The Development of a Structured Mentored-Research Program at an Institution without a Home Program

Background: Opportunities for plastic surgery research are often limited at medical schools without a home residency program. To address this gap at the University of Toledo, we developed a structured mentored research initiative designed to connect interested students with an experienced faculty mentor and provide a framework for project development, collaboration, and scholarly output. Methods: An open call for participation was distributed via the Plastic Surgery Interest Group’s institutional listserv to first- through fourth-year medical students in October 2024. Applicants were organized into research “families” of 5–6 students. An introductory session outlined available resources, research design principles, and program expectations. Students then proposed project ideas to an affiliated plastic surgeon serving as the primary investigator. A structured project timeline of approximately 7 months was established, during which families participated in 6 scheduled progress evaluations to ensure consistent advancement toward project completion. Results: Fifty-one applications were received, resulting in the formation of nine research families, each consisting of 5–6 students. Across all families, 9 unique projects were initiated, spanning topics such as orthoplastics to wound healing. Of these, three families currently have manuscripts under journal review, four families are finalizing drafts for submission, and two families have been lost to follow-up. To date, two students have presented their work as oral presentations and two as posters, including two oral presentations at national conferences and two posters at regional conferences. Three students received awards recognizing excellence in research or presentation quality. The primary challenges identified included limited prior research experience, competing academic demands, and coordination among group members. Conclusion: Implementation of a structured, mentor-driven research program at an institution without a home plastic surgery department demonstrated strong student engagement, productive mentor-mentee relationships, and measurable scholarly output. Future directions include identifying mentors at other institutions to foster connections with academic plastic surgeons and expand networking opportunities, as well as refining the student selection process to identify highly motivated and research-oriented participants, thereby enhancing project completion and overall program efficacy.