Within the College of Medicine there is a particularly challenging curricular experience: the James Scholar Program for Independent Study (JS/ISP) for gifted students in Medicine.* The JS/ISP was designed to help academically accomplished students optimize their medical education during their four years of undergraduate studies in medicine. The program encourages the students to utilize self-education to move them beyond the requirements of the regular medical curriculum. Additionally, there is requirement to carry out a research project to help the student increase his/her understanding of the process by which new knowledge is acquired and validated. JS/ISP offers extensive career guidance and academic counseling. Successful students graduate with the designation of James Scholar for Independent Study. This is a distinction that is recognized by some of the finest residency programs in the country.
In Chicago, there is presently one mechanism in place for the admission to the JS/ISP and that is by faculty nomination of outstanding students at the conclusion of the M1 year. (Third and fourth year students are not eligible for admission to the program.) This nomination is based on one or more particularly impressive aspects of the student’s academic performance and conduct during the first year of medical school coupled with a clear interest in research. After nomination, by one or more faculty members, the student goes through a selection process that entails interviews and submission of a personal statement describing their career aspirations and their determination to excel. The selection process also entails evaluation of their CV and general identification of their possible research interests.
As noted, a defined research project is an integral part of enrollment in this special program. Students must select, carry out and finalize a research study-in-depth in an area of interest to them. Successful completion of the research study is a graduation requirement for JS/ISP students. The research studies must be of such caliber that they can be certified by one of three mechanisms: 1) publication in a refereed journal; 2) presentation of the work at a national meeting; or 3) presentation of the work before a faculty panel of experts--similar to that of a thesis dissertation. The nature of the research can vary from basic bench research to studies of medical economics and health care systems or anything in-between. These research studies are a significant burden that the student must undertake in addition to meeting the goals of the regular medical school curriculum for the achievement of an MD degree.
Once a student is accepted into the JS/ISP, he/she becomes part of a remarkably strong career counseling and academic advisory system. JS/ISP students can have special arrangements made for them to rotate through clinical and basic sciences educational experiences at other prestigious medical schools and health care facilities here and abroad. Further, every effort is made to match these students with the best residency-training program in their area of interest. Of necessity, enrollment in this special program is limited.
The criteria used for student selection and participation in the Independent Study Programs at the regional sites may be different from that in Chicago and interested students need to seek out the pertinent information directly from the sites in Rockford and Peoria.
Chicago Director: Truman O. Anderson, MD, PhD
E-Mail: toanders@uic.edu
Chicago Associate Director: Elizabeth Parson, MEd
E-Mail: eparson@uic.edu
* This is not to be confused with the James Scholar Program (JSP) on the Urbana/Champaign campus. That is an honors program for undergraduate students.
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