Student Research Initiatives

The VHS/Sentara Vascular Surgery Student Research Initiative is a unique summer research opportunity designed for VHS medical students interested in surgical specialties. Starting in the fall of their first year, students work with vascular surgery attendings and research fellows to develop their own project idea. The 3 students with the most promising project ideas are invited to stay and complete their project over the summer.

Participants attend weekly conferences and meetings, as well as shadow in clinic and OR settings, establishing long-term relationships with EMVS/ODU residents, fellows, and attendings—relationships that continue throughout their MD training. Historically, students who complete this program are highly successful, producing multiple presentations and publications and matching into prestigious residency programs. 

The program includes a $3000 stipend to support participants' efforts.

Program Benefits

Students gain significant hands-on experience through this program, which includes:

• Opportunities to observe cases in the clinic and operating room, directly linking research to real-world clinical applications.
• Support in building a competitive CV and securing strong references for any specialty, particularly in vascular surgery.
• Guaranteed first authorship and presenter roles for any papers or presentations stemming from their work.
• Full sponsorship to present research at EVMS, regional, and national meetings.
• Enhanced professional development through high-profile research presentations and valuable networking opportunities.

Student Expectations

Participants are expected to:

• Demonstrate professionalism and commitment throughout the program.
• Attend one research meeting and two vascular surgery morning conferences weekly.
• Maintain flexibility in scheduling to optimize productivity.
• Collaborate with the Research Fellow and assist with ongoing projects as needed.
• Focus on developing a strong, feasible research topic as a primary objective.
• Utilize provided guidance to ensure successful completion of the research project within the 2-month timeframe.