Diversity and Inclusion in Surgery - Colorectal Opportunity in Research – DISCOveR

Purpose

The DISCOveR Program is a research-intensive summer training program for medical students interested in pursuing surgical careers, sponsored by the Research Foundation of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). The program is specifically designed to support students from diverse backgrounds and experiences including those who are members of groups historically underrepresented in the sciences, first in their families to achieve higher education, from inner city or rural communities, or economically underprivileged. The program is designed to complement a medical student’s formal medical school education. 

The program objectives are for the students to:

1. Participate in didactic and experiential training in scholarship, career development, and clinical exposure in person or remotely.
2. Engage in a mentored pre-designed colorectal surgery research experience identified and guided by the medical student’s mentor culminating in a presentation at the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) Annual Scientific Meeting. 
3. Develop mentor relationships and participate in networking opportunities.
4. Join a community of like-minded scholars.

Application and Review/Notification Dates

Call for applications: February 1, 2024           
Application due date: March 1, 2024
Notification Date: April 5, 2024 (approx.)

Program Description and Funding

The program will be four (4) weeks in length. Accepted students will be matched with a colorectal surgeon who has volunteered to serve as a mentor for a medical student participating in the program.  The program will include a mentored, pre-designed colorectal surgery research project. Each student will be assigned a research mentor from within the surgery department who will oversee the student’s participation in a short-term research project. The projects will be identified based upon feasibility for completion during the fellowship.

If possible, students will receive exposure to a surgical skills lab and bio skills experience. There will be weekly didactic sessions with colorectal surgeons covering topics on leadership, advocacy, career development, application strategies, and opportunities within academic surgery. These sessions will be virtual so that students at both sites may attend.

The program will run from: Monday, June 17 - Friday, July 12, 2024

Participation in the program, including the experience and the Annual Scientific Meeting, is unpaid. The Research Foundation will provide each selected medical student with up to $5,000 to help cover transportation expenses to and from the site, meals, and housing during the four-week experience. In connection with the ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting, the Research Foundation will provide selected medical students with up to $500 to help cover travel expenses (i.e., coach airfare or, if less expensive, rail transportation or personal vehicle milage at the IRS mileage rate), and up to two (2) hotel nights at the convention hotel while the medical student attends the Annual Scientific Meeting and  registration for the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting, San Diego, CA, May 10-13, 2025. 

Eligibility and Criteria

1. Medical students from diverse backgrounds and experiences including those who are members of groups historically underrepresented in the sciences, first in their families to achieve higher education, from inner city or rural communities, or economically underprivileged are encouraged to apply to the program
2. To be considered for the program applicants must:
   • Be enrolled and in good standing in a U.S. allopathic or osteopathic medical school.
   • Have completed the first year of medical school at either a U.S. allopathic or osteopathic medical school.
   • Have demonstrated interest in surgery.
   • Be able to provide evidence of appropriate vaccinations. 

Submissions

Preparing Application Materials

Important Information*

• Keep a record of Control ID number, which can be found on the top right corner on each page of the submission template. When communicating with the Research Foundation and the ScholarOne Customer Care Team, please include the Control ID as a reference.
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• Do not forget to click the submit button (at the bottom of Step 6: Review and Submit). If the system is exited without submitting, the submission will be saved and will appear in the “DRAFT” section of the system “View Submissions” page upon re-entering the system.
• Notifications and correspondence will be sent to the email address in the ASCRS account. Correspondence can be obtained by clicking on the Messages in the grey bar at the top right of the screen in the system.
• Applicants should receive a confirmation email after submission (please check spam/junk folders for this email). To prevent this, add [email protected] and [email protected] to address book. If an email confirmation is not received, please contact [email protected].
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