Scholars Programs
Scholars Program Director: Dr. Jun Ling (Jun.Ling@cusm.edu)
Scholar Program Coordinator: Ms. Lauren Blankenship (Lauren.Blankenship@cusm.edu)
Basic Science Scholars Program
Faculty Lead: Dr. Hani Atamna
As a Biomedical Sciences M.D. Scholars Program Scholar, students will demonstrate proficiency in laboratory research project plannings, experimental design and implementation, data gathering, and data analysis. Through the program requirements, students will hone their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, thorough presentation of the research results, and professional dissemination of the research outcomes.
More Information: https://cusm.edu/research/student-research-opportunities.php
Healthcare Research and Innovation (HRI) Scholars Program
Faculty Lead: Dr. Gordon Green
The Healthcare Research and Innovation (HRI) Scholars Program at CUSM helps students develop advanced research skills, with a focus on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As HRI Scholars, students will actively engage in independent research projects, including learning about the advantages and limitations of AI at each stage of the research process. The program enhances their proficiency in research methodologies, data analysis, and critical assessment, incorporating AI insights to deepen their understanding. This comprehensive training culminates in a successful capstone project in healthcare research, showcasing their ability to effectively use AI to address complex medical questions.
Global Health Equity Scholars Program
Faculty Lead: Dr. Ou Zhang
Students in the Global Health Equity Scholars Program will develop a needs assessment plan and conduct a group-based research project aimed at improving healthcare outcomes and inequities globally in collaboration with a local counterpart. Students will work to improve their cultural humility through their cross-cultural evidence-based care, professional education, and advocacy for underserved communities.
Public Health Scholars Program
Faculty Leads: Drs. Vanessa Orozco and Elvin Hernandez
The Public Health Scholars Program aims to provide student participants with deeper exposure to public health concepts and training with a focus on health promotion and education in vulnerable communities, health disparities, public health research, social and behavioral determinants of health, biostatistics for public health, and health program planning and evaluation. Student participants should expect to complete 30+ hours training practicum through the engagement of a community partner or organization and complete a Capstone project.
Academic Medicine Scholars Program
Faculty Leads: Drs. Shazia Sheikh and Hina Mohsin
Academic Medicine Scholars will develop skills in academic and clinical medical education through their study of curriculum design, teaching strategies, educational research, interprofessional education, and community-based work and service.
Sleep Medicine Scholars Program
Faculty Lead: Dr. Madhu Varma
By completion of the program, Sleep Medicine Scholars will have acquired the skills necessary to recognize and diagnose sleep disorders. Through their completion of detailed sleep history logs, deliverance of patient-tailored sleep education, interpretation of sleep reports, and presentation of a cumulative project, students will develop skills in interaction, education, and continuum of care for patients with common sleep disorders.
Rural Medicine Scholars Program
Faculty Lead: Dr. Timothy Hantz
Rural Medicine Scholars will hone skills in addressing healthcare disparities in rural settings through their completion of a clinical rotation with a rural partner site. Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the unique challenges of underserved rural communities, the intricacies of healthcare delivery in these areas, and how to compare rural and urban healthcare systems.
Health Equity Scholars Program
Faculty Lead: Dr. Shazia Sheikh
CUSM’s Health Equity Scholars Program is in collaboration with The Inland Empire Area Health Education Center (IE AHEC). The goal of the program is to provide health profession students with a comprehensive experience of working in community health through training and community-based field opportunities to ultimately encourage them to pursue careers serving underserved communities. Health Equity Scholars will work to improve the distribution of quality healthcare through strategic partnerships between academic programs and communities.
Clinically Integrated Training in Ultrasound (CITRUS) Scholars Program
Faculty Lead: Dr. Fauzia Nausheen
Students will learn to demonstrate competence in the use of Point of Care Ultrasound to evaluate and diagnose clinical problems through the Clinically Integrated Training in Ultrasound (CITRUS) Scholars Program. Throughout the program, students will develop their skills in the practical application of Ultrasound imaging in clinical care as well as serve as a mentor to peers through demonstrations in hands-on workshops, lectures, and the presentation of a research project.
Lifestyle Medicine Scholars Program
Faculty Lead: Dr. Hina Mohsin
Throughout the program, Lifestyle Medicine Scholars will acquire knowledge of both established and emerging lifestyle interventions that are associated with the prevention, management, and reversal of common chronic diseases. In addition, Scholars will learn how to conduct motivational interviewing, apply lifestyle medicine in practical settings, and design comprehensive, patient-centered care plans that integrate the core principles of lifestyle medicine and its pillars.
Laboratory Medicine Scholars Program
Faculty Lead: Drs. Maiyon Park and Carolyn Leach
The Laboratory Medicine Scholars Program includes curriculum through PathElective where students learn the histology and pathohistology of laboratory medicine among other skills. Laboratory Medicine Scholars then apply their knowledge learned from the above activities to conduct their Capstone Projects demonstrating how laboratory medicine intersects with other clinical subspecialties, global patient healthcare decisions, and their future medical careers.
Service-Learning Scholars Program
Faculty Lead: Dr. Rubiel Urbina-Lopez
The Service-Learning Scholars Program is designed to cultivate leaders who will develop skills in advocacy, community wellness, and clinical medicine. Through educational modules, participation in health-related community engagement, and completion of a cumulative capstone project, Service-Learning Scholars will learn to better understand and support the needs of underserved communities, specifically in the Inland Empire.
Clinical Documentation Scholars Program
Faculty Lead: Dr. Emad Mishriki
The Clinical Documentation Scholars Program offers students an introduction to the proper way to document and update clinical data, the structure of medical coding, and the infrastructure of reimbursement. Clinical Documentation Scholars will hone their skills through educational modules, lectures, practicing coding clinical cases, and the completion of a cumulative capstone project.
Biostatistics & Data Analysis Scholars Program
Faculty Leads: Mr. Toufiqul Hoque
The Biostatistics and Data Analysis Scholars Program is a specialized curriculum designed to equip students with advanced skills in statistical methodologies and data analysis specifically applicable to biomedical data effectively. The 30 hour of practicum exposure strengthens students’ technical abilities and problem-solving skills in a real-world environment. Additionally, the capstone project serves as a culmination of the program, where students manage a comprehensive data analysis project, integrating their knowledge and demonstrating their proficiency in biostatistics.
Addiction Medicine Scholars Program
Faculty Lead: Dr. Neal Christopher
The Addiction Medicine Scholars Program strives to develop students’ critical thinking, empathy, and leadership abilities to provide excellent, evidence-based patient care in the setting of addiction and substance use disorder during their future medical practice. During this program, students will learn the fundamentals of addiction medicine, as well as the best practices and the latest science, research, and innovations in this field. Under the guidance of the faculty lead, students will then put their learning into practice with patients at public health outpatient facilities in the Inland Empire. The final component of this program is the capstone project to reflect the knowledge and skills students gained.