1. HMS Scholars in Medicine Program
Orientation for Mentors The Role of the Mentor in the HMS Scholarly Project
HMS Scholars in Medicine Program

2. Purpose of this slideshow
Introduce faculty to the Scholars in Medicine Program and the scholarly project graduation requirement
Provide a framework to develop mutually beneficial relationships with students over time
Define mentoring and its responsibilities

3. The Scholars in Medicine Program
Beginning with the incoming class in 2011, every Harvard medical student will complete and write up a scholarly project as a graduation requirement.

4. Overall Goal of the Scholars in Medicine Program
The goal of the Scholars in Medicine Program is to provide every Harvard medical student with a mentored experience of scholarship and the training to accomplish it.

5. Objectives of a Scholarly Project
Introduce all students to the challenges and rewards of developing, carrying out, analyzing and writing up a scholarly project
Foster an extended, mutually beneficial partnership between student and faculty mentor
Spark curiosity, develop critical thinking skills, and provide the tools needed by future physician-scholars

6. Characteristics of a Scholarly Project
Asks and answers a scholarly question
Affords student a substantive, independent role (often within a larger project)
Provides mentor a chance to work with a student to develop an idea, vet the student’s funding proposal, mentor the student and her/his work, and approve the product
Offers student the opportunity to include personal reflection and analysis of participation in the project

7. Scholarly work can be done in the following focus areas
Biological and translational research
Outcomes, systems improvements and clinical epidemiology,
Health care policy and health services
Medical humanities (ethics, education, anthropology and history)
Global and community health
Primary care

8. Duration of a Scholarly Project
A scholarly project may start in the student’s first year but most students will carry out their projects in years 3 and 4. It will ordinarily take three to twelve months to complete.

9. Launching a SIM Project: Three Scenarios
First year project: First year students who approach you in the Fall will be looking for a part-time project for the year or over several years
Third or fourth year project: Students will look for a project of 3 months to 1 year total as their scholarly project
Option for a full year of research usually done between Years 3 and 4

10. Opportunities for Students to Work on Scholars in Medicine Projects
Year Opportunity for part-time projects to grow into SIM projects
Year Students are in the Principal Clinical Experience
Year Students have flexible schedules and may initiate their scholarly project
Year 3/4 Optional fifth year for scholarship, year-long
HMS stipend funding available
Year 4/5 Complete and write up scholarly project
July 1 Deadline for declaring scholarly project concept
Feb 1 Deadline for mentor approval of scholarly project report
Mar 1 Last date for submission of scholarly project report to SMO

11. Assistance for Students & Mentors
Society Fellows are faculty affiliated with each academic society at HMS. They advise students in their search for projects/mentors, review & approve funding proposals, review & approve SIM proposals
Staff at Scholars in Medicine Office (SMO) help implement the Scholarship in Medicine concept, facilitate the student search process, advise students on funding

12. Mentor Role
Help students define clear yet challenging expectations. Guide them throughout the project to help them achieve their goals
Provide constructive and timely feedback, treating each student as a unique individual
Encourage professional and personal development, helping mentees focus strengths and address challenges
Create an ongoing relationship, based upon respect, confidence and comfortable working environment
Stimulate an interest in lifelong scholarship

13. Characteristics of a Good Mentor
Makes help available to the student on a regular, ongoing basis
Motivates, empowers and encourages
Serves as a role model
Fosters self-confidence in the student
Acts as an advisor, tutor and supporter

14. Benefits for Mentors
Improves career satisfaction to cultivate the next generation of physician-scientists
Provides personal satisfaction of being a role model
Offers faculty advancement (mentorship is a metric for faculty promotion at HMS)
Provides assistance with your own project
Offers enjoyment in educating, instilling enthusiasm in students for a particular field of medicine or research

15. Specific Mentor Responsibilities in SIM
Help the student develop a tightly written proposal
Sign a mentoring contract to supervise the scholarly project
Obtain IRB approval for animal or human studies
Contribute to student stipend funding, where possible
Guide and advise the student throughout the project period
Ensure that the student is integrated into the work of the lab/department/agency
Approve a scholarly abstract and scholarly product
Ensure student participation in annual Soma Weiss Student Research Day

16. Mentor/Mentee Contract
Signed by mentor and student
Lays out mentor responsibilities
Help the student prepare a scholarly proposal and vet it
Be available to advise the student during the project
Provide resources for the project
Review the abstract and scholarly product at the end of the experience
Lays out student responsibilities
Take responsibility for the overall proposal and project
Work as a member of the mentor’s team
Respect the other responsibilities of the mentor and team members
Dedicate significant time and effort to the project
Ask for help when needed
Adhere to all deadlines concerning the scholarly project

17. Funding the Student
Summer stipend is $4,000, except for global health projects which are based on travel and subsistence. Mentor share is $2,000*
Part-time research is funded at $12/hr. for 4th year students ($6 mentor match*)
Full-time research (year long) is $24,000. Mentor match may not be required, depending on resources available and the field of study
Student may apply for external funding, which, if successful, takes the place of the research sponsor’s contribution
Meritorious projects for which mentor or external funding is not available may be funded through HMS on a case by case basis
*It is recognized that matching funding may not be available in some project areas (eg: global and community health, ethics or outcomes research).

18. Format for SIM Written Report
Title Page
Abstract
Table of Contents
Glossary for any abbreviations
Introduction (background including a statement of the scholarly question and its significance as well as a review of the relevant literature)
Section 2 - Methods
Section 3 - Results (observations, data analysis)
Section 4 - Discussion, Conclusions, and Suggestions for Future Work
Section 5 - Summary
List of references annotated in text
Tables and Figures

19. Format for SIM Written Report
Alternate formats for
Students with published work or manuscripts in progress
Students with scholarly projects done through other degree programs
Creative arts projects

20. SIM Evaluation Criteria
Did the student expend sufficient effort?
Does the background section demonstrate quality and relevance of the literature review?
Are the design, methods and execution of the project clear and thorough, with acknowledgement of the design’s strengths and weaknesses?
Are the statistical significance and relevance of the data addressed, as well as the validity of the conclusions?
Are the findings analyzed, reported and interpreted, explicitly stating the significance and suggesting future directions?

21. Possible Problems & Solutions
Student project falls through
Mentor helps find alternatives
Student not advancing in research
Communicate clearly with student about priorities, contact Society Fellow
Mentor leaves project
Involve Society Fellow
Student not writing
Provide resources and structure; writing is the student’s responsibility
Final product is weak
Best to prevent mid-course: monitor & make corrections

22. Scholars in Medicine Office (SMO) Staff
Jeffrey N. Katz, MD, Director
Kari Hannibal, Program Manager, Scholars in Medicine Office
 (617)
Marcie Naumowicz, Coordinator, Scholars in Medicine Office   
(617)
Stephen Volante, Coordinator, Honors in a Special Field 
(617)
Kerenne Paul, Program Assistant
(617)