Frequently Asked Questions
Am I able to work with a group?
You can work with a group on a project, but you must present your research individually to your committee.
Can I join after a research project has already begun?
While you can join an existing research project, you will need to assemble a committee as soon as you join the DO with Research Distinction program to discuss your research plans and have them approve the project. You will also need to detail your roles and contributions to the research, present at Research Day or a similar meeting, and be an author on a peer-reviewed publication submission. Please contact Kayla at kafkinich@carolinas.vcom.edu to join.
If I complete my DO with Research Distinction in my first years at VCOM, do I still have to take any research rotations in the 3rd or 4th year?
Yes, there is a curricular requirement to do research in the 3rd and/or 4th year. This is an opportunity to expand your research or take on an entirely new research area.
Can the publication requirement be a case report, or does it have to be a testable research topic (involving a hypothesis and laboratory or clinical data)?
Case reports are not recommended unless they cover a rare or unusual presentation case with a review of the literature and a robust discussion. It would be advised to complete a case series. Please discuss your research plans with your committee for approval.
Does the role “contributor in dissection, data collection, and data analysis” in a research project (not an author) meet the publication requirements?
No, you must be an author on the publication to meet this requirement.
Can a committee include an outside researcher?
Committee members can be outside researchers. If the research takes place at a rotation site, it would be beneficial to include someone from there on your team.
What is the difference between the DO with Research Distinction and the 3rd and 4th year research rotations?
Every 3rd and 4th-year student must complete a one-month research rotation and submit a report in a format that follows the manuscript style of the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. The one-month duration of the rotation limits the intensity and sophistication of the research that can be conducted, so students most often choose to produce a clinical case report. Students in the DO with Research Distinction Program undertake a research program that can span months to years designed to produce significant novel results that must result in the submission of a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal. DO with Research Distinction students can use their research rotation to advance their research towards publication.
