Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSRP)

The primary goal of the Medical Student Summer Research Program is to provide a hands-on, mentored research experience in surgery for medical students.

The Department of Surgery offers an annual 6-week summer research internship opportunity. The University of Colorado School of Medicine has recently approved this course as a 12-credit elective.

The primary goal of the program is to provide a hands-on, mentored research experience in surgery for medical students. Each student will be paired with a surgeon-scientist to independently conduct a study and prepare a first author abstract for submission to a national surgical meeting. Students will also participate in a structured curriculum to learn how to ask scientific questions, plan projects, and produce abstracts, oral presentations, and manuscripts. Students will also be invited to participate in Grand Rounds, multi-disciplinary clinics, and will have the opportunity to observe in the operating room.

The MSRP is open to:

  • CU SOM students currently in good academic standing.
  • Preference will be given to 1st-year (rising 2nd-year) medical students without current clinical obligations.

What to know about the MSRP:

  • Program duration is approximately 6 weeks during the summer from July 21 – August 29, 2025.
  • Participants must commit to completing program requirements, including attending orientation and weekly lectures and conferences, outlining a project plan, and providing a final oral presentation and/or poster on program completion. Participants who cannot attend the final presentation are required to submit a poster.
  • A list of mentors, projects, and the application will be sent by February 13, 2025.
  • Please complete the Application no later than 11:59PM (MST) on February 28th, 2025. Please direct any questions to the Medical Student Program Coordinator via e-mail at eirin.cox@cuanschutz.edu.
  • The program does not offer any funding for students, faculty, or travel.

We look forward to reviewing your applications for the 2025 program!


Orientation

Participants should reach out and schedule a meeting with their mentor to discuss potential project ideas prior to start of the program. Orientation will be held on a date in mid-April (TBD). We will provide introductions, review program requirements, and share project ideas.

Goals and Objectives

With the help of your mentor, you will write a one-page report detailing the research project plan. This will include a brief introduction into the topic, gaps in the current literature, specific aims of your project, and an outline of your research design.

Lectures and Meetings

Participants must attend all lectures and meetings. The MSRP curriculum has been designed to build and complement the completion of an independent research project, with the introduction of basic research concepts during weekly lectures reinforced at subsequent lab meetings. Conferences offer an opportunity for early clinical exposure.

Research Symposium

All participants will be expected to prepare an abstract or summary of progress of the project and may be invited to give an oral or poster presentation at the Medical Student Research Symposium, scheduled for December 8, 2025. The schedule for the day of the symposium includes Department of Surgery Grand Rounds, Symposium presentations, and a Meet and Greet Lunch with the invited visiting professor. Attendance and participation are required at the symposium regardless of status of project. Expect to attend these events from approximately 7am -1pm. You will need to use one of your allotted conference days during Foothills in order to attend.

Award Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to win one of three different awards by the conclusion of the course:

  • Top Oral Presentation
  • Top Poster Presentation
  • Student Engagement Award
    • Student participation in lectures, work in progress groups, and the symposium will be used to determine a winner. Feedback from mentors and work in progress group leaders may also be taken into consideration.

Clinical Experience

We will offer in-person clinical or operative encounters this year, if permitted/possible.

Dates, times, and topics are subject to change pending presenter availability. The schedule below is an example based on previous course schedules. Students in the course will be informed about the more accurate schedule as it is made available. Due to the limited time for this course, we will ask students to do some pre-work to include the below. Specific dates for this pre-work is also to be announced.

March Students meet with assigned mentors
April Orientation & Presentation “Planning a Research Project” (K. Egan, MD)
May Literature Search/Pub Med Class
June Work-in-Progress Group Meetings with Faculty Group Leaders
  Conferences
(Date/Time TBA)
Weekly Lab Meeting
(Date/Time TBD)
Weekly Lecture Topic
(Thursday, 4:00 PM)
Week 1
7/21 - 7/25
  Literature Search Results

"Basic Statistics"
Patrick Hosokawa

Week 2
7/28 - 8/1
GME Quality and Safety
Project Plan

“How to Write an Abstract”
Eden Nohra, MD

Week 3
8/4 - 8/8
Core Curriculum
Progress Report

“Manuscript Writing 101”
Martin McCarter, MD

Week 4
08/11 - 08/15
SOAR Meeting
Statistical Plan

“How to Give an Effective Presentation”
Jeniann Yi, MD

Week 5
08/18 - 08/22
M & M
Review Results, Tables, Figures

Resume Writing & Support Letters
Nicole Christian, MD

Week 6
08/25 - 08/29
GI Conference
Abstracts and Feedback

Career/Resident Panel
Mark Nehler, MD

12/8/25 MSRP Symposium

We look forward to reviewing your applications for the 2025 program!

More specific information regarding the projects will be available by February 13, 2025.

Eirin CoxProgram Manager: 
Eirin Cox
Medical Student Program Coordinator
Department of Surgery
University of Colorado School of Medicine
12631 East 17th Avenue, MS-302, Room 5405
Aurora, CO 80045
eirin.cox@cuanschutz.edu

Surgery

CU Anschutz

Academic Office One

12631 East 17th Avenue

Room: 6111

Aurora, CO 80045


303-724-2750

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