UGME - Horizontal Research Elective (HRE) - Department of Medical Imaging

What is a UGME Horizontal Research Elective?

Optional elective done on a part-time basis while students are in full-time studies.
Strengthen critical thinking and research training and learning skills.
Duration: 49-56 hours, longitudinally. Must be a minimum of 1 week (5 full days) but may be spread out over a longer period of time. Ideally will be at least for 3 months and theoretically can extend for the full three years of medical school.
HRE must be supervised by an MD, PhD, or McMaster faculty member. You may work closely with a resident, a graduate student, research associate, laboratory staff, or other research personnel under the supervision of the faculty member.
Students may contact the potential research supervisor or their assistant/research program manager if there is a supervisor identified. A student may enquire about available research opportunities in various departments by contacting departmental research coordinators or research contact persons

Any undergraduate medical student participating in a research project with a faculty member can submit this activity as a horizontal research elective (HRE). This must be formally documented and submitted by the student to ensure that the HRE can be accounted for and educational contributions for this role/activity can be entered on behalf of the faculty preceptor.

Faculty Member Responsibilities

I AM A FACULTY MEMBER supervising a student undertaking a HRE:

When you are contacted by a student and wish to supervise them:
Option 1: Alert Tori (Victoria) Howes-Jones at howesjov@mcmaster.ca with the name and email of the potential HRE candidate and we will send them the form to complete (The HRE form is the student’s responsibility and must be completed by them)

Option 2: Send the student this form to complete: Horizontal Research Elective Form (please note, the student must be in their Medportal account when clicking on the link)

Once the student fills out the form, Medsis will notify UGME and UGME will record the HRE into FHSDB. They account the HRE to the Faculty Preceptor as part of their educational contributions.

Student Responsibilities

I AM A STUDENT seeking or already engaged in HRE:

Research and understand the HRE process
Contact a potential research supervisor, their assistant/research program manager, contact departmental research coordinators, or research contact persons if you wish to inquire about available research opportunities in various departments
Once a supervisor agrees to support your HRE journey, fill out the following form: Horizontal Research Elective Form (please note you must be in your Medportal account when clicking on the link) and submit a copy of your responses to your supervisor (please remember to check the option to send a copy of your responses to your email so that you can forward them to your supervisor)

Undergraduate students who are interested in joining a research project or who want to find a faculty supervisor to join, please visit this page dedicated to connecting students and faculty members.