Research

UT Health Science Center at San Antonio M.D. with Distinction in Research

Link to Application

Goals and Objectives

The MD with Distinction in Research Program provides UT Health Science Center at San Antonio medical students with an opportunity to spend part of their medical school career doing sustained work in basic, clinical, translational or social sciences. We expect that this program will be very helpful in helping students shape their career goals and building an academic track record that will be viewed favorably by residency selection committees.

Program Summary

  • The M.D. with Distinction in Research Committee will meet to review applications.  Students may apply on either January 15th or May 15th, during their first and second years of medical school.  Applications will not be accepted after the start of the 3rd year. 
  • If the application is made prior to the deadline for Medical Student Summer Research Program it will automatically be considered for funding available through that program without the need to submit a separate funding application.
  • Students must commit a minimum of 4 months (640 hrs) during medical school to the program.  We strongly suggest that the first 8 weeks of the program be completed in the summer break between the first and second year. The additional time will be completed during free time (Holidays, evenings, weekends) “on top of” other academic activities.
  • A research log consisting of time spent in research project activities is required. This log, verified by the mentor each month, must be turned into the Office of Academic Enhancement at the end of the initial summer block and every 6 months until completion of the program. It is the student’s responsibility to keep the research log up to date and to obtain the mentor’s signature verifying work on a monthly basis.
  • A progress report must be submitted and verified by the mentor every 6 months until completion of the program.
  • The project must be done under the mentorship of at least one UT Health Science Center at San Antonio faculty member, who must play a role in the project from beginning to end. Research completed by the student prior to entering medical school cannot be substituted for the research requirement of this program.
  • A stipend of up to $2,000 is available through the Medical Dean’s office if you apply for Medical Summer Research Program. Funds are limited and are awarded to those students with outstanding projects. The specific selection criteria can be found on the Medical Dean’s Research Website under Medical Student Summer Research Stipend Program.  No other funding is available to students participating in the program from the Dean’s Office.
  • The work done over the summer must be presented as a poster at the Medical Student Research Day held each fall. Funds for printing the poster are provided by the Medical Dean’s Office. 
  • Students who participate in the program will be required to take, as appropriate for their project, University training in Responsible Conduct in Research and must complete all regulatory requirements (e.g. Institutional Review Board, Lab Animal and Radiation Safety Training, etc.). All requirements must be met before the start of the project.
  • Students must be in good academic standing and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.25 to be eligible for the program and must maintain good academic standing to continue in it. Failure to satisfy administrative requirements (e.g. Research log, attendance and presentation at Medical Student Research Day, and compliance with regulatory requirements) may also lead to dismissal from the program.
  • At the conclusion of the research project, and by no later than February 15 of the graduation year, a manuscript must be submitted to the MD with Distinction in Research committee. This must be in the form of a scientific manuscript that is suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific/medical journal appropriate for the subject of the project. This manuscript must be written by the student with help from their mentor.  The student must be the first author of this manuscript.  All students are encouraged to present their work at local and National meetings and to submit their manuscript for publication.  Funds may be available through the Medical Dean’s Office to support registration fees and travel expenses to these meetings. 
  • All manuscript submissions will be reviewed by the MD with Distinction in Research Committee. If the Committee deems the work worthy and the student has completed all administrative requirements, the student will be awarded an MD with Distinction in Research.   

Evaluation Criteria for Entering the Program:

MD with Distinction in Research Application

The student applying for the MD with Distinction in Research program must submit an application containing the following information:

  • Student’s Resume
  • Student’s Personal Statement. Explain how participation in the Medical Student Research Program would benefit you and the role you will play in the described research project (1 page)
  • Mentor’s Resume using the information from NIH PHS 398 format (maximum of 2 pages)
  • Summary of mentor’s current and completed extramural funding (maximum of 2 pages)
  • Mentoring Plan (maximum of 2 pages). Present a systematic plan that:
    • Shows a logical progression from the student’s prior research and training experiences to the training and research experiences that will occur during the award period
    • Includes both didactic and research components
      • How often will the mentor meet with the student? 
      • Who else will be responsible for mentoring the student?
      • What are the expectations the mentor has for the student regarding attendance at conferences or other educational activities and how do these activities enhance the student’s research experience?
      • List the specific resources available to the student to perform the project
    • If the mentor is sponsoring applications from several students working on different aspects of a similar problem, it is extremely important to clarify the specific aspects each student will be working on
  • Project Description (written by student with input from mentor). All of the following elements must be included in the Project Description.
    • Specific Aim(s)
    • Background and Significance
    • Research Plan
      • Study population
      • Study design and research methods
      • Sample size, including sample size justification
      • Statistical analysis plan
      • Expected results
      • Potential pitfalls/alternative approaches
    • Timeline for completion of the project
    • Brief bibliography (do not exceed 1 page)

Review/Evaluation Criteria for Students in the Program:

The MD with Distinction in Research Committee consists of a group of UT Health Science Center at San Antonio faculty members with research and mentoring experience plus the Interim Assistant Dean for Medical Student Research, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Medicine serving as committee chair. This group will review all applications and determine whether or not the student meets the criteria for the program. Selection factors include the student’s commitment to research, research project and qualifications, funding and written plan submitted by the mentor. Students will have the opportunity to respond to the committee’s concerns with an amended application if the initial application is not successful.

Failure to present a poster at Medical Student Research Day will result in dismissal from the program.


The Director of Office of Academic Enhancement will review the 6-month evaluations, progress report and research time logs for all students in the program for evidence for satisfactory progress. If progress is not considered to be satisfactory, a meeting will be scheduled with the student and their mentor and a remedial plan will be established. If suitable progress is not made at the time of the next 6 month evaluation, the student will be dropped from the program.
The Committee members will evaluate the student manuscript. All students in the program are encouraged to submit their thesis for publication. Students who submit a satisfactory manuscript and complete all other administrative requirements will be granted an MD with Distinction in Research.

Candidate

  • Quality of the candidate's academic record (as evidenced by verification of current average grade from course directors).
  • Commitment to research (1-page letter from student describing reason for applying to the program).
  • Quality of the letter of reference from mentor named in the application.  This should address:
    • Evidence of the student's ability to interact and collaborate with other scientists.
    • Prior training and how it relates to the objectives of the project.
    • The student’s research efforts to this point in his/her research career, including any publications, prior research interests and experience or evidence for anticipated capacity for performing research.

Research Plan

We recognize that an individual with limited research experience is less likely to be able to prepare a research plan with the breadth and depth of that submitted by a more experienced investigator.  Nevertheless, a fundamentally sound research plan that is consistent with the student's level of research development must be provided. The research plan should include:

  • Specific Aims
  • Background and Significance
  • Preliminary Results
  • Research Design and Methods (including a description of all research methods, sample size, justification for the selected sample size, statistical analysis plan, expected results and pitfalls)
  • Timeline for Completion of the Project
  • Bibliography 
  • The student must work closely with the mentor on the development of this section. The research plan cannot exceed 5 pages, including the bibliography. The research plan will be evaluated for adherence to these requirements and also according to the following criteria: 
    • Usefulness of the research plan as a vehicle for enhancing existing research skills. 
    • Scientific and technical merit of the research question, design and methodology judged in the context of the candidate's previous training and experience.
    • Time-line and feasibility of the research project over a 4-6 month time period.

Mentoring Plan

  • The student must name a primary sponsor (or mentor), who, together with the student, is responsible for the planning, direction, and execution of the program.  The student may also nominate co-mentors as appropriate to the goals of the program. 
  • A 2-page NIH Biosketch and list of the mentor’s past, current and pending grant support is required.
    1. The mentor should be recognized as an accomplished investigator in the proposed research area and have a track record of success in training research trainees.
    2. The mentor should have sufficient independent research funding to support the proposed research project in excess of the allowable costs of this award.
    3. The mentor should have a history of research productivity and peer-reviewed support.
    4. The mentor should have adequate active/pending support for the proposed research project.
  • Strength of the mentor's statement describing a well-outlined mentoring plan tailored for the student, including (2 pages):
    1. Information on their research qualifications and previous experience as a research supervisor;
    2. A mentoring plan describing the nature of the supervision and mentoring that will occur during the proposed award period
    3. Agreement to perform every 6-month evaluations on the student’s progress
    4. If a co-mentor is named, a description of the co-mentor’s role is required

Contact Information

David L. Henzi, Ed.D
Director
Office of Academic Enhancement
UT Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Medicine
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio TX 78229-3900
Phone:  210-567-4469
Fax:  210-567-4478
Email:  Henzi@uthscsa.edu

Additional Contact person:

Merry Lindsey, Ph.D.
Interim Assistant Dean for Medical Student Research
School of Medicine

Associate Professor with Tenure
UT Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Medicine
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, TX
78229-3900
Phone: 210-567-0611
Fax: 210-567-6962
Email: lindseym@uthscsa.edu