Anatomy & Cell Biology research training opportunities for medical students

• title of training program: "Training in Orthopedic Skeletal Biology" (1T32 AR052272)
• focus: enhancing the pool of clinicians with direct experience in performing basic and translational research in the multidisciplinary area of skeletal biology
• example projects/topics: bone regeneration, implant fixation, cartilage restoration, biomechanical studies of osteoarthritis, peripheral nerve regeneration, skeletal development
• home departments of the mentors: Anatomy & Cell Biology, Orthopedic Surgery, Rheumatology
• programs: short-term (e.g., 3 month summer fellowships), MS/MD (typically requires 1 year of dedicated research), MD/PhD (requires 2-3 years of dedicated research)
• how to contact the program director: send an e-mail to rick_sumner@rush.edu

The Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology invites Rush medical students interested in skeletal biology (i.e., students considering orthopedics, rheumatology, skeletal radiology, rehabilitation medicine or other disciplines where specialized knowledge of the musculoskeletal system is needed), to consider enrolling in either a M.S. or Ph.D. program concurrent with your M.D. or to consider a short-term summer research fellowship.

The M.S. program has generated considerable interest in the last few years: 4 Rush Medical College students have completed the program and 3 are currently enrolled. This program is particularly attractive because it allows for a year-long intensive research experience and thus minimizes the increase in the overall period of training for students interested in becoming physician-scientists. All of the students who have completed the program have published their findings and participated in national or international scientific meetings and have gone on to prestigious residency programs.

The Ph.D. program allows for more in-depth research and requires two to three years, with the expectation that the student will develop a greater degree of independence than in the M.S. program. Both programs require minimal additional formal coursework beyond the courses you have taken as a medical student.

The three month summer research fellowship offers a short-term research experience for students looking to developing their research skills. No additional course work is required.

These programs are now supported by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) training grant on which Dr. Rick Sumner, Chair of the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, is the principal investigator and Dr. Josh Jacobs, Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, is the co-principal investigator. Students supported by the NIH training grant receive a stipend during their research training and work with faculty in Anatomy & Cell Biology, Orthopedic Surgery, or Rheumatology on their projects. The graduate degree is in Anatomy & Cell Biology.

A list of potential mentors and their research areas are listed below: