Brody School of Medicine Distinction Track Programs
Professional development is enhanced by allowing students to independently pursue an area of interest reflecting the core values that led them to select a medical career. The Distinction Tracks allow motivated students to pursue these interests in a rigorous, longitudinal approach, culminating with a capstone portfolio. Mentors work closely with students throughout the 4 years of medical school, guiding and evaluating their progress.
Brody School of Medicine offers four Distinction Tracks related to core missions of the school. Together, these Distinction Tracks provide a mechanism to formally recognize the exceptional accomplishments of medical students.
Each of the four programs have unique content and learning objectives, but they use a similar adult learning theory model, emphasizing experiential learning and mentored project completion. However, leadership is component embedded in all of the programs. The specific capabilities and competencies are taught using different activities or experiences, but there are some unifying transformational leadership themes across each distinction track program. Leadership themes include: Leading Self, Leading Others, and Leading Change.
2024 Distinction Track and SSRP Orientation
The latest cohort of Distinction Track Scholars and Summer Scholars Research Program (SSRP) participants kicked off the summer’s activities on Monday, June 3rd at East Carolina Heart Institute at ECU for Summer Immersion Orientation. The full day of programming included an introduction to the Distinction Track Program and SSRP, leadership and IRB sessions, as well as engaging team-building activities organized by our friends at ECU Campus Rec & Wellness. The Distinction Track Class of 2027 scholars will be participating in sessions all summer within their specific tracks, while SSRP students will be assisting mentors on research projects chosen at the beginning of the year. This year, ten students from the ECU School of Dental Medicine are joining our BSOM students in SSRP. All students will proudly present the work completed this summer at the 27th Annual Medical Student Scholarship Forum, happening on Monday, July 29th at ECHI. We’re looking forward to a great summer! For more information, please visit our MSSF page.
Health System Transformation and Leadership
prepares students with advanced expertise in patient safety, quality improvement, and inter-professional team-based care, with emphasis on leadership and change management skill development.
Medical Education & Teaching
prepares students to be effective medical educators and develops their interest in academic medicine.
Research
allows students to pursue clinical, basic science and translational research to characterize the mechanisms of diseases and the therapies used to improve health.
Service-Learning
prepares, encourages and supports medical students who work domestically and internationally with medically under-served, marginalized, and rural populations during their medical school career.
Distinction Track Programs Fund
This fund provides support to the Distinction Track Programs within the Brody School of Medicine. Expenditures may be used for, but are not limited to, registration and travel for students to attend conferences or meetings, supplies needed for activities, event expenses, and other expenses related to the success of the program.