The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV may be a young medical school, but it is rapidly making a name for itself due to its standout research activities. The school is home to Dr. Jeffrey L. Cummings, named the “World’s #1 Ranked Scholar” in the fields of dementia and drug development by ScholarGPS; Kavita Batra, powerhouse research machine who sits on several prominent journal editorial boards and collaborates with scientists and researchers worldwide; and Dr. Winn Chatham, who leads critical research on lupus therapies, was instrumental in establishing Nevada’s first rheumatology fellowship here at the school, and is positioning the school of medicine among the top academic research medical centers in North America. And those are just for starters.
It’s no surprise with such a growing dynasty of research superstars that the school is dedicated to expanding its research curriculum for graduate medical education (GME) and is set to launch a new research initiative later this year that will build on an already outstanding foundation for its residents and fellows, as well as students.
The driving force behind the expanding research curriculum and this new initiative is a group to be reckoned with: Dr. Deborah Kuhls, professor and acute care surgery chief in the department of surgery and associate dean for research; Dr. Kate Martin, professor in the department of family and community medicine, associate dean for graduate medical education, and designated institutional official; the aforementioned Batra, assistant professor, medical research biostatistician, and executive director of research and scholarly activity for the office of research; and Dr. Aditi Singh, professor and residency program director of the department of internal medicine.
The research curriculum was launched in the department of internal medicine in September 2022 by Batra and Singh. Initially informal and involving only a few residents, the program has since evolved into a structured and successful initiative. Within three years, it has been adopted by endocrinology, otolaryngology, pediatrics, and pediatric emergency medicine, with additional expansion expected.
“Research is a cornerstone of career advancement in medicine,” says Batra. “Most residents are eager to engage in research because it not only sharpens their clinical thinking but also builds a trajectory of professional growth.” She explains that early research experience often sets the tone for future opportunities. “Medical students who publish are significantly more competitive for the residency programs they desire. Likewise, residents who contribute meaningful, high-impact research during their training are far more likely to secure top-tier fellowships. It’s a continuous, strategic path where each stage of academic productivity opens the door to the next.”
Further building on these sentiments, Singh shared her perspective on the integral role of research in medical training. “In my view, research is a critical component of physician training and professional development, particularly for residents and subspecialty fellows.”
Its importance is underscored by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirement that scholarly activity be a core part of graduate medical education.
“In our department, we’ve streamlined this process through a structured research elective that gives residents dedicated time to work closely with Dr. Batra on well-defined projects. This approach not only cultivates critical thinking, but also supports the development of lifelong learning skills. To further promote collaboration and sustained engagement in scholarship, we’ve also launched what we call ‘Lean-In Groups,’ i.e. specialty-specific scholarly activity teams. These bring together residents, fellows, and faculty who meet regularly to share ideas, develop projects, and mentor one another. It’s a model that embeds research more deeply into the fabric of our training programs,” Singh adds.
Batra and Singh both acknowledge that none of the successes of the research curriculum would be possible without the strong leadership of Kuhls as head of the office of research and Martin as head of the office of graduate medical education.
“Supporting resident and fellow scholarly activity is a priority for the office of graduate medical education,” says Martin. “We have made a dedicated investment in funding opportunities for trainees to present their research at both national and international conferences. These efforts not only foster professional growth and academic engagement for our residents and fellows, but they also elevate UNLV’s visibility and reputation for clinical research excellence. It’s a clear win-win for our trainees and our institution.”
Set to launch later this year is a new self-paced program called RISE, which stands for Research Innovation and Scholarly Education. This initiative allows not only residents, but fellows, students, and even junior faculty to learn about research and how to get started.
RISE offers step-by-step support to help participants move from idea to publication. “RISE demystifies research,” says Batra. “It creates a clear, accessible path for aspiring scholars at every level.
“We intentionally build multidisciplinary teams,” she continues. “Each group includes residents, fellows, and medical students, creating a layered mentoring model that supports growth at every stage. The office of research, especially Dr. Kuhls, plays a pivotal role in setting up these teams. She has encyclopedic insight into our institution’s talent pool, which allows us to align people based on their strengths, interests, and potential for collaboration. This structure gives fellows and residents meaningful mentorship experience they can highlight on their CVs demonstrating who they mentored and the impact of that mentorship.”
Singh further adds, “While Dr. Batra and I provide ongoing guidance and support, we’re intentional about encouraging residents to take the lead with medical students. It allows them to experience the real rewards of mentoring, watching someone grow because their influence is not just fulfilling, it deepens their own professional development.”
Unfortunately, the biggest barrier for research in a resident’s training is time. “For internal medicine residents, for example,” says Singh, “their training is three years for general medicine, but there are so many clinical requirements, including the medical intensive care unit, cardiac care unit, hospital wards, continuity clinics, and a variety of different specialty rotations. Even though three years might seem like a long time, when you’re trying to incorporate all of the different requirements that are needed to be a competent internist, it becomes quite a challenge.”
Challenges aside, the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine is poised to be a leader in research for years to come.
“UNLV is a Carnegie Research 1 Institution, underscoring our commitment to research at the institutional level,” says Kuhls. “Collaborating with researchers throughout UNLV, as well as increasing many research resources at the school of medicine to support resident, fellow, student, and faculty research, we are intent to create new knowledge that improves the health of Nevadans.”
