title: Cleveland Clinic's summer research program in reproductive medicine: an inside look at the class of 2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The American Center for Reproductive Medicine's summer internship course in reproductive medicine and research at Cleveland Clinic is a rigorous, results-oriented annual program that began in 2008 to train both local and international students in the fundamentals of scientific research and writing. The foremost goal of the program is to encourage premedical and medical students to aspire toward a career as a physician-scientist. The internship provides participants with an opportunity to engage in original bench research and scientific writing while developing theoretical knowledge and soft skills. This study describes selected survey responses from interns who participated in the 2014 internship program. The objective of these surveys was to elicit the interns' perspective on the internship program, its strengths and weaknesses, and to obtain insight into potential areas for improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were structured around the five fundamental aspects of the program: 1) theoretical knowledge, 2) bench research, 3) scientific writing, 4) mentorship, and 5) soft skills. In addition, an exit survey gathered information on factors that attracted the interns to the program, communication with mentors, and overall impression of the research program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The opportunity to experience hands-on bench research and scientific writing, personalized mentorship, and the reputation of the institution were appreciated and ranked highly among the interns. Nearly 90% of the interns responded that the program was beneficial and well worth the time and effort invested by both interns and faculty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcomes portrayed in this study will be useful in the implementation of new programs or refinement of existing medical research training programs.
authors.affiliation: American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.|Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Damayanthi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Durairajanayagam
authors.affiliation: American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.|SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kashou
authors.affiliation: American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.|Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Sindhuja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tatagari
authors.affiliation: American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.|Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.|Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cirenza
authors.affiliation: American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; agarwaa@ccf.org.
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D009820:Ohio; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: biomedical research; medical education; medical students; program development; program evaluation; research training; summer internship; translational medical research