All residents are expected to engage in scholarship. VCU and VCU Health rank among the top 50 public research universities (based on sponsored awards) according to the National Science Foundation, which provides many opportunities for basic science or translational and clinical research. However, the program embraces an expansive definition of scholarship, allowing this requirement to be satisfied in many different ways such as publication of review articles or book chapters, development of clinical guidelines or curricula, or presentations (oral or poster) at local, regional or national meetings.
All interns participate in a longitudinal scholarship curriculum which focuses on evidence-based medicine, information resources, and writing / presenting a medical case report. Additionally, upper-level residents have the option to participate in an intensive, 4-week summer series (sponsored by internal medicine) that includes topics such as hypothesis formation, study and survey design, biostatistics, and the institutional review board process.
Residents also develop the foundational skills needed to conduct quality improvement projects (QIP). Interns complete a modified longitudinal curriculum in patient safety and quality, which includes selected modules from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. These skills are reinforced in subsequent years of training, including a two-week rotation in quality improvement. All residents are supported in designing and conducting at least one QIP during training (group projects are encouraged!).
VCU Health sponsors an annual Resident Research Day in the spring, allowing trainees to showcase their scholarly work and QI activities. Separately, the Department of Pediatrics presents annual awards for the best research project and the best quality improvement project by a resident (or fellow) with finalists invited to present their work during grand rounds.