driven research project, pediatric residents may satisfy their hypothesis-driven, scholarly project curriculum requirements by completing a Community Pediatric or Adolescent Health Project. The Community Pediatric or Adolescent Health Project must clearly involve a community-based activity that will potentially improve the overall health of the pediatric or adolescent population. (See Appendix A) The selected project must be evidenced by a needs assessment summary based on at least two (2) published journal articles and must include epidemiological data, e.g. incidence, prevalence, etc., on the community health issue to be addressed. This alternate, research scholarly activity must be reviewed by the Pediatric Residents' Scholarly Projects Sub-Committee prior to implementation and must be orally presented at the Residents' Research Forum during the PL-3 training year. A poster presentation of the resident's scholarly project is also encouraged.
   
2. Resident Project Collaboration: Unless distinctly approved by the Sub-Committee, no more than two residents may collaborate on any one Scholarly or Community Health Project at any one time.
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3. Scholarly Presentation: All pediatric residents must present the results or preliminary data of their Scholarly or Community Health Project at the Resident Research Forum prior to completion of their training. Scholarly presentations must follow a standard presentation format and, at the request of the Sub-Committee, may include an associated poster presentation at the Resident Research Forum.
   
   Requested poster presentations may comprise any of the following:
   • a single patient case report,
     
   • a series of similar patients case reports,
     
   • a retrospective data collection study,
     
   • a completed pilot study,
     
   • an ongoing or completed hypothesis-driven, research project, or
     
   • an ongoing or completed Community Pediatric or Adolescent Health Project.
     
   
   All scholarly presentations must be reviewed by the Pediatric Residents Scholarly Projects Sub-Committee prior to implementation.
    
4. Faculty Advisors (Mentors): Each hypothesis-driven, Scholarly Project and Community Health Project must be done under the supervision of a faculty member and be approved by the faculty member prior to submission to the Sub-Committee. Faculty may not mentor more than two Scholarly or Community Health Projects at any one time.
    
5. Hypothesis-Driven Scholarly Research Project Schedule: Projects should be initiated during the first year to insure completion. The title of the project and the name of the faculty advisor should be reported to the Sub-Committee by January 1st of the PL-1 year. A written proposal in abstract form should be submitted to the Sub-Committee by May 1st of the PL-1 year.
   
   The proposal should include, at a minimum, the research question to be answered, the proposed methods and subjects to be studied and the hypothesis to be validated or disproved along with a minimum of two key references, which should be appended to the abstract.
   
   The complete study protocol with subject consent form should be submitted to the Sub-Committee by September 1st of the PL-2 year and approved by the IRB no later than January 1st of the PL-2 year. To ensure adequate progress and facilitate successful completion of all projects, written or orally-presented progress reports should be submitted to the Sub-Committee on the following dates: May of the PL-2 year and September and January of the PL-3 year. The final abstract/manuscript is due by March of the PL-3 year (one month prior to the Resident Research Day [see III below]).
    
6. Community Pediatric or Adolescent Health Project Schedule: The Community Pediatric or Adolescent Health Project should follow the same time line schedule as listed under 5. above for the hypothesis-driven, scholarly research project.
   
   The written abstract proposal due to the Sub-Committee by May 1st of the PL-1 year must include, at a minimum:
   • the present impact of the evinced problem on the health of children and/or adolescents within the community,
     
   • the proposed intervention plan and strategies for its implementation, and
     
   • the planned evaluation methods for measuring and documenting the proposed project's results.
   
   
7. Special Research Time: Dedicated research time may be granted to individual residents to perform specific tasks on research projects. Requests for special research time should be made to the Residency Program Director well in advance of the requested dates. All requests will be considered on their merits on a case-by-case basis, but the Program is generally disposed to supporting residents in their research efforts by granting dedicated time when indicated. Dedicated research time will generally not be available for library searches, literature reviews, or preparation of manuscripts.
   
   

1. Presentations: Each resident will be allowed 10 minutes to present his/her project. Each PL-3 must present the final results or preliminary data from his/her project. PL-3's are also encouraged to present a poster of their project. Following the presentation, time will be allowed for questions and a short discussion.
   
   
2. Date: Resident Research Forum will be scheduled each spring (usually at the start of April).
    
3. Audience: Residents, faculty, nursing staff, local physicians, and alumni will be invited to attend.
    
4. Guest Reviewer: A guest lecturer or other invited faculty recognized for participation in academic excellence will be asked to critique each participant.
    
5. Posters: Posters submitted by all resident levels will be on display during the Resident Research Forum with time allotted for review by the audience.
    
6. Resident Awards:
   
   
   •  An Awards Committee will be appointed by the Sub-Committee members prior to the Resident Research Forum and will include the guest faculty member and other department faculty not participating as sponsors or as co-authors on the resident presentations.
     
     
   •  Awards will be presented for Excellence in Resident Research.