NQUIRES Student Research Program

Area of Scholarly Concentration (AOSC) Program

(FSM Students Only)

Northwestern University’s Northwestern Quality Improvement, Research, & Education in Surgery (NQUIRES) partners with the Feinberg School of Medicine AOSC program to offer a four year mentored experience in surgical outcomes, health services, quality improvement and policy research for medical students interested in careers in surgery. Students will develop relevant research skills and apply them to develop and carry out an independent research project in a mentored environment. Following the format of the FSM AOSC program, students will enjoy a longitudinal relationship with their mentor throughout the course of their medical school career at FSM. During the summer following the M1 year, AOSC students spend 6-8 weeks at NQUIRES full time and have the opportunity to participate in all research meetings and activities at the center, including roles in additional projects as they are able. This expands the experience and offers opportunities for academic productivity in addition to the student’s primary project.  AOSC students are paired with a one of the NQUIRES research fellows, typically general surgery residents taking dedicated research time, as a ‘peer mentor’ during this summer session. Additionally, shadowing experiences in the operating rooms and clinics with NQUIRES faculty form an integral part of the AOSC experience.  We believe that this exposure is critically important to afford students the opportunity to better understand what a career in surgery is actually like.  Throughout the four-years, the NQUIRES AOSC program provides students with a mentorship team and clinical experience designed to create a robust, meaningful research experience. Our goal is for all students to have at least one project which results in a first author publication and presentation at a national meeting. Motivated students will have the opportunity to engage in additional projects as their time allows.

All students who have taken part in the NQUIRES AOSC program have successfully presented their work at national meetings and have been able to

Applications for the NQUIRES AOSC program will be judged competitively and follow the general FSM timeline.  Interested students should complete the NQUIRES AOSC application. Following receipt of the application, students will be contacted to arrange interviews with the NQUIRES faculty. Applicants will be informed of acceptance to the program and their mentor assignment at least 8 weeks prior to the AOSC proposal deadline to allow adequate time for development of a research proposal to meet the AOSC program guidelines. Students will be expected to spend 6-8 weeks at NQUIRES actively engaged in research during the summer following their M1 year. Ongoing participation in research activities with NQUIRES is encouraged throughout the remainder of the student’s tenure at FSM