Synergy: Empowering medical students in dermatology through observational research collaboration

Summary: Abstract Body: Highly talented and motivated medical students compete for access to dermatology clinics to gain ‘exposure’ to support their applications to residency. By developing self-directed research studies, medical students can give their time in dermatologic clinics a purposeful focus, such as collecting data for observational trials. However, limited clinic availability and insufficient structure for student involvement can hinder meaningful engagement. To address this, we implemented a structured framework that empowers students to develop independent research projects while supporting dermatology clinics in patient recruitment for observational research trials. Our primary outcome was to strengthen student-faculty relationships while improving qualitative metrics such as publication. A secondary outcome is the decreased anxiety of faculty members struggling to find the time to mentor the flood of interested students with heterogeneous research training. In our group, medical students undergo targeted onboarding, including training in observational trial design, ethical data collection, and dermatology-specific foundational knowledge. Students and faculty work together iteratively to create individualized research studies that align with clinical objectives. Individual progress is supported through biweekly office hour sessions and monthly department-wide meetings. Preliminary outcomes highlight increased patient recruitment rates for observational trials and increased student productivity. Furthermore, this model has fostered positive mentorship experiences, reducing faculty workload, while empowering students. This collaborative framework promotes synergy between medical students and dermatology departments, aligning both clinical and research objectives. Kelsey Ouyang¹, Jatin Narang², Bryan Carroll³ 1. Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States. 2. Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States. 3. University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH, United States. Clinical Research: Epidemiology and Observational Research