A framework for improving resident research participation and scholarly output

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Scholarly Activity

Background:

• Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education mandates faculty support for resident scholarly activities.
• Lack of clear guidelines and successful examples hinders resident research participation.
• The study aimed to enhance resident engagement in scholarly activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a multifaceted program designed to rapidly increase resident scholarship in an orthopaedic department.
• To provide a model for other academic medical centers seeking to improve resident research output.

Main Methods:

• Recruited an experienced medical editor to mentor residents and faculty in research project coordination and publication.
• Enhanced resident curriculum with additional publishing requirements beyond Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education standards.
• Mandated faculty research mentors for all residents to guide projects towards peer-reviewed manuscript submission.

Main Results:

• Total department peer-reviewed publications surged from 33 to 163 annually over four years.
• Publications featuring a resident author increased from 6 to 53 annually, despite a reduction in resident numbers.
• The program demonstrated a significant and rapid increase in resident scholarly productivity.

Conclusions:

• Implementing a dedicated medical editor, revised program requirements, and faculty commitment dramatically boosted resident publications.
• This intervention offers a replicable model for institutions with adequate resources and faculty dedication.
• The findings highlight the effectiveness of structured support and mentorship in fostering resident research.