Resident Research

Provide guidelines to foster research by Residents in the residency training programs.

Residents should be encouraged to participate in research during their residency training.

Residents must be offered structured teaching in research design and methodology, research infrastructure support, and environment of inquiry.

Resident research output will reviewed and evaluated.

This policy applies to all Residents enrolled in residency training programs at the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan.

During residency training, research is required as per accreditation standards and objectives of training in both specialty training (RCPSC) and Family Medicine (CFPC) programs.

The College of Medicine, PGME is committed to compliance with accreditation standards related to Resident research, and fostering Resident research beyond minimal accreditation standards.

There must be a mechanism to facilitate contact, collaboration between the Residents and Departmental Faculty members to facilitate Resident involvement in research.

There should be support either within the programs or centrally through the College to facilitate Resident research by assisting Residents with: research grant applications, ethics approval applications, study design and analysis, manuscript preparation (abstracts and manuscripts for publication), research project collaborations and interdisciplinary/inter-professional research.

Each residency training program will achieve the following:

a)       Ensure a Resident Research Coordinator responsible for facilitating the involvement of Residents in research.

The Resident Research Coordinator will provide reports to the Residency Program Committee on a periodic basis.

The Resident Research Coordinator will liaise with the Program Director and advocate/work collaboratively with the Department Head to ensure sufficient Faculty members are available to supervise Resident research. This would involve providing Faculty with sufficient time and support for these activities.

b)      The Department Head will ensure a satisfactory level of research in the Department among the Faculty members evidenced by: satisfactory level of research funding (to include peer-reviewed and/or non-peer reviewed internal and/or external funding); satisfactory level of peer reviewed publications (to include publications, abstracts and conference presentations).

c)       Demonstrate effective teaching/learning in critical appraisal, research design and methodology, biostatistics.

Structured teaching in critical appraisal, research design and methodology, and biostatistics must be offered either within the residency training program or centrally through the Postgraduate Medical Education Office.

d)      Provide sufficient time and support to Residents to pursue and present research work.

Research by Residents may include, but is not limited to: basic science, clinical research, translational research, experimental medicine, epidemiology, health services, quality improvement and assurance, and medical education, etc.

Residency Programs will regularly assess their Residents’ satisfaction with the availability and variety of research opportunities and their ability to be involved in scholarly activity.

The PGME Committee will review Resident research metrics on an annual basis. Success of Resident research will be evaluated by the following criteria:

a)       Participation by Faculty and Residents in current research projects;

b)      Presentation of work by Faculty and Residents at research /education conferences;

c)       Participation in recognized innovation in medical education, clinical care or medical administration;

d)      Publication of original research in peer-reviewed journals and/or publication of review articles or textbook chapters by Residents and Faculty (as authors or co-authors);

e)      Peer-reviewed research funding obtained by Residents and Faculty (as principal or co-applicants);

f)        Research awards.

Instances or concerns of non-compliance with this policy should be brought to the attention of the Associate Dean, PGME.

Coordinator, Academic and Non-academic Processes, PGME Office

Phone: 306-966-6145