MSSP768: ENHANCING MEDICAL STUDENT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COLLABORATIVE MILITARY-CIVILIAN RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
Jonathan Wang1; Mason Remondelli1; Robert Weishar, MD2; Bryson Hewins, MD3; Rodrigo Mateo, MD4; Martin Ottolini, MD1; Woo Do, MD4; Matthew Bradley, MD1; Ryan McKindles, PhD5; David Burmeister, PhD1; Patrick Walker, MD4; 1USUHS; 2NMCP; 3NMCSD; 4WRNMMC; 5MIT-LL
INTRODUCTION: The need for innovative multidisciplinary research is critical as the U.S. military prepares for potential near-peer conflicts, necessitating early and comprehensive exposure of military medical students, the next generation of military physicians, to cutting-edge research. This requires early and comprehensive exposure of medical students to cutting-edge research. To meet this need, a military-civilian research fellowship has been initiated, linking the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) with MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MIT-LL), with future expansion plans to include Mayo Clinic and University of Maryland. This fellowship, facilitated through the USUHS Medical Innovation Student Lab (MISL) and Battlefield Shock and Organ Support (BSOS) laboratory, aims to cultivate the next generation of military medical researchers.
METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The fellowship program integrates medical students into multidisciplinary research teams at MIT LL, where they engage in hands-on projects designed to address the unique challenges of modern combat medicine. Elective rotations focus on areas such as advanced medical technologies and trauma care innovation. The fellowship also provides mentorship from leading experts, cross-institutional collaboration, and access to state-of-the-art facilities. The fellowship's structure is designed to be scalable, with plans to extend these opportunities to more students through partnerships with Mayo Clinic and the University of Maryland.
RESULTS: To date, two fellows have successfully completed the MIT-LL fellowship program, with a third participant scheduled to begin shortly. The fellowship operates under a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between USUHS and MIT-LL, ensuring continuity of the program through 2028. However, several barriers have been identified that could impact student participation, including the self-funded nature of these rotations, which may limit accessibility due to financial burdens. Additionally, the constraints of the USUHS medical school curriculum, particularly during the third-year clerkship period where students are not in a fixed location, pose challenges for conducting longitudinal research. Despite these challenges, the BSOS and MISL lab remains a critical component in facilitating early access to military-civilian research on campus.
CONCLUSION: This program demonstrates that military-civilian collaborations can be successfully integrated into the medical school stage, providing critical early exposure to research that is essential for preparing future military medical leaders. Expanding collaborations with institutions such as Mayo Clinic and formalizing partnerships with the University of Maryland will further enhance the program's reach and impact, offering more students the opportunity to engage in groundbreaking research addressing the most pressing challenges in combat medicine.