Dr. Mirro, a Fort Wayne cardiologist, wanted to offer students an opportunity to learn about clinical research through an interactive experience. IUSM's medical education center on the Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne campus seemed a natural partner. To date, the Student Research Fellowship Program, which is co-sponsored by the Midwest Alliance for Health Education, has attracted some 148 students from the Midwest and has become an invaluable learning tool for participants. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the program, which has expanded to include law, nursing and undergraduate students as well as research projects that encompass basic science, public health, medical ethics and health care policy. Each summer about 20 students are accepted into the nine-week program and paired with a preceptor.
Preceptors serve as mentors who help develop and guide students' research projects.
Dr. Ragatz is especially pleased with the support and eager participation of the local community and IU faculty. Primary and specialty care physicians, nurses and attorneys from Fort Wayne and faculty from IUSM and the IU School of Law have volunteered as preceptors. They seem to enjoy and gain from the experience as much as the students. The opportunity to mentor and share their research expertise is quite rewarding. Dr. Mirro agrees and has served as a preceptor almost every year since the program began.