https://medicine.ouhsc.edu/academic-departments Parent Page: Academic Departments id: 23002 Active Page: OU Pediatric Emergency Medicine Research Associates Programid:24098

OU Undergraduate Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Research Associates Program (OUPEMRAP)

OUPEMRAP

CAS 3440/ENGR 3440: OUPEMRAP Course Details
The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Research Associates Program (PEMRAP) at OU is an original collaboration between the OU Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Engineering. The goal of this course is to introduce students to the basic concepts of clinical research and to provide hands-on experience in clinical research conducted within an academic/medical environment.

This course provides OU undergraduates the opportunity to be involved in hospital-based clinical research being conducted by the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine (PEM). Students will work under the supervision of assigned attending physicians and research staff.

The expected benefits for the students in this course are:

a. Exposure to hospital-based clinical research
b. Exposure to clinical emergency medicine
c. Increased knowledge of human subjects’ research, with certificates of completion
in basic research, good clinical practice, the responsible conduct of research, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
d. The opportunity to receive training and a certificate in Basic Life Support
e. Access to didactic lectures
f. Potential for letters of recommendation

Lecture Sessions
Lecture Sessions will be held on Friday afternoons, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. on the OUHSC campus (virtual options may be made available). Sessions include an introduction to clinical research, study design and methodology, informed consent, enrollment techniques, and data collection and management. Faculty members with active research projects will introduce the basic principles behind the clinical questions being asked. An important aspect of this course is utilization of the Clinical Skills Education and Testing Center (CSETC) on the OUHSC campus. Students will participate in hands-on sessions with High Fidelity mannequins and practice basic PEM procedures. Students will be assigned a PEM Faculty Mentor that will help them navigate the course and clinical research shifts.

Clinical Research Shifts in the Emergency Department
OUPEMRAP students will have the opportunity to observe and participate in a wide variety of clinical research studies with varying scope and scale. Some of these studies are internal research projects that are only being conducted at our site, and others are multi-center studies where patients are being recruited and enrolled in hospitals across the United States. While some studies have no grant funding and OUPEMRAP students may comprise the entire research enrollment team, other studies are supported by multi-million dollar grants with the support of research staff. Student responsibilities will vary depending on the study. Students will help screen patients for active studies, gather important patient information, and enroll eligible patients into studies. The number and type of studies vary from semester to semester but can lead to interaction with a wide range of patients with a multitude of different conditions.

Clinical Research Shifts
Students will be expected to work an average of twelve (12) clinical hours per month in the emergency department, for a total of fifty (50) clinical hours by the end of the semester. Given the distance between campuses and students’ other responsibilities, these hours can be performed in 4-8-hour increments, to include evenings and weekends. 

This class provides an unparalleled opportunity to work within a busy Pediatric Emergency Department. Your role as a student and research associate places you on the front lines of clinical research and can give you an inside look into how advances in medicine are made. Step-by-step, patient-by-patient, you will gain experiences and learn skills that have the potential to shape your future career.

Note* PEMRAP/CAS 3440/ENGR 3440 is not offered in the summer.

Expectations of Students
·    Complete online training prerequisites prior to the first day of class.
·    Attend weekly lecture sessions on Friday afternoons, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm (OUHSC campus, with possible virtual attendance options). 
·    Meet one-on-one with your assigned mentor at least monthly (virtual and/or in-person).
·    Participate in an average of twelve (12) clinical hours per month for a total of fifty (50) clinical hours by the end of the semester.
·    Prepare a 10-minute conference-style presentation over a topic of interest acquired during the semester or present a novel research idea.

Who Should Enroll in this Course:
Undergraduate University of Oklahoma students considering a career in medicine, healthcare in general, or clinical research should consider enrolling in this course.  A student must have completed at least 30 hours toward their undergraduate degree and have a 2.50 GPA or greater in order to be eligible for this course. Note* It is vital that students interested in participating in PEMRAP consider the time commitment required before starting the registration process. Students with financial hardships that may prevent them from travelling the required distance may be able to apply for financial assistance.

Credits
3 credits letter-graded

Transportation
Each PEMRAP student is responsible for his or her own transportation to and from Oklahoma Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City.  Embark offers public transportation directly from the Norman campus to the HSC campus.

Parking
Restrictions apply, but parking is available in designated garages for shifts after 5:30 PM Monday-Friday and anytime Saturday and Sunday. Please contact the Program Coordinator for details.

Note
Students must complete criminal background checks, drugs screens, and immunizations. Flu shots and the COVID-19 vaccine are strongly encouraged. 

OUPEMRAP Application Fall 2023 Semester