The Health, Humanism, and Society Scholars program (HHASS) provides Rice undergraduates the opportunity to assist in research at various institutions within the Texas Medical Center, giving them valuable experience in a variety of medical and public health settings, research institutes and centers. The program identifies faculty and researchers in the Texas Medical Center who are interested in mentoring undergraduates and are currently researching topics of social science, education, and/or medical humanities. Students are matched with projects then spend a full academic year assisting with research. Students will earn 6 credits for the academic year (MDHM 402 & MDHM 403). This practicum counts toward the Medical Humanities minor.
All students taking MDHM 402 will be required to participate in an hour-long weekly meeting with Dr. Mitchell on Wednesdays, 5-6:00 PM.
Once you have been matched with a project, Dr. Mitchell will be in touch to submit the registration override so that you may register for MDHM 402.
Project Sponsor(s): University of Texas Health Science Center- Houston, Consortium on Aging
Project Title: Assessment & Development of Aging Resources for Older Adults
Institution and Location: University of Texas Health Science Center- Houston, Consortium on Aging. 7000 Fannin, Houston, TX 77030. 26th Floor.
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences.
The Consortium on Aging (COA) and Southeast Texas Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (SETxGWEP) is seeking a student to assist with a systematic literature review and comprehensive needs assessment for resources to support aging in place. The student will work with expert geriatricians, gerontologists and support staff to conduct a literature review and develop a comprehensive needs assessment plan to determine the needs of older adults in Southeast Texas. The student will work with an advisory panel of older adults to review current resources and participate in qualitative data collection methods to develop an aging in place guide. The student will assist with dissemination of findings, including the marketing of the aging in place guide.
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project.
Training: NA
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs:
Project timeframe: 2 semesters.
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
The student can expect to:
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work (i.e. badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.)
Project Sponsor(s): Amy McGuire, JD, PhD Project
Title: Ethical Legal Implications of Psychedelics in Society
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences:
Psychedelic medicines could profoundly and positively transform healthcare by providing breakthrough therapies to meet the growing mental health and suicide crisis among Veterans and civilians alike. Many studies have found that psychedelic therapy improves the debilitating effects of multiple psychiatric conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder). In 2017 and 2019, the U.S. FDA designated psilocybin and MDMA “breakthrough therapies” for depression and PTSD, respectively, and the Biden Administration anticipates that FDA will approve the first psychedelic medicines in the next two years. Meanwhile, States are getting involved. From 2019-2022, 25 states considered 74 bills to either reform existing laws and/or conduct further research on psychedelics. Many believe we are in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance, and there is an urgent need to address ethical and legal issues related to psychedelic research and use.
The Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine has developed a new research program on Ethical Legal Implications of PSychedelics in Society (ELIPSIS). As part of this program, we will be conducting a landscape analysis and three case studies focused on: (1) psychedelic clinical trials, (2) psychedelic citizen science, and (3) psychedelic retreats. The case studies will involve in-depth review and analysis of online materials, as well as informational interviews with relevant stakeholders.
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project:
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs:
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work (i.e. badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.):
Project Sponsor(s): Aanand Naik, MD, Professor of Medicine and Public Health, UTHealth Houston Project
Title: Patient Priorities Care: Improving Clinical Outcomes in Primary Care
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine/Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center- Center for Innovation, Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt) – 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite 01Y, Houston, TX 77021
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences.
Patient Priorities Care (PPC) is a novel approach to caring for older adults with multiple chronic conditions. Heralded in 2018 as a “revolutionary change in health care delivery” by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2018), Patient Priorities Care has become a standard of age-friendly care over the last several years in geriatric care settings. PPC deftly addresses the inherent complexity of patients with multiple chronic conditions without sacrificing quality of care. Publications over the last few years have demonstrated feasibility of implementation of the PPC approach.
The current research study is a randomized clinical trial evaluating the adaptation of the Patient Priorities Care approach to primary care settings. Students will participate as part of an interprofessional research team on various aspects of the clinical trial for the Patient Priorities Care approach in 2 VA primary care sites (Houston and West Haven, Connecticut).
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform with the appropriate training and supervision:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project.
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
Insight into how interprofessional research teams function, how healthcare research is developed, the day to day work of recruiting and implementing research trials into clinical workflows, stakeholder communication, branding and marketing of novel ideas, working with relational databases, knowledge of the evolution toward patient-centered care specifically in geriatrics/primary care disciplines, including pharmacy, social work, nursing, medicine, and community-based service, networking opportunities.
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work (i.e. badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.):
CITI - https://www.citiprogram.org You may be required to self-register for a user ID and password. If you already have an account with CITI, please affiliate with the VA by choosing >Click here to affiliate with another institution (second drop down on Main Menu…middle of the page). Type in “Houston, TX-580” and follow the instructions to complete your affiliation.
TMS - VA TMS 2.0 You may need to create a user name and password. Please follow the instructions provided to self-register.
Project Sponsor(s): Audrey Mendez, PhD, Travis Croom
Project Title: Health Professions Education Evaluation Research Fellowship Program (HPEER)
Institution and Location: Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuEST). Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite 01Y Houston, Texas 77021
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences:
HPEER is a national advanced fellowship funded by the Office of Academic Affiliations and the Department of Veterans Affairs to train leaders and educators in health professions education. HPEER seeks to develop experts who will lead the advancement of healthcare education. Located at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas, the HPEER Coordinating Center (CC) was recently instituted and is comprised of program directors, local and site core faculty, staff, and postdoctoral fellows. As a newly initiated program, a HHASS student will have the opportunity to make a significant and lasting contribution to the education and training of health professionals, like physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and psychologists, throughout the United States.
HPEER is in the first year of implementing the newly developed national curriculum and infrastructure for national coordination of the HPEER program. The CC is also responsible for process evaluation and the communication of developmental outcomes to relevant stakeholders. Future evaluative efforts will include program evaluation using quantitative (e.g. self-reported surveys/questionnaires) and qualitative methods (self-reported descriptive data) to measure needs assessment, end of year, and productivity surveys among all fellows. Groundwork is being laid to enable a robust and timely evaluation of the HPEER program in order to allow CC faculty and staff to make continuous and ongoing improvements throughout the life of the program. A HHASS student will not only learn about this health professions education program as it is being built but also be able to leave their stamp on its foundation.
In conjunction with the HHASS program, we aim to develop program deliverables including a process evaluation database, website design, operational support surveys, process manuscripts, as well as reports on all surveys and process tools. Trainees can work on special projects and scholarship opportunities as applicable. Over the course of the program, trainees will learn more about the day to day operations of running a large, national health professions training program and interacting with an engaging, dynamic, and interprofessional team. Trainees can expect to gain insight into an arm of medical research they may not be readily aware of and various ways health professionals can round out their careers with research, evaluation, or quality improvement.
For the 2023 – 2024 academic year, the selected HHASS student will be heavily involved in the formative evaluation of the new HPEER National Curriculum. Administered in three-weeks long modules, learners will be asked to complete evaluation surveys of each module rating and provide feedback on the content and presenters of said module. Alongside program staff, the HHASS student will be tasked with analyzing and formatting resultant data from module surveys so that it can be communicated to program faculty for review and inclusion in improvement efforts. This process will occur and repeat on a monthly basis. The selected HHASS student will more than likely be able to turn this work into a manuscript for possible publication.
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project:
Students with the following interests/experience in Health Education Curriculum, Program Evaluation, Program Operations, Communication and Marketing, Data Collection and Analysis and generating reports, might consider this project. Some basic familiarity with qualitative and quantitative methods would be helpful but is not required. Familiarity with databases (e.g., Excel, REDCap) is also a plus. Methodological training (e.g. data entry, analyzing limited qualitative data) will be provided. Experience in preparing abstracts, posters, and manuscripts is ideal. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible, adaptable, and have excellent communication skills.
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs;
Students will meet with the projects sponsors a minimum of 1hour each week to discuss projects and progress. Trainees are invited to attend key all-staff and department specific meetings and encouraged to take advantage of any opportunities, to ask questions, and learn more about areas of health professions education, curriculum development, program evaluation, interprofessional health science practices, marketing and operations that are of particular interest to them.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
Students can gain insight into working on a national fellowship program including the buildout of a national program,website design, developing conceptual models, data reports, summaries and analysis, developing marketing materials and dissemination, literature reviews, developing posters for national conferences, and manuscript preparation. Students will gain and/or build upon skills in curriculum design, website design, administrative support, evaluation methods and frameworks as well as working with an interprofessional team. Skills in quantitative data collection include administering surveys, data entry and management and report development. Students will also assist the HPEER team in preparing abstracts, presentations and/or manuscripts based on the data collected and analyzed.
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work (i.e. badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.):
As part of your pending Rice HPEER Internship, you are required to have a WOC (without compensation) appointment with the Department of Veterans Affairs. We connect trainees with Ed Pomer to start the onboarding process which includes:
Two forms:
Three training certificates:
Project Sponsor(s): Daniel Mahoney, MD, and Amanda Ruth, MD
Project Title: Application of Medical Humanities in a Clinical Pediatric Setting
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital main campus
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences.
The student will be expected to pick a contained topic of interest within medical humanities, conduct independent (but guided) research and have a final product at the end of the curriculum (either submitted written piece or a presentation). Possible topics include, but are not limited to, incorporating humanities into an educational curriculum, ethical considerations in physician-patient interactions, the use of humanities in disseminating medical information.
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project:
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs:
Students can expect guidance on project conception, research, editing and polishing final product, including help with presentations should it be required. We meet weekly.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters.
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work (i.e. badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.):
Project Sponsor(s): Audrey Mendez, PhD; Jacky Shahin
Project Title: VA Quality Scholars Fellowship Program (VAQS)
Institution and Location: Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuEST). Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite 01Y Houston, Texas 77021
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences:
VA Quality Scholars Coordinating Center (CC) is located at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. The Coordinating Center is comprised of program directors, local and site core faculty, staff, and Health Professions Education Evaluation Research postdoctoral fellows. It is responsible for program implementation and assessment, developing and delivering a national, core curriculum, program operations and marketing, and fostering collaboration among the fellowship sites. VAQS fellowship program consists of 9 sites located around the United States and one site in Toronto. Potential trainees will have the opportunity to work in numerous components of the CC as described below.
Trainees can work on special projects and scholarship opportunities as applicable and based on interest. Over the course of the program, trainees will learn more about the day-to-day operations of running a national CC. Trainees are encouraged to take advantage of any opportunities, to ask questions, and learn more about areas of quality improvement, program evaluation, marketing and operations that are of particular interest to them.
VAQS conducts a rigorous program evaluation using quantitative (e.g. self-reported surveys/questionnaires and existing data) and qualitative methods (self-reported descriptive data) The trainee will have the opportunity to gain evaluation experience by collecting and analyzing critical data as well as developing and presenting reports on all surveys and assessment tools. This project will lead in the development of reports for key stakeholders and marketing purposes as well as potential publications.
Program operations includes developing marketing materials for the VAQS fellowship program, (i.e. monthly newsletter), as well as disseminating these materials to all fellows and faculty and key stakeholders. The trainee will work closely with key faculty and staff in developing innovative ways to market the VAQS program and enhance recruitment efforts among other marketing projects.
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
Quantitative and qualitative data analysis, creating and presenting reports, contributing to the development of abstracts and manuscripts for publication, co-editing the VAQS Newsletter, other tasks as desired.
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project:
Students with the following interests/experience in Program Evaluation, Program Operations, Communication and Marketing, Data Collection and Analysis and generating national reports, might consider this project. Some basic familiarity with qualitative and quantitative methods would be helpful but is not required. Familiarity with databases (e.g., Excel) is also a plus. Methodological training (e.g. data entry, analyzing limited qualitative data) will be provided. Experience in preparing abstracts, posters, and manuscripts is ideal. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible, adaptable, and have excellent communication skills.
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs:
Students will work directly with the project sponsor and other team members who are affiliated with the student’s project. Trainee will meet with sponsor for a minimum of 1 hour each week to discuss project(s) and progress. Trainees are also welcomed to join our Coordinating Center meetings where they can receive feedback on any works-in-progress if desired.
Trainees are encouraged to take advantage of any opportunities, to ask questions, and learn more about areas of quality improvement, curriculum development, program evaluation, implementation science, marketing and operations that are of particular interest to them. Trainees will also be able to network and meet with other faculty and staff as needed/ desired.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
Depending on area of interest, students can gain insight into working on a National fellowship program including multiple components of a large scale program evaluation, developing conceptual models, data reports, summaries and analysis, national conference development and planning, developing marketing materials and dissemination, literature reviews, developing posters for national conferences, and manuscript preparation. Students will gain and/or build upon skills in qualitative and quantitative methods to assist the evaluation team in better understanding the potential benefits of the fellowship education on key stakeholders. Skills in quantitative data collection include administering surveys, data entry and management and report development. Students will also have the opportunity to assist the VAQS evaluation team in preparing abstracts, presentations and/or manuscripts based on the data collected and analyzed.
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work (i.e. badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.):
As part of your pending Rice HPEER Internship, you are required to have a WOC (without compensation) appointment with the Department of Veterans Affairs. We connect trainees with Ed Pomer to start the onboarding process which includes:
Two forms:
Three training certificates:
Project Sponsor(s): Nipa Kamdar, PhD, RN, FNP-BC (primary); Laura Witte, DrPH, MPH (secondary)
Project Title: Community Assessment of Veteran Housing in Houston, Texas
Institution and Location: Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, a joint lab shared between Baylor College of Medicine and U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research & Development
Project Description that addresses the larger research project as well as any portion on which the student(s) would focus. Please indicate how the student’s work would engage with the humanities or interpretive social sciences:
A list of possible types of tasks the student(s) would be expected to perform:
A list of specific skills or training the student(s) should have before beginning the project:
A short statement of what mentorship the student will receive, including frequency of meetings with PIs:
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Knowledge and skills the student(s) can expect to gain, including any opportunities for presentations, publication, networking, etc.:
A list of steps the selected student(s) will need to complete by August 15 to begin work (i.e., badging, HIPAA training, background check, etc.):
Because we will be using publicly available data, the student will not need to receive VA Without Compensation status (WOC). This reduces a number of potential barriers. We will inform our Center of Innovation administrator that we have a student on our team, which has been sufficient in the past.
Additional information:
Dr. Kamdar has worked with undergraduate and graduate students in the past and has successfully helped build their publication profile while also sharing research insights that they can carry forward in their careers. She has been adjunct faculty at UT Health Science Center Cizik School of Nursing since 2015 and enjoys working with students.
Dr. Kamdar is a researcher at the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety. Her research in food insecurity and related social needs builds on her experiences as a family nurse practitioner serving communities with low resources.
Dr. Witte is a post-doctoral fellow with expertise in community-based participatory research, GIS data analysis, and homelessness/housing.
Project Sponsor(s): Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby PhD, MA
Project Title: Ethics and Decision Making
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy
Project Description: Dr. Blumenthal-Barby is working on several projects related to medical decision making and ethics. The student(s) selected to work on this research team may participate in helping with any one or several of these projects depending on need and timing.
One project involves studying the use of a “decision aid” (DA) to help improve decision making about placement of a ventricular assist device (“LVAD”) among end stage heart failure patients. We developed a DA (www.lvaddecisionaid.com) and conducted a randomized trial of the DA vs. standard education and found that the DA improved patient knowledge and that both patients and clinicians viewed the DA favorably and we then worked with 10 sites to integrate it into their regular clinical flow. For the current project, we are studying the integration of a web-based “personalized risk calculator” that uses artificial intelligence/machine learning to predict individual patient outcomes, as well as the integration of a “personalized values clarification exercise.” The student could assist with various aspects of this project, which may include literature reviews and summaries, assistance in data presentation (e.g., tables, figures), assistance with tracking activities, assistance with coding and analyzing interviews, collaborative paper writing, and development of web-based resources and activities. The student would attend weekly research team meetings.
A second project involves a “Philosophical Bioethics Network/Hub,” which is an active web platform for resources and content in philosophical bioethics. This is a collaborative effort with other leading Centers in philosophical bioethics. There may be opportunity for student involvement here. www.philosophicalbioethics.com
A list of possible tasks the student would be expected to perform:
In addition to the tasks described in the project descriptions above, the student must devote 8 hours per week to the project and will develop a timeline of activities in collaboration with supervisor(s). The student will meet at least monthly (probably bi-weekly) with the faculty supervisor(s) to evaluate progress. The student will attend relevant research team meetings as requested (may occur weekly depending on project).
Prerequisite training:
Interests and/or coursework related to the above topics will be prioritized. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible and adaptable (some research tasks are more fun than others, and these projects involves a mix of research streams), and have excellent writing skills.
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain:
Insight into how research teams function, how research ideas are generated and executed, the day to day work of research and translation of research results into practice, searching and summarizing literature, knowledge about medical decision making/psychology/ethics, potentially experience analyzing and coding qualitative data, networking opportunities.
Project Title: Religion, Spirituality, and Medicine: A Survey of Beliefs and Practices
Project Description:
Spirituality and medicine have a longstanding, and complex, history. In many ancient cultures, the distinctions between medicine, religion, and magic were blurred; today, there seems to be more clarity about how spiritual and secular understandings of health, illness, and death diverge. But even if clinical and research medicine have done away with Divine causes of illness and wellness, spirituality and religion still play a role in the decisions patients make. Approximately 80% of Americans identify themselves as belonging to a religious tradition. And, since patients often incorporate their spiritual values into their medical decisions, a good understanding of the beliefs and practices of religious traditions is becoming important for competent medical care, research, and policy. This project involves assisting the creations of an expansive analysis (in the form of a table) of the interactions between medicine and religion. This would include identifying and synthesizing relevant information, for example, a book chapter or article on the beliefs of Sunni Muslims about end-of-life care. The student would then subdivide the domain (“end of life beliefs and practices”) into a number of topics, such as, “perspectives on pain management,” “advance care planning documentation,” “determination of death” and other essential areas. The project has gone into detail on American Judaism and a bit on Sunni Islam and Catholic beliefs. The student will likely concentrate on a different religious tradition but can, likely, concentrate where they are most interested. At this time, the project may develop into a pamphlet, website, or mobile application depending on procuring funding and the Primary Investigator’s other projects. Depending on the speed of development, the HHAS Scholar may also assist with creating a grant proposal, but it is unlikely the project will develop into a finished project within the year of the Scholar’s involvement, so their involvement would be primarily on the research side with some writing compositions possible.
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy
Project timeframe: 2 semesters
Prerequisite training: Students with college-level research skills and ability to analyze religious and theological texts would be able to perform the tasks. The Scholar should also have clear written communication skills. The Scholar should be organized, detail-oriented, self-starting, punctual, and flexible on their weekly tasks. Students with an interest in religion, history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, communication, or medicine are likely to find the research especially rewarding, but any student interested in the interaction of religion and medicine with college-level research and reading skills would likely fit well.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: The Scholar will likely gain a great deal of knowledge about at least one religions tradition’s perspectives on numerous areas of medicine. The student is expected to have good research skills, but they will also improve these skills by identifying important texts, scholarly articles, and books, reading these resources, and then synthesizing their salient features for the project.
Project Description:
An opening statement that recognizes the prior occupants of a place, especially Indigenous peoples, is increasingly common at events in bioethics and other fields. While the motivation behind “land acknowledgements” is often articulated as a show of respect, such acknowledgements have been criticized as empty virtue signaling and may reflect no more work than consulting an app. This project would explore the history and ethical considerations relevant to a land acknowledgement for the Texas Medical Center (including Baylor College of Medicine). What tribes resided here, and what happened to them? In the more recent history of this place, were any communities wrongfully displaced? What are the ethical implications of the history of the land for the present? In sum, can a careful historical and ethical analysis lead to a land acknowledgement that is meaningful and addresses the concerns of land acknowledgement critics? Outputs would include a land acknowledgment for use by individuals affiliated with Texas Medical Center institutions, a related submission to the annual meeting of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities, and a manuscript describing the results of the research and analysis in the form of a commentary.
Institution and Location: Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine; also the McGovern Historical Center at the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library (Sandra Yates, the head librarian at the McGovern Center, has agreed to help with the historical research).
Project timeframe (2 semesters is standard, 1 semester options also): 2 semesters
Prerequisite training: Some background in history/historical research methods would be valuable but not required.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: Historical research with primary sources, ethical analysis.
Project Title: Ethics and Decision Making
Project Description: Dr. Blumenthal-Barby is working on several projects related to medical decision making and ethics. The student(s) selected to work on this research team may participate in helping with any one or several of these projects depending on need and timing.
One project involves studying the use of a “decision aid” (DA) to help improve decision making about placement of a ventricular assist device (“LVAD”) among end stage heart failure patients. We developed a DA (www.lvaddecisionaid.com) and conducted a randomized trial of the DA vs. standard education and found that the DA improved patient knowledge and that both patients and clinicians viewed the DA favorably and we then worked with 10 sites to integrate it into their regular clinical flow. For the current project, we are studying the integration of a web-based “personalized risk calculator” that uses artificial intelligence/machine learning to predict individual patient outcomes, as well as the integration of a “personalized values clarification exercise.” The student could assist with various aspects of this project, which may include literature reviews and summaries, assistance in data presentation (e.g., tables, figures), assistance with tracking activities, assistance with coding and analyzing interviews, collaborative paper writing, and development of web-based resources and activities. The student would attend weekly research team meetings.
A second project involves studying ethics and decision-making related to pediatric deep brain stimulation for dystonia and OCD. We interviewed stakeholders (parents, clinicians) and are in the process of developing a decision aid to guide this difficult decision. The student could assist in various related research tasks such as literature reviews and summaries, coding interviews, collaborative paper writing, and assisting in decision aid development. There is also the opportunity for exploration of a related topic: the ethics of first-in human neuro-device trials. The student would also attend weekly research team meetings.
Finally, Dr. Blumemthal-Barby is developing a “Philosophical Bioethics Network/Hub,” which will be an active web platform for resources and content in philosophical bioethics. This is a collaborative effort with other leading Centers in philosophical bioethics. There may be opportunity for student involvement here.
Institution and Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy
Prerequisite training: Interests and/or coursework related to the above topics will be prioritized. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible and adaptable (some research tasks are more fun than others, and these projects involves a mix of research streams), and have excellent writing skills.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: Insight into how research teams function, how research ideas are generated and executed, the day to day work of research and translation of research results into practice, searching and summarizing literature, knowledge about medical decision making/psychology/ethics, potentially experience analyzing and coding qualitative data, networking opportunities.
Project Description:
Dr. Ruth and Dr. Mahoney are working on several educational initiatives with pediatric residency and fellowship trainees involving the use of narrative medicine. Narrative medicine practice confers a skill set to clinicians that strengthens their ability to recognize, absorb, interpret, and be moved by the stories of their patients. This skill set has been shown to improve clinician resiliency in the face of burnout, increase clinician empathy, and improve attention to nonverbal cues.
Ongoing projects include:
1. BCM Pediatrics residency Leadership, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) track narrative medicine curriculum for advocacy and resilience
2. BCM Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship narrative medicine curriculum for increasing empathy in clinical practice
3. BCM Pediatric Scientist Training and Development Program narrative medicine curriculum for professional identity formation
Students will be asked to contribute to a variety of tasks involved in translating educational activities into research projects. These may include literature reviews, contributing to drafting of IRB research proposals, participation in consenting and enrolling individuals in IRB-approved projects, and (when applicable based on training and expertise) contribute to qualitative data analysis.
Institution and Location:
Texas Children’s Hospital
6621 Fannin St, W1990
Houston, TX 77030
Prerequisite training: Students with a focus in medical humanities, pre-medical studies, adult education, or scientific writing/health communication would likely find this opportunity beneficial and interesting. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, self-motivated, adaptable, professional, and have strong writing skills.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: Students will learn about the practice of narrative medicine, the process of ongoing medical education, translation of educational activities into academic scholarship, searching and summarizing both peer-reviewed medical literature and humanities literature, and potentially experience analyzing and coding qualitative data.
Project Description:
HPEER is a national advanced fellowship funded by the Office of Academic Affiliations and the Department of Veterans Affairs to train leaders and educators in health professions education. Located at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas, the HPEER Coordinating Center (CC) was recently instituted and is comprised of program directors, local and site core faculty, staff, and postdoctoral fellows. A HHASS student will have the opportunity to make a significant and lasting contribution to the education and training of health professionals, like physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and psychologists, throughout the United States.
In conjunction with the HHASS program, we aim to develop a process evaluation database, website design, operational support surveys, process manuscripts, as well as reports on all surveys and process tools. Students can work on special projects and scholarship opportunities as applicable. Over the course of the program, they will learn more about the day to day operations of running a large, national health professions training program and interacting with an engaging, dynamic, and interprofessional team. They are invited to attend key all-staff and department specific meetings and encouraged to take advantage of any opportunities, to ask questions, and learn more about areas of health professions education, curriculum development, program evaluation, interprofessional health science practices, marketing and operations that are of particular interest to them.
Institution and Location:
Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuEST)
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite 01Y Houston, Texas 77021
Prerequisite training: Students with the following interests/experience in Health Education Curriculum, Program Evaluation, Program Operations, Communication and Marketing, Data Collection and Analysis and generating reports, might consider this project. Some basic familiarity with qualitative and quantitative methods would be helpful but is not required. Familiarity with databases (e.g., Excel, REDCap) is also a plus. Methodological training (e.g. data entry, analyzing limited qualitative data) will be provided. Experience in preparing abstracts, posters, and manuscripts is ideal. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible, adaptable, and have excellent communication skills.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: Students can gain insight into working on a national fellowship program including the buildout of a national program, website design, developing conceptual models, data reports, summaries and analysis, developing marketing materials and dissemination, literature reviews, developing posters for national conferences, and manuscript preparation. Students will gain and/or build upon skills in curriculum design, website design, administrative support, evaluation methods and frameworks as well as working with an interprofessional team. Skills in quantitative data collection include administering surveys, data entry and management and report development. Students will also assist the HPEER team in preparing abstracts, presentations and/or manuscripts based on the data collected and analyzed.
Project Description:
VA Quality Scholars Coordinating Center (CC) is located at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. The Coordinating Center is responsible for program implementation and assessment, developing and delivering a national, core curriculum, program operations and marketing, and fostering collaboration among the fellowship sites.
Students can work on special projects and scholarship opportunities as applicable and based on interest. Over the course of the program, they will learn more about the day to day operations of running a national CC. They are encouraged to take advantage of any opportunities, to ask questions, and learn more about areas of quality improvement, program evaluation, marketing and operations that are of particular interest to them.
VAQS conducts a rigorous program evaluation using quantitative (e.g. self-reported surveys/questionnaires and existing data) and qualitative methods (self-reported descriptive data) Students will have the opportunity to gain evaluation experience by collecting and analyzing critical data as well as developing and presenting reports on all surveys and assessment tools. This project will lead in the development of reports for key stakeholders and marketing purposes as well as potential publications.
Institution and Location:
Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuEST)
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite 01Y Houston, Texas 77021
Prerequisite training: Students with the following interests/experience in Program Evaluation, Program Operations, Communication and Marketing, Data Collection and Analysis and generating national reports, might consider this project. Some basic familiarity with qualitative and quantitative methods would be helpful but is not required. Familiarity with databases (e.g., Excel) is also a plus. Methodological training (e.g. data entry, analyzing limited qualitative data) will be provided. Experience in preparing abstracts, posters, and manuscripts is ideal. Students should be enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated, adaptable, punctual, professional, willing to be flexible, adaptable, and have excellent communication skills.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: Depending on area of interest, students can gain insight into working on a national fellowship program including multiple components of a large scale program evaluation, developing conceptual models, data reports, summaries and analysis, national conference development and planning, developing marketing materials and dissemination, literature reviews, developing posters for national conferences, and manuscript preparation. Students will gain and/or build upon skills in qualitative and quantitative methods to assist the evaluation team in better understanding the potential benefits of the fellowship education on key stakeholders. Skills in quantitative data collection include administering surveys, data entry and management and report development. Students will also have the opportunity to assist the VAQS evaluation team in preparing abstracts, presentations and/or manuscripts based on the data collected and analyzed.
Project Description:
We are looking at the demographic breakdown by race and ethnicity of consults to the Ethics Committee at Texas Children’s Hospital that are related to withholding life sustaining therapy, and comparing them to the overall demographics of admissions to TCH. The hypothesis is that non-white and Hispanic patients are referred to the ethics committee more frequently. This builds off of a prior study of all consults made to the committee.
Institution and Location:
Texas Children’s Hospital
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain: statistical analysis, manuscript preparation, introduction to ethics
The Veterans Administration (VA) has a strong commitment to improving Veterans’ mental health while supporting mental health clinicians. The South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (SC MIRECC) focuses on promoting equity in engagement, access, and quality of mental health care for Veterans facing barriers to care, especially rural and underserved Veterans. The SC MIRECC’s mission works synergistically with the VA’s commitment to improve mental health care by developing and disseminating evidence based educational material, tools and interventions that focus on improving mental health care.
The interprofessional education team has members from Psychiatry and Social Health Psychology. The student would be involved in the development of educational materials along with their dissemination and evaluation. There are ample opportunities for students to write mentored manuscripts and poster presentations. Students can learn more about the educational efforts of the SC MIRECC by visiting the site, http://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn16/education.asp
Institution and Location:
Houston Center for Innovations in Quality, Safety, and Effectiveness (IQuEST)
2450 Holcombe Blvd,
Houston, Texas 77021
Prerequisite training:
There are no formal prerequisites; this project is open to every Rice student beyond their first year of studies. Preference will be given to students who have an interest in mental health, education, evaluation, and dissemination, are team and detail oriented, and write well. Health science, education, psychology, and communication students are especially encouraged to apply.
Knowledge and skills student can expect to gain:
This project presents an opportunity to advance the student’s skills with creation of educational materials, dissemination, evaluation, and scholarly writing. Students will also be exposed to the current mental health research.
