Improving the impact of medical student research through structured mentorship: a clinical research enterprise model

Medical student research engagement is increasingly important in residency selection and professional development, yet structured, longitudinal mentorship programs remain limited, particularly in underserved settings. Inconsistent access to mentors and growing reliance on artificial intelligence tools further threaten the development of rigorous research skills. Scalable solutions are needed to provide equitable, high-quality research training.

A structured clinical research enterprise was developed under faculty mentorship and formally launched in 2019 at an academic medical center. The program recruits first-year medical students annually and engages them in a four-year longitudinal model emphasizing progressive leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous mentorship. Students complete standardized onboarding, participate in multidisciplinary projects, attend biweekly team meetings, and use centralized digital infrastructure to manage projects. Defined roles for students, a research assistant, and the principal investigator evolve across training levels. Institutional funding supports administrative staff, biostatistical resources, and conference participation.

Between 2019 and 2025, the group produced 28 peer-reviewed publications (4.6 per year) with a mean of 5.0 citations per article, achieved within a seven-year citation window. This compares favorably to a benchmark bibliometric analysis of medical student publications from 1980-2010 reporting 4.5 citations per article. Seventeen percent of publications were cited in clinical documents, and 68% appeared in high-impact journals (impact factor >5). Qualitative outcomes included improved professional identity formation, confidence in clinical environments, and preparedness for residency. Program enrollment expanded to over 50 active student researchers across three medical schools.

The model is being piloted for institutional expansion by recruiting additional faculty mentors. Formal program evaluation will assess long-term career outcomes, research involvement, and residency match success. The enterprise aims to serve as a scalable framework to improve equity, access, and excellence in medical student research training.