Principle

Overview

Research and scholarly activity is a required component of postgraduate training as indicated in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Canadian Excellence in Residency Accreditation (CanERA) General Standards of Accreditation.  The objectives of training/training experiences in each specialty discipline (RCPSC), and the scholar section of the CFPC’s CanMEDS-Family Medicine, elaborate on the research and scholarly activity requirements specific to that discipline/program.

Purpose

To outline the regulations in place to foster postgraduate learner research and scholarly activity in all postgraduate training programs at Memorial University, and to outline the role of the postgraduate training program in supporting postgraduate learner research.

Scope

All postgraduate programs at Memorial University (Memorial).

Definitions

Postgraduate Training Program — A period of training in a specific discipline/program of medicine prescribed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) leading to certification by one of these bodies.

Policy

1.0  The Faculty of Medicine (FoM) at Memorial University is committed to fostering research and scholarly activity as per accreditation standards for all postgraduate training programs.

2.0  Postgraduate learners are required to undertake at a minimum one (1) research or scholarly project during their postgraduate training.

2.1  Can include research or scholarly activity in biomedical, natural or social sciences, clinical medicine, epidemiology/population, quality assurance, medical education, bioethics, community outreach, patient education/care, or some other focus area aligned with health-related sciences.

3.0  Each postgraduate training program is responsible for providing an environment that is conducive to research and scholarly activity.

3.1  Each postgraduate training program will:

3.1.1  have a Postgraduate Research Director, or equivalent, supported by a terms of reference and is responsible for the oversight of postgraduate research engagement and participation;

3.1.2  work together with their Discipline Chair to ensure sufficient faculty members are available, and have the necessary support, to facilitate and supervise postgraduate learner research and scholarly activity;

3.1.3  actively engage postgraduate learners in research activity early in their postgraduate training, and provide postgraduate learners with sufficient time and support to conduct research and engage in scholarly work;

3.1.4  provide postgraduate learners with appropriate financial support, in keeping with the FoM guidelines; and

3.1.5  provide effective teaching in critical appraisal of medical literature, using knowledge of research methodology and biostatistics.

4.0  The Discipline Chair is responsible for ensuring that a satisfactory level of research is ongoing within their discipline among faculty members and to ensure engagement with postgraduate learners as evidenced by research accomplishments such as peer-reviewed research funding, peer-reviewed research publications and/or presentations at scientific forums/conferences.

Related Documents

Canadian Excellence in Residency Accreditation General Standards of Accreditation for Residency Programs 

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Objectives of Training/Training Experiences

College of Family Physicians of Canada CanMEDS-Family Medicine

Procedures:

There are no procedures associated with this policy.