Dean’s Corner
Student Research: An Engaging Component of Education
Dear Students, Alumni, Faculty, and Staff:
Holly J. Humphrey, MD
Professor of Medicine and
Dean for Medical Education
Research is vital to the medical world. It leads to progress and discovery, and without this momentum, medicine would become a stagnant discipline. Research not only permits advancement, it also yields great excitement—for those participating in the project and those witnessing the results. Research positions those involved at the pivotal point where science shifts from a chemical compound or theoretical idea to a vibrant field of study that directly impacts patient outcomes.
A key opportunity for students to develop their basic and clinical research skills comes annually through the NIH-funded Summer Research Program. The program, which was started twenty-two years ago, has become one of the most popular features of our institution, as it gives students the opportunity to work side-by-side with a faculty mentor and become a valued contributor to an ongoing research project.
The Summer Research Program came under the guidance of alumnus Dr. Eugene B. Chang, Professor of Medicine, in the mid-1990s, and has subsequently flourished with reinvigorated funding from the NIH, including Dr. William A. McDade’s award from NHLBI. The oversight and contributions of Drs. V. Leo Towle and Vineet Arora have also been integral to the success of the program. Today, more than 75% of our first-year class participate in the program. “Our goal is for our students to experience the thrill of discovery and scholarship,” notes Dr. Chang. “We want them to work with outstanding mentors, hone their critical thinking skills, and have a positive, enriching experience that will favorably influence their career decisions about academic medicine and research in the clinical and biomedical sciences. We believe the Summer Research Program has been highly successful in achieving these goals.”
This issue of the Pritzker Pulse highlights three fourth-year students who began their research participation in the Summer Research Program and have gone on to conduct work of fundamental significance throughout their tenure at the Pritzker School of Medicine. Through personal accounts of these students’ experiences, you will get a glimpse of the scope of possible projects to be found, the opportunities research can yield, and the benefits of working with top-notch mentors.
I encourage you to take advantage of the numerous research opportunities that surround you. Be it within the familiar walls of our Medical Center or amidst the foreign landscape of another country, the experience of conducting research is one that will most likely enrich your experience of practicing medicine.
Sincerely,
Holly J. Humphrey, MD
Professor of Medicine
Dean for Medical Education
