Purpose
The CRSTI Student Intern Program is designed to introduce college and upper level high school students to the medical research environment. This will include concepts and applications of clinical and pre-clinical research, basic scientific principles, clinical outcomes, data collection and management, medical education and training programs and the administrative support of these activities relative to a Medical Research Organization.

Method
During the eight week program (June 9 – August 1) students will rotate through several areas, experiencing the medical research environment. Each intern will spend 3 weeks in research, witnessing some of the most technologically advanced systems being researched in relationship to cardiac disease.

Two weeks will be spent in Quality and Outcomes, experiencing the data collection, analysis, and statistical review used in improving patient care delivery, CRSTI has been a pioneer in the advancement of Quality and Outcomes and is nationally recognized for their Outcomes studies.

Students will spend one week of concentrated clinical experience, shadowing physicians and health care professionals, recognized nationally and internationally as pioneers in the field of cardiovascular medicine, and observing procedures such as angiograms, bypass surgery and transplantation.

And finally, two weeks are dedicated to the completion of a research project. Interns will be given a research project, assigned at the beginning of the internship with work continuing throughout the eight week program, involving data collection, critical thinking, analysis and a written abstract.
Findings and abstract will be presented by Intern to the research group at the conclusion of the internship.

Work on the research project may result in publication in a medical journal, or presentation of research at a medical symposium. Students will be matched with a physician mentor and staff mentor, observe surgical cases, assist in patient enrollment and interact with several areas of cardiovascular medicine. Intern Hours will be 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. However, hours may be modified at the discretion of the Intern Coordinator to accommodate meetings, surgeries, etc.

Application Process
Applications for Internship will be accepted from February 1 - February 22. All applications must be complete and received in the CRSTI office by 5 pm February 23. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Applicants must provide the following:

• Typed, double-spaced essay, 3-5 pages in length:
  The essay should address why the student is interested in the medical field, what qualities/experiences would make them a good intern candidate, and what they hope to gain/accomplish from this experience.
• Two (2) letters of recommendation (at least one letter should be from a teacher/professor, school counselor or administrator)
• Transcript
• Application
  Download the application in Adobe Acrobat format here.

Select candidates will be interviewed in March.
Candidates will be notified of their status, via mail, by April 8, 2008.
Completed applications should be mailed to:

CRSTI
Intern Program Director
7777 Forest Lane C-742
Dallas, Texas 75230

Qualifications
Students must posses a minimum grade point average of 3.2 (4.0 scale), an interest in medicine and research, and be willing to commit to the Internship schedule. Applicants must be high school seniors,
or college (undergraduate any level) at the time of application. Applications from international students currently enrolled in US educational institutions with a valid student visa are accepted.

Stipend
Interns will receive a certification of program completion and a stipend of $2100 upon successful completion of the program. Students who do not complete the entire rotation will receive a proportionate share of the stipend based on the completed portion of the program. Transportation and housing are the responsibility of the Intern.

Program Description :

• I. Clinical & Pre-Clinical Research Interns will have exposure to clinical research design, observe patient enrollment procedures, cutting edge research and participate in data collection and management. In addition, the intern will receive an overview of regulatory requirements, literature research, summary methodologies and scientific methods.
  
  
• II. Quality and Outcomes Interns will have exposure to data collection programs, data entry, and participate in site visits and medical chart audits, when appropriate. Interns will receive an overview of data element definitions and relations. As well as participate in database queries and reporting.
  
  
• III. Clinical Experience Interns will have the option of spending one day each with the following:
  non-invasive cardiologists, invasive cardiologist, cardiothoracic surgeon, cardiac catheterization lab, perfusionists, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or an alternate experience may be arranged based on the individual intern.
  
  
• IV. Research Project and OtherInterns are matched to a physician mentor, staff mentor and a research project based on their ability, maturity and level of education. Interns will be responsible
  for completing the project during the eight week program. Students will observe surgical and
  non-surgical procedures, conduct literature searches, collect and analyze data and complete an abstract with research findings.
  

2008 Independent Student Research Program
June 9 - August 1

Purpose
The CRSTI Independent Student Research Program is designed to further develop the student’s medical research skills. Available only to students who have successfully completed the CRSTI Internship, this program further develops and sharpens the student’s ability to conduct scientifically valid research, conduct analysis and report findings. .

Method
Students are assigned a research project, physician mentor and staff mentor based on their ability, maturity, level of education, and past internship experience. Independent Research Students work 20 (twenty hours) a week. Schedules are flexible depending on the research project and stage of completion.

Application Process
Applications for the Independent Research Program will be accepted from February 1 until February 22. Applicants must provide the following:

• Written statement of interest in the program, including what the student hopes to gain from this experience beyond what they achieved in the internship. Statement should not exceed two pages.
• Two (2) letters of recommendation (at least one letter should be from a teacher/professor, school counselor or administrator)
• Transcript
• Application
  Download the application in Adobe Acrobat format here.

Interviews will be conducted in March.
Candidates will be notified of their status, via mail, by April 8, 2008.
Completed applications should be mailed to:

CRSTI
Intern Program Director
7777 Forest Lane C-742
Dallas, Texas 75230

Qualifications
Students must have successfully completed the CRSTI Internship Program prior to application.

Stipend
Research students will receive a certification of program completion and a stipend of $1500 upon successful completion of the program. Students who do not complete the program will receive a proportionate share of the stipend based on the completed portion of the program as determined by the Program Coordinator.

Program Description
Interns are matched to a physician mentor, staff mentor, and a research project based on their ability, maturity, level of education, and previous internship experience. Research Students will be responsible for completing the project during the eight week program culminating in the writing of an abstract, manuscript or both. Research students will have the option of observing surgical and non-surgical procedures, as they desire. Research students will be expected to conduct literature searches, collect and analyze data, and report research findings. Research Students are welcome to attend any Internship meeting or presentation at the discretion of the student.

If you are interested or would like more information on the Intern Program, please contact us by e-mail at mbruns@crsti.org or by phone at 972-566-6820.