Program Overview

Introduction to the Scholarly Concentration Program

The Scholarly Concentration Program (SCP) is designed to enrich the student experience through learning and scholarly activities specific to an interdisciplinary health-related topic. Students participating in a Scholarly Concentration will engage in an independent, scholarly project guided by a faculty mentor.

Program Overview

The UTHealth Scholarly Concentration Program aims to provide students with a comprehensive and immersive experience in a specific area of interest. Examples of possible scholarly projects include:

• Development of a new clinical protocol
• Original basic or clinical research
• Development of a new curriculum component or module
• Evaluation of an outreach program
• Creation of a bioengineering tool or biomedical software
• Creative medical writing

Program Requirements and Benefits

Students who successfully fulfill the concentration requirements will receive a certificate of completion and will be recognized at commencement.

Application Process

Interested students should:

• Review the concentration areas and select the one of interest
• Complete the online application
  • First-year medical students are eligible to apply in January upon successful completion of their first semester of work.
• Students will be notified of their application status by the director of the concentration.
• Acceptance in a concentration will be determined by the Concentration Director based on the student application, specific concentration requirements, and the number of positions available.

Participation in Multiple Concentrations

Participating in more than one Scholarly Concentration could compete with and diminish the success and depth of each scholarly activity; therefore, participation in only one program is allowed. It is encouraged that students choose a concentration that best fits their current personal and professional interests.

Finding a Faculty Mentor

• Students do not need to identify a mentor prior to filling out their online application for SCP, but it will help in expediting the admission procedure for the director(s).
• The approved list of mentors is located on the last page of each concentration's curriculum.
• Students may find other acceptable faculty through student societies, seminars, or institutional websites.
• Potential mentors need to be approved by the Concentration director(s).

Concentration Areas

Some concentrations require participation in the Summer Research Program (SRP), denoted by an asterisk:

• Biomedical Informatics (SBMI)*
• Clinical Quality Safety and Evidence-Based Medicine*
• Molecular and Translational Medicine*
• Nanomedicine and Medical Engineering (nBME)*
• Neurosciences*
• Trauma*

Third Year/Student Research Elective

• The procedure for the Third Year/Student Research Elective involves seeking approval from the Medical Student Research Office (MSRO) by filling out the online application form before adding the elective to the schedule.
• Projects that focus on literature reviews and case reports are inappropriate for the research elective module.
• The online application process involves submitting an elective request to MSRO by filling out the online worksheet.
• The mentor must sign and submit the worksheet at least 30 days in advance before the actual start date.

Evaluation and Grading

• Upon completing the elective, the mentor will need to complete the evaluation form within the next seven days.
• A grade will be entered into the system only when the MSRO receives the completed evaluation form from the mentor.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Research experience may be necessary for residency programs, and it is recommended to check with the MMS Advisor and faculty in the residencies of choice.
• Independent research progress can be submitted to the Medical Student Research Office's Medical Student Research Catalog.
• Engaging in research is not necessarily required for a career in academic medicine, although many academic physicians do engage in research of various kinds.