Special Programs

 

 

 


 THE EINSTEIN JOURNAL
A student-edited journal, The Einstein Journal of Biology and Medicine, presents students with an unusual opportunity for learning the skills involved in editing and managing a scholarly periodical and provides a venue for research and review articles in a wide variety of topics related to biomedical science, clinical medicine and medical education.

 


ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM
Some students are accepted for admission to the Medical Scientist Training Program with a commitment for funding to start at the time they enter the graduate phase of their training. This program is the "Zero-Time Alternate Pathway." Or, during the second year of the medical curriculum, students interested in careers in academic medicine and research may apply for admission to the Sue Golding Graduate Division of Medical Sciences upon completion of preclinical courses. If accepted, the student will take graduate courses and conduct thesis research culminating in the award of the Ph.D. degree. After completing graduate work, the student will re-enter the medical school to complete his or her training for the M.D. degree. In both cases, after the first two years, when the student begins thesis research, he or she receives tuition remission and a stipend.                     Top

 

EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

Einstein-Ben Gurion Exchange Program: 
Senior students can spend two months in a primary care elective at the School of Medicine of Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. Medical education takes place in a setting that focuses not only on health care needs of individuals but also those of families and occupational environments. Travel and living expenses are provided for students selected to participate in this program.

 Einstein-Hadassah Exchange Program:
A senior student can be accepted in an extramural elective program of two months at Hadassah Medical School of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Travel and living expenses are provided.              Top 
 

Einstein-Shaare Zedek Exchange Program:
Senior students can be accepted in an extramural elective program of two months at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. Shaare Zedek provides travel and living expenses.

 Einstein-Germany Exchange Program:
Travel awards are provided to senior students who undertake clinical electives or research projects of at least two months duration at the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover.

 Einstein-Paris Exchange Program:
Travel awards are provided to senior students who undertake clinical electives or research projects of at least two months duration at one of the sites in the University of Paris system.

 Einstein-Karolinska Institute Program:
Travel awards are provided to senior students who undertake clinical electives or research projects of at least two months duration at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Basic science or clinical research projects are especially encouraged at this outstanding research center.

 Einstein-Saitama Exchange Program:
Travel awards are provided to senior students who undertake one-month clinical electives at the Saitama Medical School in Japan.          Top  

 


MEDICAL STUDENT PROJECTS PROGRAM
 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The myriad career paths open to today’s physicians and the multiple roles they have in the health care system compel us to offer students abundant opportunities to expand and enhance their education beyond the required curriculum. The term “extracurricular” usually applied to these types of activities does not convey adequately their educational importance, the substantial contribution they make to the development of students into knowledgeable and compassionate physicians, and the enormous influence they frequently have on students’ career interests. Here at Einstein, it is largely through the Medical Student Projects Program that these opportunities are administered and funded.

Student projects are classified and organized according to the following Divisions:

Students may participate in and receive funding for more than one project during her/his tenure at Einstein. Furthermore, each Division is not meant to be exclusive. For example, a community health project may be conducted outside the USA as part of a global health program; a project in community and population health or in global health may involve basic or clinical research.


ADVICE AND FUNDING
After using the Einstein Web site to search for information about faculty research, research centers and other activities that assist in project selection and development, students are encouraged to contact the relevant faculty directly in order to obtain additional information and finalize project proposals. For assistance with this, click here: Departmental Contact Persons. Dr. Kuperman, Associate Dean for Educational Affairs, manages the Medical Student Projects Program, and all applications for fellowship support must be submitted directly to his office. He can also provide general guidance and advice about any aspect of the program and may, after communicating with you, refer you to the person who can provide more specific assistance.


SCHOLARLY PAPER REQUIREMENT
Recognizing the educational value of students’ participation in the projects program, we require every student to conduct at least one project during his/her tenure at Einstein and write a paper of scholarly substance based on it. Literature reviews are acceptable. Depending on the nature of the project, it may or may not be conducted under mentor guidance and supervision. But in all cases, it is expected that the student will consult with a mentor during preparation of the paper and submit the final product to the mentor for approval. Multi-authored papers are acceptable for some types of projects. Although not mandatory, students are encouraged to to prepare and submit their papers for publication in the Einstein Journal of Biology and Medicine or other peer reviewed journal.


MEDICAL STUDENT PROJECTS COMMITTEE
The Medical Student Projects Committee of the Division of Education (DOE) is responsible for monitoring the program and establishing policies and guidelines for all its Divisions and the paper requirement. A student whose project is eligible for a fellowship award may have his/her application reviewed for funding decision by an appropriate subsection of the Committee.

 

 

APPROVAL TO CONDUCT RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

Any research project that involves human subjects needs to be reviewed and approved by the AECOM Committee on Clinical Investigations (CCI), which is the federally designated Institutional Review Board for all of the colleges of Yeshiva University, Jacobi Medical Center, and North Central Bronx Hospital. The CCI and its administrative staff review all proposals for human subject research and monitor such research in compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations. You should consult with your project mentor to determine which category of review your proposal falls under (i.e., Exempt Verification, Expedited Review, or Research Requiring Full Committee Review) and complete the appropriate application forms. In establishing a time frame for your research project, be sure to provide sufficient time to complete the CCI application and approval process. If you have any questions, feel free to call the CCI office, located in Belfer 1002, at (718)430-2237. Links to CCI web pages are provided below.

 CCI home page: http://www.aecom.yu.edu/home/CCI/default.htm

CCI protocol submission requirements: http://www.aecom.yu.edu/home/CCI/submission_requirements.htm

CCI forms (to download): http://www.aecom.yu.edu/home/CCI/forms.htm

CCI submission deadlines & meeting dates: http://www.aecom.yu.edu/home/CCI/meeting.htm

 

PROJECT FELLOWSHIPS AND PROGRAMS DIRECTORY
The various types of fellowships and programs supported by each Division are listed below.

Division of Basic and Clinical Research                    Click Here to Learn More

  • Summer Research Fellowships - 8-week research projects conducted under the supervision of faculty at Einstein and other institutions with fellowship stipend of $2000. About 60 fellowships awarded annually.

  • Einstein Research Fellowships - Year-long projects conducted under supervision of faculty at Einstein and other institutions with fellowship award of $16,000. 8 fellowship awards annually. Project may serve as basis for award of a special diploma signifying distinction in research.

  • Senior Research Fellowships - 5-7 month projects conducted under supervision of faculty at Einstein and other institutions with fellowship stipend of $3500. About 25 awards annually. Project may serve as basis for award of special diploma signifying distinction in research.

  • M.S. Program in Clinical Research - Year-long program of clinical research methods courses and research project with fellowship award of $16,000 for each of two consecutive years.
    See "Clinical Research M.D. - M.S. Program" for additional information.


Division of Global Health                                                      Click Here to Learn More

  • Summer Fellowships in Research, Community Health and Public Health - 4-8 week programs abroad; fellowship stipend varies. About 15 students annually.

  • Spanish language training/clinical experience (summer) - 4-6 week programs in Mexico, Central/South America with fellowship stipend set at maximum of $1800. 20 students annually.

  • Tropical Medicine in Costa Rica (summer) - 6-week program sponsored by LSU School of Medicine with fellowship stipend covering 75% of travel, tuition and housing costs. 7 students annually.

  • Global Health Fellowships - Mentor-guided research, community health or clinical experiences conducted in developing countries throughout the world with fellowship stipend set at 75% of travel, tuition and housing costs plus $500. 20-25 students annually. Available only to students who have completed their core clerkships. Minimum stay abroad is 2 months.
     

Division of Community and Population Health         Click Here to Learn More

  • Summer Research Fellowships - 8-week research projects conducted under supervision of faculty at Einstein and other institutions with fellowship stipend of $2000. About 25 fellowship awards annually.

  • Academic Year Community Service Projects - planned and organized by students in AMSA, AMA-Medical Student Section, SNMA, Boricua/Latino Health Organization, APAMSA, PSR and PHR, AMWA and MSFC. No fellowship support. Projects include: Hepatitis B Vaccination, Child Abuse Prevention, Youth Violence Project, STATS and Health Fairs.

  • Einstein Community Health Outreach (ECHO) - Free clinic staffed by Einstein student volunteers under physician supervision.

  • Child Protection Fellowship - Academic year part-time project for first year students only with fellowship stipend of $2000. 2-4 students annually.

  • Native American Health Care Fellowship - A one-month experience in family practice ambulatory care at the Indian Public Health Hospital on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Fellowship stipend covers air and ground transportation expenses Available only to senior students. Up to 5 students annually.

  • Einstein Research Fellowships - See description under Division of Basic and Clinical Research.

  • Senior Research Fellowships - See description under Division of Basic and Clinical Research.

  • Social Medicine Course - Annual winter-spring elective lecture series planned and organized by students with invited lecturers from Einstein and elsewhere; open to students in all classes.

  • Public Health Fellowships - Year-long study towards M.P.H. degree at any School of Public Health in the USA or abroad. Fellowship award of $16,000 to 3 students annually after completion of core clerkships.


Division of Ethics and Humanism in Medicine          Click Here to Learn More

  • Summer Research Fellowships - 8-week research projects conducted under supervision of faculty at Einstein and other insitutions with fellowship stipend of $2000. 5-10 students annually.

  • Einstein Research Fellowships - See description under Division of Basic and Clinical Research.

  • Senior Research Fellowships - See description under Division of Basic and Clinical Research.

  • Social Medicine Course - See description under Division of Community and Population Health.

  • The Healer's Art Course - Annual winter elective planned especially for first year students.                                        Top


 Application Forms
PLEASE NOTE: Each application form is a PDF file and requires Acrobat Reader to open it. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, click here Get Acrobat Reader  to download it now.

DOWNLOAD THE SUMMER RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION

 DOWNLOAD THE SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION AND SPECIAL DIPLOMA ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

DOWNLOAD THE GLOBAL HEALTH FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION

DOWNLOAD THE EINSTEIN RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION

DOWNLOAD THE PUBLIC HEALTH FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION

 


 SCHOLARLY PAPER GUIDELINES
(revised 8/14/03)

Background. The Albert College of Medicine and its affiliated institutions provide an ideal environment for students to participate in mentor-guided projects. It is our conviction that such self-directed learning experiences develop knowledge and skills that are essential for life-long learning. Therefore, all students are required to pursue a project involving in-depth study of an area of interest and prepare a written, referenced report of scholarly substance. Whether the project is conducted in the laboratory, clinic or in the field, it should deal with a well defined problem or be designed to test a particular hypothesis. The project should be conducted under guidance of a faculty mentor, who will be selected by the student. Indeed, an important benefit of this graduation requirement is the enhanced opportunity it provides for students to interact with faculty members.


General Guidelines. The Scholarly Paper (SP) project may be conducted during unscheduled time in the first and second year, during the summer following the first year, and during the seven month elective period in the fourth year. It is anticipated that at least six-to-eight weeks of full-time effort, or its equivalent, will be necessary to fulfill this
requirement.

Multi-authored papers are accepted, but prior approval by Dr. Kuperman is needed.

Publication of reports of research conducted by a student, whether or not to meet this requirement, is subject to approval of the faculty member with whom the student worked.

Students who received a Ph.D. before being admitted to the medical school, or who are enrolled in the M.D./Ph.D. program, are exempt from the SP requirement. Masters' theses will not be accepted for submission in lieu of the SP.

A report or presentation prepared for a course may serve as a starting point for the SP, but it will not satisfy this requirement.


Selecting a Mentor. Information about projects and mentors at Einstein and affiliated campuses are provided in the Summer Project Directory, the AECOM Web site, and through discussions with faculty and Associate Deans. The student should decide on an area of general interest and meet with one more faculty members who work in that field. After appropriate discussions, the student and faculty member should agree on a topic and the faculty member's availability to serve as mentor. Although it is not necessary that the idea for the project originate with the student, it is essential that the work and written report be the student's own.

If you need help in selecting a mentor, or would like to learn what types of projects are available in a given department, click here: List of Contact Persons

While it is convenient to conduct a project under the guidance of a member of the Einstein faculty, students may arrange for a mentor at another institution. Formal permission for this must be obtained from Dr. Kuperman.

Mentor Responsibilities. Conferences between student and mentor should be scheduled during the course of the SP project. The project must be designed and specifically performed by the student with the advice and guidance of the student's mentor. The SP provides an unusual opportunity for tutorial instruction in hypothesis testing and critical evaluation. Mentors are also expected to provide all necessary equipment and supplies necessary for successful completion of the project.

The mentor should make every effort to orient the student to a project that can be completed within the available time. In planning a project, it should be clear that the primary goal is to pursue, in as much depth as possible within a finite time period, the study of an area of interest and to learn the appropriate scholarly methods; the preparation of a written report suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, while not considered a primary goal of the SP, should always be considered within the realm of possibility.


SP Approval and Deadlines. An SP Project Proposal form must be completed, and submitted to Dr. Kuperman by September 15 of Year 4. Students are encouraged, however, to submit the form well before the deadline. In consultation with the Medical Student Projects Committee of the Division of Education, Dr. Kuperman will determine whether the general scope of the proposed work and resources available are consonant with the intent of the SP requirement.

Students who wish to have a description of their project included in their Dean's letter, should submit a one page progress report to Dr. David, Associate Dean for Students, by September 15 of Year 4. This should describe the status of the research project, the anticipated date of completion, and must be signed by the mentor and the student.

A draft of the SP must be submitted to the student's mentor no later than May 1st of the year of graduation. One copy of the final report, accompanied by a letter from the mentor stating that it has been approved as fulfilling the graduation requirement for a report of scholarly substance, must be submitted to Dr. Kuperman's office, 209 Belfer, by May 15th of the year of graduation. Any students who miss these deadlines will not receive their diplomas.


Report Format. The typical report consists about 15-20 pages, and should be written in the format of a scholarly paper consistent with published work in the field. Reports based on research projects should include:

  • Abstract

  • Critical review and citation of the work of previous investigators

  • Methodology

  • Analysis of data or information

  • Conclusions that are supported by the data

  • Bibliography


Reports based on literature reviews can take a variety of forms. See samples of reviews in publications such as The Einstein Journal or Annual Reviews of Medicine to determine the most appropriate format.


Typing and Assembly Instructions. The report should be typed on standard paper, double spaced, with one inch margins. Single spacing may be used within (double spacing between) block quotations, footnotes, and bibliography.

The title, the student's full name, and the year of degree must be included on the cover. Each page in the report should be numbered.

If charts, graphs, maps, tables, or computer printouts that are larger than the standard size are to be used, they should be folded carefully into the manuscript. Legends are placed below the illustrative material. However, when both illustration and legend cannot be accommodated on one page, the legend may appear on a facing page.

Students will need a minimum of two copies of the report, one of which is for the mentor. One copy, accompanied by a letter from the mentor, must be submitted to Dr. Kuperman in 209 Belfer by May 15th of the year of graduation.


 Summary of Timetable
 Students are encouraged to submit their project proposals and final reports as soon as they are prepared. Deadlines for submission are as follows:

 September 15, Year Four
Deadline for submission of SP Proposal Form to Dr. Kuperman.

September 15, Year Four
Deadline for submission of Progress Report to Dr. David, if it is to be included
in the Dean's letter.

May 1, Year Four
Deadline for submission of manuscript to mentor.

May 15, Year Four
Deadline for submission of final report and mentor's letter of approval.                                                                               Top


DOWNLOAD THE SCHOLARLY PAPER PROPOSAL FORM

PLEASE NOTE: The Scholarly Paper Proposal Form is a PDF file and requires Acrobat Reader to open it. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, click here Get Acrobat Reader  to download it now.

SCHOLARLY PAPER PROJECT RESOURCES

 
 


MEDICAL SPANISH PROGRAM

The large and still growing population of Spanish speaking persons in this nation, particularly in many of its largest cities, compels this and medical schools across the land to provide future physicians with at least a basic level of competence in conversational Spanish. The Medical Spanish program here at Einstein has been evolving over a period of more than 20 years and is still changing to meet students’ needs.

In the current program (which is entirely elective), students begin language classes in the first year and continue to practice and expand language building skills throughout the second year. Classes are offered at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels.

In the summer between first and second year, about 20 students receive funding to participate in Spanish language programs in the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

The Coordinator of Einstein’s Medical Spanish Program is Maria Marzan, M.P.H.; 507-Belfer; mamarzan@aecom.yu.edu                                                    Top

 

 


THE EINSTEIN PROGRAM FOR PERSONAL WELLNESS

Program Planning Committee:

Ellen Tattelman, M.D. and Benjamin Kligler, M.D.

         Co-directors, Program in Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Mimi McEvoy, PNP, M.A.

         Co-director, Introduction to Clinical Medicine

Mildred Witt, Ph.D.

         Director, Office of Academic Support & Counseling

 

Starting with the Class entering in August 2005, students are offered the opportunity to participate in the Einstein Program for Personal Wellness (EPPW). The program has three components.

  1. Students will receive instruction in methods that have long been used to improve health and reduce stress. These methods, now viewed by an increasing number of physicians as complementary to the domain of conventional medicine, include Meditation, Yoga, Reiki, Tai Chi and Qigong.

  2. We also plan to organize Creative Expression groups to help improve communication, support personal growth and cultivate empathy and compassion. In these groups, students exchange and discuss poetry, music and/or other forms of creative expression inspired by themselves or others.

  3. We are also considering the most effective ways of providing students with information and advice on maintaining good health through good nutrition.

By experiencing the positive effects of these methods and activities on their health and ability to deal effectively with a demanding curriculum, we hope more students acquire interest in learning how to integrate them into their future medical practices. To help students towards this goal, Web based resources, printed literature, elective courses and research opportunities are available.

Although not originally developed as a program promoting wellness, in a larger sense Einstein's Healer's Art course may be viewed as part of the EPPW. Started in 1991 at the U.C. San Francisco School of Medicine, Healer's Art has now spread to about twenty schools across the country. We are now in our fourth year. As described by Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, the course's originator, Healer's Art "uses a ... discovery model of experiential learning to explore themes of service, calling and commitment, relationships, identity, and meaning in medicine". The course helps students reclaim the humanitarian spirit that prompted them to decide to become a physician in the first place.

An Orientation to EPPW is held early in the academic year in order to provide an overview of the program and introduce students to various methods through discussions and demonstrations.