Department Name

Guidelines and Recommendations for Securing Research Opportunities During General Surgery Residency

1.  Categorical house officers who are interested in conducting one to three years of research in the laboratory of a faculty member should inform the Chairman and Program Director and the Vice Chairman for Research, Lyle L. Moldawer, Ph.D., during their intern year, or as early in their residency as possible. 

• Most opportunities for research experiences are available after the house officer's second or third clinical year.

2.  House officers may obtain information about research opportunities from their faculty mentor, other faculty, the Department of Surgery Research Advisory Committee and house officers who have completed research experiences.

• An excellent source of information about research opportunities is the Department of Surgery Faculty and Resident Research Day.

3.  The house officer and his or her faculty mentor should identify potential faculty members with whom the house officer is interested in conducting research.  The house officer should meet with the potential faculty member to discuss research opportunities.

4.  The house officer should contact Dr. Moldawer to schedule a meeting with the Department of Surgery Research Advisory Committee.  The Committee can also assist the house officer in identifying an optimal mentor and research laboratory.

5.  The decision to participate in a research opportunity is granted by the Chairman and Program Director, in consultation with the faculty and Department of Surgery Research Advisory Committee, and is conveyed to the house officer by the Chairman or his designee. 

• This decision generally occurs during the house officer's second clinical year.
• The house officer's clinical performance and their potential for research success, as well as the availability of research positions, are considered in the decision process.

6.  Participation in the T32 and K30 training programs, as well as any graduate program, requires admission from their respective executive committees. 

• House officers are encouraged to contact the directors of these programs (Dr. Moldawer for the T32 and Dr. Limacher for the K30) for additional information about their availability as early as possible.