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:
What to know about the MSRP:
We look forward to reviewing your applications for the 2025 program!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Students have the opportunity to win one of three different awards by the conclusion of the course:
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" |
|
Week 2 7/28 - 8/1 |
GME Quality and Safety |
Project Plan |
“How to Write an Abstract” |
Week 3 8/4 - 8/8 |
Core Curriculum |
Progress Report |
“Manuscript Writing 101” |
Week 4 08/11 - 08/15 |
SOAR Meeting |
Statistical Plan |
“How to Give an Effective Presentation” |
Week 5 08/18 - 08/22 |
M & M |
Review Results, Tables, Figures |
Resume Writing & Support Letters |
Week 6 08/25 - 08/29 |
GI Conference |
Abstracts and Feedback |
Career/Resident Panel |
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.
Program 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