Research in Medicine

The moment a medical student begins asking deeper questions, medicine moves forward. Why does one patient respond to treatment while another does not? How can disease be detected earlier? How can care be delivered more effectively in rural communities? 

Every advance in medicine begins with curiosity—and with the skills to pursue answers grounded in evidence.

At Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine, these questions are not reserved for later in a physician’s career. Through a distinctive, long‑standing program known as Research in Medicine (RIM), students begin learning how discovery shapes care from the very start of medical school.

For decades, RIM has helped medical students become not only excellent clinicians, but thoughtful investigators who understand how new knowledge is created, tested, and translated into better patient outcomes. Students at Dalhousie’s Halifax campus and the Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick campus in Saint John have benefited from this experience for many years, gaining early exposure to the vital role physicians play in advancing medical research. The impact of that early exposure often shapes their professional lives long after graduation.

Now, with the launch of the Cape Breton Medical Campus in Sydney and the arrival of its first class of 30 medical students this past fall, this powerful learning experience is expanding to a new generation of future physicians.

Learning to ask the right questions

Unlike traditional coursework, the Research in Medicine program is a longitudinal experience that spans the full four years of medical school. Beginning in the first year and continuing through graduation, students learn how research informs clinical decision‑making and improves patient care.

Through RIM, students develop essential skills to critically evaluate scientific evidence, interpret data, and apply emerging knowledge in real‑world clinical settings. Just as importantly, they learn how to ask meaningful questions—questions that challenge assumptions and lead to better care.

“The value of the Research in Medicine (RIM) program lies in its flexibility,” says Dr. Sarah Burm, Associate Professor and Education Research Scientist in the Office of Continuing Professional Development and Medical Education (CPDME) at Dalhousie University and RIM unit head. “We encourage students to pursue research projects that spark their curiosity and align with their interests.” 

Each student undertakes an independent research project under the guidance of an experienced faculty mentor. Together, students and mentors develop a research proposal, conduct the work, and share findings with the broader medical community. The experience often includes a summer research studentship, opportunities to present at scientific conferences, and in some cases, publication of findings that contribute to improvements in care.

By learning research through hands‑on experience, students cultivate curiosity, discipline, and confidence. By the time they graduate, Dalhousie MD students see themselves not only as consumers of medical knowledge, but as professionals with a responsibility to contribute to its advancement.

“Our goal is for students to engage with research problems that allow them to apply their developing knowledge in ways that can create meaningful change within the communities they belong to and those in which they will eventually practice,” says Dr. Burm. 

A program with a legacy of impact

The success of the Research in Medicine program over several decades has been made possible in large part through philanthropy. Across Dalhousie’s Halifax and New Brunswick campuses, generous donors have established named endowed awards that provide annual stipends to medical students undertaking their RIM projects.

These awards ensure that every student has the opportunity to devote meaningful time to research during one of the most formative periods of their education. Year after year, donor support has enabled hundreds of students to explore questions that span clinical care, population health, and biomedical discovery.

Many RIM alumni have gone on to become clinical researchers, innovators, and physician leaders whose work advances medicine across Canada and beyond. Through their generosity, donors have helped create a culture of inquiry that is now woven into the fabric of Dalhousie’s medical education.

A new chapter in Cape Breton

That culture of discovery is now expanding with the creation of the Cape Breton Medical Campus—a partnership between Dalhousie University and Cape Breton University designed to strengthen family and rural medicine in Nova Scotia.

This fall marked a historic milestone as the campus welcomed its first class of 30 medical students. These learners will complete their first two years of study in Sydney before entering clinical training across rural communities throughout the province. The program emphasizes family medicine, rural practice, and culturally responsive care for Indigenous and African Nova Scotian communities.

“The expansion of RIM to Cape Breton is both timely and exciting,” says Dr. Burm. “Broadening the reach of the program will allow students to grow their academic networks and connect with researchers and community partners, opening the door to future collaborative opportunities.”

Training physicians in the communities where they are most needed has been shown to increase the likelihood that they will choose to practice in those regions. Just as importantly, training in these settings inspires research questions rooted in local health needs—questions that can lead to meaningful, community‑driven solutions.

Like their classmates in Halifax and Saint John, every Cape Breton medical student will participate fully in the Research in Medicine program, bringing fresh perspectives and new ideas shaped by rural and community‑based experiences.

Supporting the next generation of discovery

As the RIM program expands to include the Cape Breton Medical Campus, the Faculty of Medicine is committed to ensuring these students have access to the same opportunities that have benefited learners for decades.

The addition of 30 new medical students creates the need for 30 new annual RIM awards, ensuring that each student receives a research stipend during their project. These awards provide more than financial support—they give students the time, focus, and flexibility needed to fully engage in research.

For some students, RIM ignites a lifelong career in discovery. For others, it instills a lasting habit of inquiry that shapes how they practice medicine and improve care for patients throughout their careers. In every case, the impact extends far beyond medical school.

Shaping the future of medicine

The journey from discovery in a laboratory or community setting to a treatment used by physicians can take more than a decade. Every breakthrough begins with a question, followed by the curiosity and determination to pursue an answer.

Through the Research in Medicine program, Dalhousie medical students begin that journey early. For generations, donors have made this experience possible for students in Halifax and New Brunswick. As the Cape Breton Medical Campus begins its first chapter, the Faculty of Medicine looks forward to working with partners and supporters to extend this powerful legacy.

Sometimes, the most meaningful advances in medicine begin with a simple question—and a student encouraged to pursue it.