Research
Family Medicine has a variety of ways to become involved in research. The University of Washington has one of the best family medicine research programs in the country, and their “areas of study include rural health care, the health workforce, preventive services, care for patients with acute and chronic illnesses, access for the underserved, and the human and system resources needed to achieve these ends.” You can visit the UW Family Medicine Research Section website for more information.
Dr. Bill Phillips, ( bphillips@fammed.washington.edu ) coordinates student research opportunities in family medicine. Email him or visit the medical student research opportunities website for more information about getting involved in family medicine research.
For basic information about family medicine research, please see this helpful Medial Student Research FAQ list, authored by family physician researchers at the University of Washington!
Research Opportunities for Students
Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) Options in Family Medicine
Students interested in family medicine can complete the III requirement through the Rural / Underserved Opportunities Program (R/UOP), the Medical Student Research Training Program (MSRTP), or through other individualized projects. The R/UOP and MSRTP occur between first and second year; applications open in Fall Quarter and are due at the beginning of Winter Quarter. See the R/UOP website for more information and contact Bill Phillips ( bpphillips@fammed.washington.edu ) if you are interested in the MSRTP or another individualized project.
Washington Academy of Family Physicians (WAFP) Summer Externship
Washington students who are III-waived or do not receive MSRTP funding can still do a research project through the WAFP Summer Externship. Applications are due the spring and the project is usually completed between first and second years.
Presenting Your Research
After you have developed and executed an awesome research project, there are various places you can present a poster to share your findings. These events specifically accept submissions for medical student research:
- University of Washington Medical Student Poster Session. This annual event occurs in November and poster submissions are due within a limited time of completing your research project, though each project has its own timeline.
- Western Student Medical Research Forum. Submissions for this interdisciplinary research forum are due in early October.
- American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Poster Session. Held at the National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Students, submissions are due in mid-April.
- North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) Annual Meeting. Submissions for presentation are due in mid-August. NAPCRG also offers a series of helpful online resources for students interested in primary care fields.
- Society for Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Annual Spring Conference. Submissions for presentations are due in mid-November and the conference is held in January of each year. Scholarships to attend the conference are given to a student with both an interest in family medicine and with potential for an academic career.
