Overview
The Department of Family Medicine and Public Health invites first-year medical students to join our ongoing research and apply for the Medical Student Research Program (MSRP)—an eight‑week, full‑time summer research experience designed to support early research engagement and mentorship.
Program Details:
- Duration: 8 weeks (Summer 2026)
- Student Commitment: 40 hours/week (includes MSRP didactic sessions)
- Stipend: $5,000 scholarship applied toward Fall 2026 tuition
- Enrollment: Should be/will be enrolled in MD ID 6001 course on Canvas for Summer 2026
- Available Projects: Listed below
- Applications Due: April 17, 2026
- Notification Date: May 4, 2026
- Start Date: June 22, 2026 - August 14, 2026 (If a different time frame is needed, that will need to be worked out with the faculty prior to the application submission and noted in the application on what time frame is planned.)
Next Steps
- Find a project of interest. See the below research projects we have available.
- Reach out to the faculty member (see email template) expressing your interest.
- Meet with the faculty member. (You should be scheduling this, not the faculty member.)
- Create an application. See MSRP RFP; faculty member should review prior to submission.
- Submit!
Available Projects
PI: Kelly Baron, PhD, Kelly.Baron@utah.edu
The goal of this project is to use a community-engaged, mixed-methods study to advance the understanding of how challenges to time use affect sleep and cardiometabolic health among women of color and plan for gender and culture-informed interventions to promote sleep and cardiometabolic health.
PI: Kelly Baron, PhD, Kelly.Baron@utah.edu
The goal of this project is to test effects of a sleep extension intervention on sleep and cardiometabolic health among adults with short sleep duration and elevated blood pressure.
PI: Katie Fortenberry, PhD, Katie.Fortenberry@hsc.utah.edu
The Community Health Centers, inc. (CHC) has been using the Wellness Family Assessment (WFA) encounter template for several years, to screen postpartum patients for common postpartum complications and morbidities. The purpose of this project is to assess both the utility of postpartum screening and how completely the WFA has been used in practice.
PI: Tiffany Ho, MD, Tiffany.Ho@hsc.utah.edu
This 8‑week summer research project will examine one specific health disparity among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults who have received care within University of Utah Health over the last 20 years. The project utilizes an existing longitudinal dataset that includes TGD adults (approximately 6000 people) who have and have not pursued gender‑affirming care, defined as “a patient-centered, individualized model of healthcare comprising a spectrum of social, psychological, behavioral, and medical interventions for transgender and nonbinary people.”
Example areas of focus (topics can be based on personal or professional interest):
- Social determinants of health
- Chronic disease burden
- Preventive care disparities
PI: Dusti Jones, PhD, Dusti.Jones@hci.utah.edu
This project involves a mentored narrative and/or scoping review examining the current literature on GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s), with an emphasis on clinical use, patient experience, and decision-making. GLP-1s are increasingly prescribed for metabolic and cardiometabolic conditions, yet important questions remain regarding adherence, prescribing rationale, lifestyle integration, and patient-reported outcomes.
PI: Joseph Stanford, MD, Joseph.Stanford@utah.edu
The Surveillance of Treatment and Outcomes in Restorative Reproductive Medicine (STORRM) is an IRB-approved registry for patients who received RRM treatment for subfertility or miscarriage at the University of Utah Natural Fertility Clinics. Many of the patients have metabolic/endocrine disorders contributing to their subfertility, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), insulin resistance, and pre-diabetes.
PI: Erika Sullivan, MD, Erika.Sullivan@hsc.utah.edu
Research focuses on laboratory monitoring in gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) of transgender and gender diverse people. For patients on testosterone-based GAHT (T-GAHT), we are looking primarily at the effects of testosterone on the development of secondary erythrocytosis. For those on estradiol-based GAHT (E-GAHT), we are studying the effects of spironolactone on potassium levels and progesterone on testosterone levels (and breast growth). Medical students would primarily be performing chart reviews in EPIC and get experience creating a data analysis plan and working closely with Dr. Sullivan and a biostatistician on generating abstracts and manuscripts.
PI: Sharon Talboys, PhD, Sharon.Talboys@utah.edu
This is a qualitative study using focus group discussions among various priority groups (rural, urban, low income, Spanish-speaking, and Medicaid/non/Medicaid, and families with children with special healthcare needs) to assess their awareness and opinions about the “medical home” concept in primary care. It is in collaboration with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services Maternal and Child Health/CSHCN Bureaus. Data collection is slated in Spring 2026 and a summer student researcher will assist with qualitative data analysis, reporting, and updating IRB documentation.
PI: Sharon Talboys, PhD, Sharon.Talboys@utah.edu
Engaged qualitative research/evaluation study being conducted in collaboration with the Adolescent Health Programs at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Phase I – Including summer 2026 involves qualitative research to assess health priorities and needs among Utah youth (Adolescents and young adults). As a community-engaged participatory study – we plan to engage youth in data collection and interpretation to inform ongoing advocacy and may lead to coalition-building.