Musculoskeletal Disorders and Related Research
TITLE: Musculoskeletal Disorders and Related Research
COURSE NO.: 听SOMN 653
DEPARTMENT: 听听Orthopedic Surgery
DURATION:听听听听 One semester (repeatable across M1 and/or M2 years with different projects)
DIRECTORS:听听听 Jiayong Liu MD, Associate Professor
听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Jiayong.Liu@utoledo.edu
SEMESTERS AVAILABLE:听听听听听听听 Fall & Spring
NUMBER OF STUDENTS:听听听听听听听 Up to 5 students per semester
LOCATION:听听听听 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, UTMC 听
COORDINATOR:听听 Renee Karamol & Kelly Kovacs
FACULTY:听听听听听听听 Dr. Liu
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
听This preclerkship elective provides M1 and M2 students with structured exposure to musculoskeletal disorders and clinical research methodology within an active orthopedic surgery department. Under individualized mentorship from Dr. Liu and orthopedic surgery residents, students join ongoing research projects or develop independent inquiries, with the goal of contributing to publishable, peer-reviewed work.
The course offers flexibility in scope and scheduling: students may assist with data collection and analysis, co-author manuscripts, or lead a project from inception to completion. This experience is designed for students considering a career in orthopedic surgery or those seeking to build a competitive research portfolio for residency applications in surgical specialties. Students may enroll for one semester or multiple semesters across their M1 and M2 years, each with different projects, progressing from supporting roles to independent project leadership. Meetings may be held in person at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery or virtually, as appropriate.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:听
Upon successful completion of this elective, students will be able to:
- Describe the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management of common musculoskeletal disorders relevant to the ongoing topic. (MK-4)
- Apply fundamental clinical research methods鈥攊ncluding study design, data collection, statistical analysis, and ethical conduct鈥攖o orthopedic research questions. (MK-7, PBL-2)
- Demonstrate scholarly communication skills by contributing to manuscript preparation, poster presentations, or peer-reviewed publications. (IPC-2)
- Evaluate how clinical research informs evidence-based practice in orthopedic surgery. (MK-7)
- Exhibit professionalism, integrity, and collaborative conduct within a clinical research environment. (PB-1)
听METHODS OF TEACHING
听Students actively participate in research throughout the semester. While completion of a full project within one semester is not required, consistent engagement with the research team is mandatory. Activities include literature review, database management, data analysis, manuscript writing, and presentation preparation. Students work independently or alongside a resident, with regular one-on-one mentorship meetings to guide project development and foster critical thinking, interest, and problem-solving skills.
听METHODS OF ASSESSMENT AND STUDENT FEEDBACK:
Student performance will be evaluated at the completion of the elective based on:
- Quality and consistency of research participation
- Completion of assigned project tasks
- Scholarly output (e.g., data sets, abstracts, manuscript drafts, or presentations)
- Professionalism and collaboration with the research team
Students receive written and verbal feedback from the course director, with a mid-semester formative review to assess progress and adjust goals.
PREREQUISITES:
- Open to motivated M1 and M2 students interested in orthopedic surgery or musculoskeletal research.
- Enrollment is by permission of the course director. Students must submit a Letter of Intent and CV to Dr. Liu for consideration. Priority may be given to those with a strong interest in pursuing orthopedic surgery or other competitive surgical specialties.
ECC Approved
August 2026