Once enrolled in the PORTAL program, you will be introduced to the thought processes used by patient-oriented clinical and translational researchers, and taught the techniques they use. We offer a specific yet flexible program structure in a collaborative environment that offers challenge and invites inquiry.
ISMMS students will begin the PORTAL program during their second year of medical school. PORTAL adds a fifth year to the traditional four-year medical school track. This additional scholarly year provides the opportunity for students to dedicate uninterrupted time to the completion of a scholarly project and thesis.
Curriculum and Research
The curriculum focuses on helping you gain critical thinking skills and offers a solid foundation for conducting independent patient-oriented research studies.
Core Competencies & Learning Objectives include the ability to:
- Recognize major clinical, translational, and public health research problems
- Describe observational and experimental clinical research methods and study designs
- Identify measurement and methodological issues in incorporating basic science, translational, clinical, and population variables into clinical research
- Implement data analysis and management
- Employ written and oral scientific communication and dissemination skills
- Explain, assess and employ research ethics
For your thesis research, you will pursue original scholarly research on a subject of your choice, guided by a faculty mentor and the program directors. This entails formulation of a research question, design and conduct of a research plan, analysis of the resulting data, and presentation of the findings.
You should expect to spend approximately three to four extra hours per week on PORTAL during your second year. The remaining coursework will be completed during the scholarly year. There are no additional courses required during the remaining years, which will allow you to focus on the MD curriculum during that time.
PORTAL Program Academic Calendar
PORTAL Program Curriculum
Term |
Course Number |
Title |
Credits |
Fall |
|
|
|
Yr2 |
CLR0006 |
Spectrum of Measurements in Clinical & Translational Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 1 |
3 |
SY |
MPH0300 |
Introduction to Biostatistics |
3 |
SY |
CLR0001 |
Clinical Research Masters Thesis Design and Conduct |
3 |
**SY |
- |
Elective |
3 |
SY |
CLR0017 |
Clinical and Translational Research Journal Club and Seminar Series |
1 |
|
|||
Spring-I |
|
|
|
Yr2 |
CLR0016 |
Spectrum of Measurements in Clinical & Translational Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 2 |
3 |
SY |
MPH0812 |
Applied Linear Models I |
3 |
SY |
CLR0001 |
Clinical Research Master’s Thesis Design and Conduct |
3 |
SY |
CLR0018 |
Clinical and Translational Research Journal Club and Seminar Series |
1 |
|
|||
Spring-II |
|
|
|
SY |
CLR0007 |
Spectrum of Measurements in Clinical & Translational Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 3 |
3 |
Yr2 |
N/A |
Preparation for USMLE step 1 |
0 |
SY |
CLR0501 |
Computational Tools for Clinical Research |
2 |
SY |
MPH0623 |
Applied Linear Models II |
3 |
SY |
CLR0011 |
Grant Writing |
1 |
SY |
CLR0001 |
Clinical Research Masters Thesis Design and Conduct |
3 |
SY |
CLR0019 |
Clinical and Translational Research Journal Club and Seminar Series |
1 |
|
|||
|
|
Total Credits |
38 |
|
|
* SY = Scholarly Year |
|
Portal Program Standard Curriculum
Term |
Course Number |
Title |
Credits |
Fall |
|
|
|
Yr2 |
CLR0006 |
Spectrum of Measurements in Clinical & Translational Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 1 |
3 |
Yr2 |
MPH0300 |
Introduction to Biostatistics |
3 |
SY |
CLR0001 |
Clinical Research Masters Thesis Design and Conduct |
3 |
**SY |
- |
Elective |
3 |
SY |
CLR0501 |
Computational Tools for Clinical Research |
3 |
***SY |
CLR0301 |
Tools in Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research in Clinical and Translational Science |
3 |
SY |
CLR0017 |
Clinical and Translational Research Journal Club and Seminar Series |
1 |
|
|||
Spring-I |
|
|
|
Yr2 |
CLR0016 |
Spectrum of Measurements in Clinical & Translational Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 2 |
3 |
SY |
MPH0812 |
Applied Linear Models I |
3 |
SY |
CLR0001 |
Clinical Research Master’s Thesis Design and Conduct |
3 |
SY |
CLR0700 |
Professionalism and Ethics in Clinical Research |
2 |
SY |
CLR0018 |
Clinical and Translational Research Journal Club and Seminar Series |
1 |
|
|||
Spring-II |
|
|
|
Yr2 |
CLR0007 |
Spectrum of Measurements in Clinical & Translational Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 3 |
3 |
Yr2 |
N/A |
Preparation for USMLE step 1 |
0 |
SY |
MPH0822 |
Applied Linear Models II |
3 |
SY |
CLR0011 |
Grant Writing |
1 |
SY |
CLR0001 |
Clinical Research Master'sThesis Design and Conduct |
2 |
SY |
CLR0019 |
Clinical and Translational Research Journal Club and Seminar Series |
1 |
***SY |
CLR0610 |
Meta-analysis, Decision Analysis and Cost Effectiveness Analysis |
3 |
|
|||
|
|
Total Credits |
38 |