Embark is a required scholarly concentration program of Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB) that provides a mentored introduction to research and scholarship.  The four-year longitudinal curriculum consists of structured coursework in research design and implementation, compliance training, research communication, and scholarly presentation, with protected time to develop mentored projects in a wide-range of community and health-related settings.

As part of the Embark program, every medical student gains a tool kit of research and project-management skills, beneficial to the completion of their required capstone outcomes-based research project. Throughout their OUWB career, students have opportunities to utilize their skills by providing periodic progress presentations, where scholarly achievements are recognized with awards and scholarships. With both vertical and horizontal integration to the overall academic mission, the Embark program represents an important component of the OUWB curriculum that seeks to encourage a passion for life-long learning, and the development of research design and implementation skills in all of our future physicians. 

As our graduates embark on their careers, we anticipate each will have an exceptional impact on the patients and communities that they serve, and will act as multipliers to continue the growth of research developments and socially accountable activities within their future peer groups.

As part of the Embark program, every medical student gains a tool kit of research and project-management skills, beneficial to the completion of their required health outcomes-based research project. Throughout their OUWB career, students have opportunities to utilize their skills by providing periodic progress presentations, where scholarly achievements are recognized with awards and scholarships. With both vertical and horizontal integration to the overall academic mission, the Embark program represents an important component of the OUWB curriculum that seeks to encourage a passion for life-long learning, and the development of research design and implementation skills in all of our future physicians.

As our graduates embark on their careers, we anticipate each will have an exceptional impact on the patients and communities that they serve, and will act as multipliers to continue the growth of research developments and socially accountable activities within their future peer groups.

The First Year

The first year entails course work that encompasses sessions on research study and design. Included in these topics are development of a research question, constructing a research proposal, and the important aspects of research regulatory bodies (internal review board (IRB)).

Also during this first year, students choose mentors with similar research interests. Mentors include OUWB faculty from the Foundational Medical Studies Department, various clinical departments in Beaumont Health and faculty from Oakland University Departments. The mentor and the student work collaboratively to design a feasible, outcomes-based research project. The mentor guides the student in their project throughout the four-years of medical school.

The Second Year

During the M2 year, the students continue with instruction in “best practices” in writing an abstract, and providing an oral or poster presentation. Many students strive to complete their data collection by the end of their M2 year. The year culminates with awards given for the most outstanding short oral presentations of current research status.

The Third and Fourth Years

Protected time is embedded in the M3 year. Additionally, Directed Independent Research rotations are possible in the M4 year to continue additional work on Embark or other research projects. Completion of the capstone research project is a graduation requirement for each student with presentation of his or her work at a research colloquium in the M4 year.

At OUWB, we believe in recognizing our medical students for efforts in conducting best practices in research. Partial fourth-year scholarships are awarded for outstanding Embark achievement through a mini-manuscript competition. Embark encourages students to present their findings and provides supplemental travel funds when appropriate for students to present their completed work at regional and national meetings under the guidance of their mentors. Writing of abstracts with submission to local, national and international conferences, as well as submission of manuscripts are encouraged but not required. 

Generous donors of OUWB support students by funding scholarships that are awarded through the school’s Embark program. Third year medical students have the option of preparing a mini-manuscript reporting their Embark program capstone project outcomes. The manuscripts are judged by a panel of faculty, and the students who prepared the top manuscripts are awarded partial scholarships to be used in their fourth year at OUWB.

Based on generous funding from our donors, the following students have recently been awarded partial scholarships for the M4 year as a result of excellent manuscript submissions to the M3 Mini-Manuscript competition.  

Kenneth J. Matzick Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the
Year 2024

Sarah George, Examining Inclusive Language in Clinical Narratives in Medical
Biochemistry Textbooks to Model Equitable Patient-Centered Care in Preclinical
Undergraduate Medical Education; Mentors: Akshata Naik and Brianne Lewis

Ravitz Foundation Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the
Year 1st Runner-Up 2024

Alexsandra Biel, Stroke risk after emergency department treatment of elevated blood
pressure in transient ischemic attack patients; Mentor: Brett Todd

Ann V. Nicholson Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of the
Year 2nd Runner-Up 2024

Bianca Elias, Religiosity Influences Legalization of Marijuana among Chaldean Americans;
Mentor: Florence Dallo

Kenneth J. Matzick Embark Program Competitive Scholarship, Manuscript of
the Year Honorable Mention 2024

Avianna Arapovic, Frailty among Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty Recipients:
Epidemiology and Propensity Score Weighted Analysis of Impact on In-hospital
Postoperative Outcomes; Mentors: Inaya Hajj Hussein and Tracey Wunderlich

Elizabeth Carlson, Impact of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program and Clean
Closing Trays on Colon and Rectal Surgical Site Infections; Mentor: Harry Wasvary

Madeleine DeClercq, Influence of Medicaid and Medicare Payer Status on Outcomes
Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: A 10-Year Report; Mentors: Leonardo Cavinatto and
Drew Moore

Jarod Dixon, Predicting Coronary Artery Calcium Using Abdominal Aorta and Visceral
Artery Calcification; Mentor: Sayf Al-Katib

Saini Kethireddy, Safety Profile of Spinal Cord Stimulator Paddle Lead Revision and
Replacement; Mentor: Michael Staudt

Garrett Peters, The Effect of the Adoption of the National Accreditation Program for Rectal
Cancer Process on Compliance Standards at A Single Institution; Mentor: Harry Wasvary

Corey Shafer, Implementation of an Opioid Free Pediatric Hernia Repair Protocol; Mentor:
Begum Akay

Bilal Tarar, A Review of Risk Factors for Postoperative Failure after Isolated Primary
Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction; Mentor: Betina Hinckel

Past Mini-Manuscript Award Winners

2019 Mini-Manuscript Award Winners

2018 Mini-Manuscript Award Winners

2017 Mini-Manuscript Award Winners