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New SACA task force to help foster student interest in research
NUHS DC student Gregory Roytman will co-chair a newly created Student American Chiropractic Association (SACA) task force aimed at engaging more students with research.
“Research is a crucial part of operating an evidence-based practice,” Roytman said. “We want to encourage students to start reviewing and understanding research as early as possible.”
The SACA Research Task Force includes chiropractic medicine students from various colleges. As part of their first initiative, the group will create a Facebook page that regularly posts research resources. Beyond single studies, the task force will take a more comprehensive focus by posting articles that bring together multiple papers.
Regularly reviewing research papers has several advantages, according to Roytman. “Students will be able to better determine good studies from the bad more objectively,” he said. “We can also better interpret certain findings and determine how to use them in practice.”
Another goal of the group is to make chiropractic research more accessible so students can learn from a broader range of research topics even as they go on to private practice. While clinicians typically review new research everyday, they are often limited to one or two academic journals due to cost.
However, initiatives like RRS education, a chiropractic continuing education service free to SACA and American Chiropractic Association (ACA) members, can help students and clinicians gain better access to more research papers. The task force hopes to raise awareness about these kinds of resources.
In addition to reviewing research, Roytman encourages students to conduct research, as well. Various grant-funded research projects take place on campus.
“It’s as simple as having a question about a body mechanism or wondering why a certain outcome happens,” he said. “You also get to meet people and talk about topics beyond those taught in class.”
Starting in their third trimester, students have several options available to them for conducting research, including working part-time as a research assistant, fellow or after graduation as a full time resident.
“Research is a great way to further your understanding of a field and any specialties you may be interested in,” said Gregory Cramer, DC, PhD, NUHS Dean of Research. “With many projects taking place right on campus, students have a wonderful opportunity to pursue a wide range of research topics that interest them.”
For more information on how to get involved with research visit the NUHS website.