Year 3 Medical Students Quantitative and Clinical Mentoring

Aims and Objectives:  

The overall goal is to build a firm foundation of knowledge and skills to conduct clinical research as future clinician-scientists. The aims are:

1. To develop knowledge of clinical research methodologies in particular for study designs, conceptualizing aims and hypotheses. 
2. To understand quantitative aspects of clinical research including power calculation, statistical analyses and presentation of research findings. 
3. To provide mentoring for clinical research projects carried out as part of the third year research elective. 

Program Contents and Elements:  

Third-year medical students who choose to engage in clinical research projects receive mentoring for their clinical projects encompassing study design, hypothesis formulation, data collection and statistical analysis. We teach concepts and general principles of clinical research in addition to providing specific help and guidance for individual students. Quantitative mentoring by biostatisticians provides access to expert support for individual projects while empowering the students with quantitative knowledge and skills required for clinical research.  

Program Processes: 

Students are assigned to groups of 5-7 which are led by an OCS/CQM clinician faculty member and a quantitative expert, thus benefitting from both clinical and quantitative guidance. These groups meet weekly for 1-2 hours. In the initial period of the research year, the discussions focus on developing and refining project objectives and plans. As the research projects progress, students present updates and their progress is monitored. Problems encountered are preempted and addressed should they arise. The faculty members assist with analytical approaches and provide feedback on presentation of results. During these meetings, students receive constructive criticism and assistance for the individual projects while learning concepts from the discussion of their own as well as other students’ projects. 

In addition, students have direct access to both clinical and quantitative mentors. This gives them the opportunity for intensive one-on-one consultation and mentoring throughout the third year. Mentors provide support in formulating aims and hypotheses, collecting data and performing the analysis. Mentors continual review progress on the assigned projects and are able to provide help in overcoming obstacles that might otherwise be unavailable. 

Students also have the opportunity for their thesis to be reviewed by clinicians and quantitative experts for comments and guidance prior to submission.  

Outcomes: 

All students doing clinical research from the first 2 batches submitted their theses and passed the third year requirements. Many submitted and presented abstracts at local and international conferences. Notably, a majority of students also have had manuscripts published from work performed as part of their third year clinical research elective. 

Leads:

• De Silva, Deidre Anne, Associate Professor 
• Allen, John Carson, Assistant Professor 

Faculty:

• Lim, Samson, Professor
• Dent, Rebecca, Associate Professor 
• Ong, Marcus, Associate Professor 
• Earnest, Arul, Associate Professor
• Haaland, Benjamin, Assistant Professor
• Krishnaswamy, Gita, Associate
• Barbier, Sylvaine, Associate

Program co-ordinators:

Josephine Quek, Senior Executive
Email: jo.quek@duke-nus.edu.sg
Office: +65 6516 7259

Ivy Toh, Executive
Email: ivy.toh@duke-nus.edu.sg
Office: +65 6601 2522

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