Training and Mentoring Medical Students Across the United States to Conduct Human Rights Health Research.

Abstract

Problem: Despite strong interest, medical students lack training and opportunities to conduct human rights health research. The Physicians for Human Rights Student Advisory Board (PHR SAB) is a national organization of medical students with the resources and organizational leadership to address this gap. This article outlines the multifaceted approach of the PHR SAB to train students in impactful human rights research.

Approach: The PHR SAB established 3 aims: (1) empower students in human rights research, (2) create mentorship opportunities, and (3) recognize impactful research. In response to a national needs assessment, the PHR SAB created a Research and Development (R&D) Committee to implement human rights research infrastructure. R&D was designed with intentional leader selection, accountability measures, decentralized leadership, national organization supervision, a shared mission statement, and longitudinal planning for sustainability.

Outcomes: Beginning in 2023, R&D pursued 3 initiatives to accomplish its aims. First, a mentorship pathway was established to connect students to PHR-affiliated researchers, which has benefited 23 students leading to 6 publications. Second, a free, web-based research toolkit was created to guide students with limited research skills in project design, to date utilized by 47 students. Third, research dissemination, recognition, and presentation opportunities were formalized through a national conference, newsletter, and student awards, which have allowed 72 students to present original research. In total, over 150 students have participated in and benefited from these initiatives.

Next steps: PHR SAB is piloting a nationwide database of asylum medico-legal evaluation outcomes and conducting an expert consensus study on priority areas for immigration research, both to be launched throughout 2025, which will address common barriers of limited primary data and limited project ideas. By defining the approaches, challenges, and next steps of our research infrastructure, this blueprint can assist other regional and national medical student organizations to build research opportunities.