We consider resident research and scholarly activity to be an important component of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center (MHMMC). Participation in research, quality improvement, and case presentations at regional and national meetings all provide a critical dimension to physician training, above and beyond patient care experiences. These activities also inform patient care for the future, as residents transition to roles as practicing physicians in a variety of clinical settings. Many of our residents complete more than one project during their three years of training with us.
Our program supports resident scholarly work in a variety of ways. Dan Diekema, MD, Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine, plays a vital role in supporting resident research along with research efforts across the largest academic department at MHMMC. The residency program also employs a full time Research Navigator to work in conjunction with Dr. Diekema to guide and support resident research efforts. Together, our research support team helps residents identify a mentor, refine research questions, perform power calculations, navigate IRB requirements, develop intramural research proposals, gather and analyze data, and prepare abstracts, posters, scientific presentations, and manuscripts from their work.
MHMMC supports trainee research in a variety of ways as well. A didactic course, Introduction to Clinical and Translational Research, is offered each fall and spring for residents and fellows across the Medical Center. The Medical Center allocates over $50,000 per year for trainee research grants, which is administered by the Mentored Research Committee (MRC). These grants support data collection, laboratory materials, poster development, and travel to a national or international research meeting to present findings. The Department of Medicine and its specialty Divisions include a variety of clinician-researchers who have successfully mentored resident projects year after year. This mentorship enriches the residency experience with research and is a testament to the dedication of the faculty. Lastly, MHMMC hosts the annual Costas Lambrew Research Forum for residents and fellows from around the institution to showcase their research during oral and poster sessions.
In addition to the resources above, the MaineHealth Institute for Research (MHIR) provides numerous opportunities for resident research in clinical epidemiology and basic and translational research. MHIR includes 4 centers:
- Center for Molecular Medicine
- Center for Translational Research
- Center for Psychiatric Research
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE).
CORE includes established clinical researchers from a variety of fields who have mentored residents in the past. Specific areas of expertise include shared decision making and health services research using data from Medicare and SEER-Medicare in areas ranging from women's health to cardiovascular procedures and outcomes, trauma, and variation in cancer treatment. In addition, many residents participate in research through the Vector-borne Disease Laboratory, which is dedicated to the study of tick-borne diseases. MHIR also participates in the Northern New England Clinical and Translational Research Network.