There is a strong tradition of research among the residents at the University of Virginia. All residents are required to participate in at least one month of dedicated research time. Some residents may elect to spend a single month during the third clinical year. Most residents spend one to three years working in a basic or clinical science laboratory.  Some even seize the opportunity to receive a Masters in Public Health or Clinical Sciences during this time.

Resident research can only thrive with appropriate mentorship. The faculty of the University of Virginia Department of Surgery are committed to research in their own careers as well as to helping residents develop as surgeon-scientists.

Categorical residents are required to submit a research proposal in the winter and present their topic during Resident Research Day in April as a poster or an oral presentation. Pre-existing work is acceptable, but novel research created for research day also is encouraged. This frequently results in work being presented and published in other forums including presentations at local, regional, or national meetings and publication in peer reviewed journals.

Submission of research primarily for presentation at professional society meetings also is encouraged. When a resident working with a surgery faculty mentor succeeds in getting an abstract accepted for presentation at a meeting, the resident is given the opportunity to travel to that meeting, present the work, and expenses related to this are covered.

Resident Research Day 2016