Program Overview

Student Research Assistantship Program

The Department of Family Medicine offers UTHSC medical students an exciting summer opportunity - the Family Medicine Student Research Assistantship Program (SRP), an annual 7-week program starting at the beginning of June and ending close to the end of July. SRP students are placed in Memphis and Jackson, TN. SRP may be for you, if you enjoy working in a clinical setting while learning about clinically relevant research.

Program Objectives

SRP is designed to:

• Improve your ability to read and evaluate the medical literature from an Evidence-Based medical perspective.
• Increase your ability to think critically based on medical observations experienced in every day practice.
• Provide you with an opportunity to present your report at a professional meeting at no expense to you.
• Provide you with an opportunity to experience family medicine first-hand by participating in a family medicine residency program and clinic.
• Help you meet the requirements of the LSP program.

Program Details

Students meeting the terms of their written agreement will receive a stipend of $2250.00 in Memphis and Jackson for spending 16 hours per week on research, clinical shadowing, and didactics during the 7-week SRP.

The Process

1. Complete and return the application via email attachment. Every year a new application will be posted (typically in February-March), and all rising 2nd year students will be sent an email informing them when the new application has been posted on the SRP web page.
2. The application deadline is April 15. However, for best consideration, we encourage students to apply as soon as possible after the new application has been posted, as applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the application deadline.
3. Every year, the number of students admitted into the program may differ, depending on departmental budgetary considerations.
4. Accepted SRP students will be required to sign a written agreement and complete employment/stipend forms by the deadline stated in the acceptance email.
5. Accepted candidates will be required to attend a special SRP orientation at the beginning of the SRP.
6. Each student will be supervised throughout the course of the project according to the nature of the project.
7. Students will complete a poster and PowerPoint presentation of their project and present it to other students, residents, faculty and guests at the end of the program.
8. Students can expect to spend 16-20 hours per week receiving instruction on different research learning modules and hands-on data entry and statistical analysis. In addition, students will spend time engaging in research projects and clinical activities with physician faculty learning about clinical research and engaging in patient care.
9. The weekly schedule is set by the Department for each student team. In addition, students are expected to build some flexibility in their summer schedules outside of the time frames mentioned, in order to be able to discuss research issues with their teammates, to use the library, or to meet with a faculty member at times other than those mentioned in the SRP schedule.
10. Students will have the opportunity to work with experienced faculty members and contribute to ongoing research projects in family medicine.