MI-CARES (SOR3)

MI-CARES (SOR3) is an initiative to create concrete pathways for medical students to engage in clinical research and scholarly dissemination. Through their developed partnerships, most notably with McLaren Health Care, structured research positions for second-year MSUCOM students were added and initiated the Summer Research and Education Program in 2021. The pilot program placed students alongside resident research teams in hospital settings, providing immersive exposure to clinical investigations, data collection, manuscript preparation and conference presentation. In its first year two students participated as part of resident-led projects and were credited as authors on subsequent publications. Building on that success, the program expanded in 2022 to eight student placements, selected through an application and interview process administered jointly by MSUCOM and McLaren. Applicants submit a letter describing their interest; no prior research experience is required, reflecting the program's goal of introducing students to research rather than expecting prior expertise.

During the intensive month embedded with resident teams, students learn research methods, attend resident lectures, participate in rounding and observe procedures while contributing to project workflows. After the month they continue working with teams toward publication or conference presentation. The program emphasizes mentorship at multiple levels: direct mentorship, supports resident investigators to become future mentors and facilitates institutional collaboration that sustains student opportunities. Outcomes from the program include student authorship on published papers, award recognition for presentations at regional conferences, and acceptance of student coauthored work at national meetings such as the American College of Cardiology.

Students not formally in the summer cohort have been guided to contribute to projects, present findings and publish in peer-reviewed outlets. Examples include a student-authored case report and a quality improvement article published in the Spartan Medical Research Journal. Students describe enhanced confidence, expanded professional networks, practical experience in manuscript construction and submission, improved public speaking through conference presentations, and earlier clinical immersion than typically experienced in the curriculum. MI-CARES (SOR3) and associated programs  integrate hands-on research training into medical education, equipping future osteopathic physicians with skills in clinical investigation, scholarship and mentorship, and thereby enriching their competitiveness for residency and capacity to contribute to medical knowledge throughout their careers.