Skip to content

Research Block Intern Survival Guide

Research Block Intern Survival Guide

Sarah Sabol, MD Contributed by Sarah Sabol, MD

Overview

Before your research block begins, you'll receive comprehensive guidance from the program coordinator/director. This summary highlights key points from that resource, along with helpful tips to guide your preparation.

IRB Considerations

Important

The Internal Review Board (IRB) must be involved in virtually all research involving human subjects, including many secondary research projects.

  • Consult with the Program Director early to determine whether your research requires IRB approval — this process can be time-intensive.
  • Full IRB meetings occur only twice annually (July and January), so plan accordingly.
  • Case studies may qualify for expedited review, and there's currently a proposal under consideration to streamline the IRB exemption process.
  • Given these timelines, it's crucial to begin the IRB process well in advance of your planned research start date.

Mandatory Attendance

Daily Requirements

Safety Huddle — at least 8 sessions during your 4-week block.

  • Time: 8:15 AM (Monday–Friday), lasts about 15 minutes.
  • Location: Hallway behind the cafeteria. There is literally a HUGE white board that says Safety Huddle posted in the hallway.

Regular Meetings

  • Didactic Sessions: Attend as usually scheduled. For any didactics you anticipate missing, you must get excusal from the PD — don't disappear.
  • Mentor Meetings: Meet with the PD or your faculty mentor at least biweekly to assess progress.

Logging Hours

Don't forget to log "work from home" hours daily in New Innovations.

Required Assignments

1. CITI Training (MUST COMPLETE)

Action items:

  • Create an account.
  • Meet with the Coordinator to pay for the course; the Coordinator will help you find the appropriate course in the list.
  • Turn in the completed certificate by the end of the Research Elective via email to the program coordinator and director. You may or may not include your grade on the certificate — the option is given at the end of the course.

Pro tip

There are mini-exams at the end of each section. You can retake them as many times as you want, but your given grade at the end is calculated only on your first attempt.

2. Required Reading

QI Article: Mayo Clinic Proceedings QI article

  • Also available on the public drive.

Final Deliverables

Due at the end of the elective.

Research Poster Presentation (slide format)

Format options:

  • Research Posters: Introduction → Methods → Results → Discussion
  • Clinical Vignettes: Introduction → Case Description → Discussion

Additional notes:

  • Template available on the public drive (reach out to the Coordinator for access location).
  • Optional: write an abstract for submission, but the poster slide is still required.

PowerPoint Presentation on a Research Topic

  • Length: 10–20 minutes
  • Audience: medical students and residents
  • Topic: any aspect of research, QI, or patient safety
  • Submission: email to the Coordinator and the Program Director.

Suggested Topics

Pick one (as outlined in the Research Document you'll receive at the start of the research block):

  • Formulating a Research Question
  • Study Design 101
  • Introduction to Power and Sample Size
  • Avoiding Bias in Clinical Research
  • Basic Biostatistics for Residents / Med Students
  • Common Statistical Mistakes in Resident Research
  • P-values, Confidence Intervals, and Clinical Relevance
  • How to Critically Appraise a Journal Article
  • IRB Basics
  • Translating Research into Practice: Residents in QI and EBM
  • When does QI become Research?

Key Contacts

  • Program Coordinator — for CITI payment and final submissions.
  • Program Director / Program Mentor — for mentor meetings and final submissions.

Quick Checklist

  • [ ] Attend 8+ Safety Huddles (8:15 AM, hallway behind the cafeteria)
  • [ ] Attend all didactics as scheduled (get formal excusal if you need to miss)
  • [ ] Schedule biweekly mentor meetings
  • [ ] Complete CITI training and submit certificate
  • [ ] Read required QI article
  • [ ] Create poster presentation slides of the research you've been working on — consider creating an actual poster presentation
  • [ ] Prepare a 10–20 minute PowerPoint presentation on a research topic
  • [ ] Email final deliverables to Coordinator and Program Director

Tip

Consider typing out talking points under each slide of your PowerPoint. This isn't mandatory, but it looks cool and can help you if you have to present months later.

Last update: April 21, 2026