DO with Research Distinction

Many students within the College of Osteopathic Medicine at PNWU (PNWU-COM) are enthusiastic about the opportunity to conduct research as part of their medical education experience. 

Students are encouraged to actively conduct a research project to gain experience in basic and applied research and advance scientific knowledge. This will enable DO clinicians to understand how their profession is evolving and can contribute to the effort required for such evolution. PNWU-COM students participating in the DO with Research Distinction track (DRD) will complete a research project, designed and conducted with a faculty research mentor and a DRD committee. After successfully completing all requirements and gaining final approval by their DRD committee, the student will be awarded a Research Distinction designation at graduation. 

Benefits to the student, mentor and PNWU: 

• Many faculty and students have ideas for research projects; your effort will advance these ideas. 
• Hypotheses and original ideas can be tested to provide essential data for grant applications. 
• Publish peer-reviewed scientific abstracts and/or manuscripts to demonstrate research competence and productivity. 
• Improve residency competitiveness. 
• Preparing future physicians in primary care and specialties with cutting edge research experiences. 
• Increase grant supported research, critical to PNWU’s future. 

Student Eligibility Requirements for Consideration: 

• OMS I students after successful completion of their first semester and in good academic standing.
• OMS II students in good academic standing.

Student Requirements for Research Distinction designation:

• Students must have a PNWU faculty mentor (view PNWU researcher profiles), and the mentor must be approved by the Research Distinction Director (RDD). Exceptions can be made on a limited basis, but only with approval from the RDD.
• Student and faculty mentor will identify and secure two additional researchers/faculty members from PNWU or partnering institutions (WSU, CWU, Heritage, Multicare etc.) to serve on the student’s research committee. Committees must meet, at a minimum, for approval of the written proposal, and after presentation/defense of results from the student’s project to the campus community.
• Students must complete the free “Research Design: Inquiry and Discovery” course offered through Coursera (https://www.coursera.org/learn/research-inquiry-discovery), which is an asynchronous, online preclinical elective prior to commencing study activities.
  • Students must also complete any other required project-specific training as defined by their faculty mentor.
• Students will complete a written research proposal under the guidance of the faculty mentor. The research proposal will be presented to the student’s DRD committee for majority approval before conducting the study.
• Students must work with faculty mentor(s) to obtain IRB approval if relevant to the project.
• Students must submit and present their research to a peer-reviewed intramural or extramural conference (e.g., PNWU Research Symposium, annual society conference).
• The student is expected to pursue publication of their work with all due effort; the project must be at a minimum submitted to a peer-reviewed journal to qualify for Research Distinction.
  • Students can still receive Research Distinction at the time of graduation if manuscript is still under peer review, or if they completed the full peer-review process and the manuscript was ultimately rejected for publication.
• Students must remain in good academic standing for the duration of the research.

Send your completed application to Dr. Kaelin Young: kyoung@pnwu.edu

Facilitation of DO with Research Distinction

PNWU-COM’s Director of Research Distinction is available to help facilitate your DO with Research Distinction experience by:

• Helping students match with a PNWU faculty research mentor. 
• Providing input by experienced researchers, including advice on conducting research, collaboration, publication ethics, manuscript editing/prep. 
• Monitoring progress of student/mentor team. 
• Conflict resolution

Contact Information and Application

Contact Dr. Kaelin Young, RDD, for questions getting started: kyoung@pnwu.edu.

Click here to download the DRD application (PDF). Email the completed application to kyoung@pnwu.edu.