Internal Medicine Residency Research Opportunities

Scholarship is integral to training in internal medicine, and Wake Forest School of Medicine's program is committed to making research both available and productive. Faculty physicians participate in a wide range of research, including bench-level basic science investigation, bedside clinical trials and population-based analysis of therapeutics.

The residency program supports elective time for research beginning in the internship year and builds on this experience with research electives in the HO2 and HO3 years. Every year, our residents publish numerous peer-reviewed articles and present many abstracts at regional and national meetings.

Research Curriculum Structure

Postgraduate Year I

  • Preparatory Phase
  • EBM Curriculum
  • Research Symposium

Postgraduate Years II

  • Investigatory Phase
  • Research Curriculum
  • Research Symposium
  • Tinsley R. Harrison - Translational Research Program

Postgraduate Years III

  • Synthesis Phase
  • Research Curriculum
  • Research Symposium
  • Tinsley R. Harrison - Translational Research Program

Residents participating in research electives are enrolled in the residency research curriculum. This includes a series of research seminar lectures that provide additional instruction about the world of academic research as well as monthly research forums where residents discuss their research ideas and findings with their colleagues and receive practical experience presenting their work.

Tinsley R. Harrison Translational Research Scholar Program

Select residents apply and are accepted into the Tinsley R. Harrison Translational Research Scholar Program, which provides protected time for pursuing translational research with the goal of training future physician-scientists.

Internal Medicine Research Day

Once each year, residents present their work in poster format at the annual Internal Medicine Research Symposium, where award winners receive cash prizes. For questions regarding next year's event, contact Rose Williams, Research Day Coordinator.

The residency program also provides financial travel assistance for presentations at regional and national society meetings.

Research Mentors

The Department of Internal Medicine is fortunate to have many faculty actively involved in research and excited about mentoring residents as they develop and perfect their own research skills. The following is not a comprehensive list; there may be other faculty who would be more than willing to mentor a resident upon request and approval.

View recent research mentors (PDF)

Highlighted Research and Publications

In the past two years, we have had over 40 publications in peer-reviewed journals and have presented over 35 abstracts at national conferences. The Department of Internal Medicine helps set aside time for residents to attend these conferences and supports their endeavors with travel funding.