Program Overview:
GCSOM’s Medical Research Honors Program (MRHP) is a long-term, hypothesis-driven research program. Students who complete the program, while remaining in good academic standing, will receive an honors distinction upon graduation. To complete the 4-year program, students are required to submit a research project proposal, write a thesis, and deliver an oral defense. Additionally, students will write abstracts, present posters, and publish findings while building towards their thesis defense. The research experience is guided by a research mentor, a thesis advisory committee, and the program director. Participation in the Summer Research Immersion Program is highly encouraged but not required.
Program Benefits:
Research experience is integral to the development of medical practitioners who reflect the mission and values of GCSOM. Additionally, matching into competitive residencies requires research experience, presentations, and publications. Through the MRHP you will:
- Advance fundamental scientific knowledge
- Strengthen critical thinking skills
- Stand apart in competitive residency application fields
- Refine scholarly communication through scientific writing and presentations
- Gain a mindset of continual growth and learning
Application and Acceptance Information:
As the first step in your application, please reach out to Tracey Pratt at tpratt@geisinger.edu to express your interest in applying. All first-year medical students have been added to the class of 2028 MRHP Canvas course, which will allow you to access the course prerequisites.
There will be two deadlines to apply to the MRHP; we can accept a maximum of 25 MRHP students per class. Students who wish to apply for early consideration should submit their project proposals by May 5, 2025. The final deadline for admission to the MRHP will be September 15, 2025. Your completed application, including your CV, Letter of Support from your Mentor, Acknowledgment of Mentor Expectations, and Project Proposal must be submitted by 11:59pm on either May 5th or September 15th. Note: Use of Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, are highly discouraged. The reviewers want to hear from you regarding your research proposal, not an AI bot. Please contact Tracey Pratt at tpratt@geisinger.edu if you have any questions about the application process.
If you plan to apply in May, please ensure that all program prerequisites have been completed prior to submitting your application.
Summer 2025 SRIP participants who successfully complete the program do not need to complete the prerequisites for the September deadline. If you are not participating in the SRIP, you will complete the required prerequisites listed on the 2028 MRHP Canvas course.
Acceptance decisions are made by the Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship in consultation with the Manager of Research Education Resources. After submitting your application, you may be contacted for additional information or asked to revise your project proposal. Please refer to the MRHP Canvas course for project proposal templates, resources, and additional application materials. Students will be notified of acceptance into the program in May 2025 or October 2025 (unless further review is required). Full participation in the program is contingent upon verification of academic eligibility.