Research Opportunities

The Summer Research Program at USA provides research experiences for medical students prior to the freshman year of medical school and during the summer between the freshman and sophomore years. This past summer fifty-one medical students, including seventeen incoming first-year medical students, participated in the program, which provided stipends to participants and culminated with a Medical Student Research Day.

Ivy Nguyen (Class of 2027) got involved with the Summer Research Program as an incoming M1 so she could familiarize herself with medical school community while exploring research opportunities. She worked under Dr. Allyson Shea's mentorship testing water quality kit technology for diagnosing UTIs in third-world settings. She enjoyed it so much she returned for a second year as a rising M2. “This experience honed my research and writing skills and taught me about presenting and sharing my work. It strengthened my critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, essential for any physician. I highly recommend this program to all medical students."

Hriday Sheth (Class of 2027) got involved in research because he wanted to explore opportunities in Mobile outside of the connections he’d already established within the Urology Department. “I'm incredibly grateful for the experience, as it not only enhanced my confidence in public speaking but also sharpened my research skills, particularly in biostatistics and patient chart analysis, since my project was a retrospective study. These experiences have allowed me to present my work at conferences nationwide, an opportunity I'm deeply thankful for.”

The Summer Research Program also serves as a foundation for medical students who are interested in gaining additional research experience during the subsequent years of medical school. These students are eligible to participate in the M.D. with Research Honors Program.  Participants in the program have cited numerous benefits gained through their involvement.

Emily Hartsell (Class of 2026) took a gap year and worked as a research technician in the Department of Pharmacology which she believes was a huge advantage in gaining technical skills and understanding the scientific process before beginning medical school.  She then participated in the Summer Research Program for two summers before joining the MD with Research Honors Program.  Her time with Summer Research allowed her time to focus on her research projects, practice her oral and poster presentation skills, and provide networking opportunities with other student researchers and mentors across the USA Health System.  Emily believes South's greatest strength in the research arena is the quality of faculty mentorship.  "There are PIs available in the College of Medicine, the Laboratory of Infectious Disease, the Mitchell Cancer Institute, and hospital campuses who are excited to work with medical students and invested in both our research success and career growth."

Cade Smelley (Class of 2025) was interested in the MD with Research Honors Program because it gave him an opportunity to explore the specialty he was interested in while also gaining research experience that is broadly applicable to all medical specialties. Beyond that, the program served as a means to meet and interact with residents, attendings, and other staff, as well as travel to research symposiums and conferences at a state and national level. “I am grateful to have had such opportunities, which would have likely been reduced had I not taken part in the program."

Rachael Motamed (Class of 2025) signed up for the research honors program to advance her medical school career. Before starting medical school, she worked in various labs doing clinical-based research, including at the Microbiology and Immunology Department at USACOM. “Research has always helped me understand science better, and being in this program lets me explore both basic science and clinical aspects of medicine at the same time. The support of my research mentor, lab-mates, and department during my time in medical school has greatly helped me in my academic and extracurricular activities.”

The M.D. with Research Honors Program is open to all students in good academic standing who wish to arrange and devote additional time before graduation to their specific research project. With guidance from their mentor, students submit a research proposal and ultimately prepare a publication-ready manuscript on their completed project. Students who satisfactorily complete the requirements will be designated as graduates with "Research Honors" on their diploma.