No Time to Finish that Research Project? Problem Solved.
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Residency programs at many academic medical centers require their trainees to carry out at least one major research project, but few offer scheduled time for residents to complete the work. That recently changed for residents at the U-M Kellogg Eye Center, where they now have a separate rotation dedicated to research.
It’s an opportunity offered by only a few other programs, says resident Irina V. Koreen, M.D., Ph.D. Second-year residents at Kellogg now have almost two months to work on a project that they will later present at the Department’s annual Research Day. Dr. Koreen and her colleagues value this protected research time. “If you want to make a significant contribution and especially if you are interested in academic medicine, it’s extremely helpful to have a separate rotation for research,” she says.
The growing interest in research is not limited to those looking at academic careers, observes Shahzad I. Mian, M.D., director of the Department’s residency program, “Ophthalmologists in all areas of practice need to understand what constitutes a valid research study and then determine how the findings might affect standards for patient care,” he says. “In fact, during resident interviews, more and more candidates are asking whether we provide time for research,” says Dr. Mian.
“We have always expected our residents
to be involved in research endeavors and now we can provide dedicated time for them to make greater contributions to the field,” he adds.
Dr. Koreen used her research rotation to study patients diagnosed with
sebaceous carcinoma, a rare but serious tumor of the eyelid. She reviewed case histories and analyzed
tissue samples. Her goal was to identify factors
that might predict the
prognosis for patients
with this form of cancer.
Such projects allow residents to work closely with senior faculty. Dr. Koreen had two advisors, both specialists in oculoplastics:
Victor M. Elner, M.D., Ph.D., and Christine C. Nelson, M.D. Dr. Koreen’s tissue analysis was guided by Dr. Elner, one of just a few ophthalmic pathologists in the country. He is the Ravitz Foundation Professor.
A portion of the study has been accepted as a poster presentation for the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and Dr. Koreen has been awarded a National Eye Institute Travel Grant to attend the conference. She also plans to publish her findings.
Dr. Koreen’s colleagues are equally enthusiastic about the newfound time for research. “The opportunity to complete a significant research project gives our residents a competitive edge, and it is one of the factors that distinguishes this residency from others,” she notes.
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