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VCOM Carolinas Campus

Student Research at VCOM

Research is an integral part of the Osteopathic medical education process during undergraduate and residency training.  Likewise, incorporating research into your career as a practicing Osteopathic physician can be a very rewarding experience.  Because of this, VCOM is pleased to facilitate student research and help students identify opportunities in their area of interest.  Whether you are seeking a research experience in a specific field to help you with your residency application, or you are just interested in conducting research because you like the investigative process, VCOM has a place for you.

Follow these steps to get started

  • Students interested in participating in research while at VCOM must be in good academic standing.  For help with this determination, the student may consult with the Associate Dean for Medical Education and/or the Associate Dean for Biomedical Affairs and Research on his/her campus.  Research is important, but good academic performance has the higher priority.
  • Students seeking to perform research are encouraged to contact the Associate Dean for Biomedical Affairs and Research on their campus for help and guidance.
  • Students may contact directly the faculty member of interest to discuss the research area and to ask about opportunities for working with that faculty member.  Faculty time for mentoring research and space available in the lab or clinic setting is limited.  Therefore, it is a good idea to have a couple of projects / areas in mind to allow flexibility in finding a research opportunity.
  • Students participating in research must be associated with a faculty mentor or advisor with an established research program or the skills and ability to conduct a research program.  This includes students who are interested in developing their own research program, or who wish to develop a publication or poster/abstract for presentation at a meeting or conference.  Students must meet with the appropriate Associate Dean to discuss their research participation prior to identifying a mentor.  Students will need approval from the Vice President for Research, as well as either the Associate Dean for Biomedical Affairs and Research or the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs prior to beginning research, publishing any papers, presenting any posters or abstracts at meetings and/or conferences, or speaking at any meetings and/or conferences.    
  • Students are strongly encouraged to work out a research plan with their faculty mentor that includes scholarly activity, such as poster presentation at VCOM Research Day or a national research conference, and/or a publication in a journal.  This type of accomplishment will give you a solid credential on your CV and residency application, which will serve you well in the residency selection process.

Students interested in research must follow the above policies and read the policies and procedures outlined in the VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook.

Please contact the Associate Dean for Biomedical Affairs and Research on your campus if you have any questions or need any additional guidance.  Best wishes for a great experience!

DO with Research Distinction After successfully completing the project the student will be awarded a Research Distinction degree designation at graduation.