Orthopaedic Residency Research Requirements

 

Original Research Project

The goal of completing a research project is to allow residents to learn how to develop an adequate hypothesis, develop and understand what constitutes a well-designed scientific study and learn how to interpret the use of statistics. During this project, residents, with the assistance of a faculty mentor (attending), the research coordinator and other research staff, will develop a well designed hypothesis, develop a method to adequately test the hypothesis and learn what statistical methods work best in establishing the validity of the study. Residents will learn about the strengths and potential pitfalls of statistical analysis. Residents will learn how to better interpret the literature. By performing their own study, residents will be better able to understand and interpret the quality of the literature.

1. Each KUSM-W orthopaedic resident is required to perform one research project during his or her residency.  The research project should be one of his or her design.  In order to successfully complete the residency in orthopaedics, the resident must have completed the study and written a manuscript in publishable format. 
2. The original research manuscript is due to the program director no later than June 30th of the PGY4. A structured abstract of the work should be completed by January 31st of the PGY4. It is also strongly encouraged that the original research be presented at a national, regional or local meeting and submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication by December 31st of the PGY5.
3. Consultation with the research coordinator and a faculty mentor (attending) along with other appropriate research staff (PhD researchers, research scientist or the research engineer) is required prior to implementation of the project.
4. The project must be submitted to the Orthopaedic Research & Publications Committee before commencing and if it involves human subjects it must be submitted to the appropriate Institutional Review Boards for approval.
5. Residents are encouraged to complete one original research project before considering any other project.  Should a resident wish to consider doing more than one project during their residency it is suggested that they consider doing one basic science project and one clinical project for a more varied experience.
6. The project should be completed along the following timeline.
   1. By the end of PGY 1, each resident will have selected a faculty mentor and a potential project topic.
   2. By the end of the research month in PGY 2, each resident will have completed a literature review, developed a hypothesis to be tested, and written a complete research proposal. The literature, hypothesis, and completed research proposal should be discussed with the faculty mentor.
   3. By the completion of the PGY 2, a research protocol should be presented to and approved by the Orthopaedic Research and Publications Committee (R&P Committee).
   4. During PGY2 and before Sept. 30th of PGY3, after receiving approval from the Orthopaedic R&P Committee, appropriate IRB approvals should be sought if doing Human Subjects Research or if doing basic science research, materials (cadaver / saw bones / supplies) should be acquired.
   5. When all committee approvals have been acquired, the research project can commence but not before then.  Data can be collected during the PGY 2, PGY 3, and PGY 4 year.  Remember residents will do an offsite rotation for 6 months of PGY4 in St. Louis, so plan accordingly.
   6. By the completion of the PGY 3 or the early part of the PGY4 the data collection and data analysis should be complete.
   7. An abstract that can be submitted for presentation should be completed by January 31st of the PGY 4.
   8. The complete manuscript must be finished by the end PGY 4 and placed on the program directors desk by 5 PM on June 30th of the PGY4.
   9. Completed papers will be presented as a podium presentation at a Resident Research Reports, Grand Rounds at the end of PGY5.
7. It is the responsibility of the faculty mentor and the resident to make certain the timeline for the research project is met.
8. Funding is available through various sources.  Residents are encouraged to apply for grants, contracts, and foundation funding as needed to carry out the research.
9. Penalties:
               PGY2 – Proposal not completed no 3rd year contract*
               PGY3 – Case Report not completed department does not pay for trip to AAOS*
               PGY4 – Original Research Manuscript not completed no 5th year contract*

* These penalties applied at the discretion of the program director

10. Support is available from:
    • Teresa (Terri) L. Jones, MPH, MT(ASCP) / Research Scientist
    • Vicki Colbert, Section Secretary
    • Alexander CM Chong, MSAE, MSME / ORI Research Engineer
    • Paul Wooley, PhD / ORI Director
    • Shang-you Yang, PhD / ORI Researcher
    • Zheng Song / ORI Laboratory Specialist

Annual AAOS Meeting

Other Achievements

KU Research Forum

KU Research Forum Video

 

Last Modified: May 20, 2009