Research Associates Program
Welcome and congratulations! You have found your way to what we believe is the best faculty/mentor research program available in the San Diego region. This program was created to expand research opportunities for students interested in careers in pre-medical/pre-hospital or a future in clinical research.
This letter will give you the basic information on our program, and how to get started. Please feel free to contact our program coordinator Grace Pangco by email or phone with any and all questions.
Our program is committed to creating a positive atmosphere of learning and we are always looking for enthusiastic and energetic volunteers. The Emergency Department is a wonderful place with a diverse patient population. You will work with people of all shapes, sizes, races and financial circumstances. You will have direct one-on-one patient interaction. You will work closely with Emergency Department physicians and nurses on various clinical research projects. This will provide you with opportunities to develop relationships to obtain letters of recommendation and publish research papers. Some topics currently being investigated include: chest pain, abdominal pain, and falls in the elderly.
We provide students with optional quarterly seminars. Some topics may include: interviewing skills/mock interviews, how to write a personal statement, what medical schools look for and other important topics that will increase your chances of being accepted to medical school.
We look forward to working with you in the future.
- Gary M. Vilke, M.D., FACEP, FAAEM
Professor of Clinical Medicine
Director, Clinical Research for Emergency Medicine
- Edward M. Castillo, Ph.D., MPH
Assistant Adjunct Professor
- Jean Marshall, M.S., R.N.
Clinical Research Nurse
- Grace Pangco
Research Associate Program Coordinator
(619) 543-7342 | raprog@ucsd.edu
Benefits of our program:
- Work along side Emergency Department physicians and nurses
- Secure letters of recommendation for medical school or graduate studies
- Publish research papers
- One-on-one patient interaction
- "Hands on" clinical research experience
- Optional quarterly seminars on medical school application strategies
- Course credit (follow the links below)
- Year-round program
Who may apply to our program?
- Undergraduate students
- Post-baccalaureate students
- Pre-medical students
- Nursing students
- Foreign medical graduates
- Volunteers
Application process:
All Research Associates are technically hospital volunteers and must therefore complete the volunteer requirements:
- Commit to at least 100 hours/6 months of volunteer service
- Attend a general orientation session
- Complete the JCAHO required online safety trainings
- Complete HIPAA training
- Complete a placement interview and be accepted into our program
- Purchase a uniform ($20 in the hospital gift shop) and abide by the volunteer dress code
- Complete or show proof of routine health screening for tuberculosis, measles, German measles and chicken pox
When you've completed the necessary requirements and are cleared to work through the Volunteer Office, you will complete our program training session. Please note that these occur at scheduled times throughout the year. Please be aware that our program does NOT coordinate the general Volunteer Orientations. Please direct any and all questions regarding the general orientation session to the Volunteer Office itself at either (619) 543-6370 or volsvcs@ucsd.edu. Additional information may be obtained on the volunteer website.
Course credit
Depending on your university, it may be possible to get credit for for:
- Independent study
- Research electives
- Thesis projects
- Honors projects
For more information about obtaining credit:
- UCSD students please click here: http://aep.ucsd.edu/default2.htm
- SDSU students: Available credit will vary based on your program. Please inquire in your department for details
- All other colleges please ask your college counselors for more information.
Research Associate Schedules