Process of discovery: A fourth-year translational science course

BACKGROUND The Liaison Committee on Medical Education notes the importance of educating medical students on clinical and translational research principles. PURPOSE To describe a fourth-year course, "Process of discovery," which addresses teaching these principles, and to discuss students' perceptions of the course. METHODS Core components and pedagogical methods of this course are presented. Course assessment was performed with specific pre- and post-course assessments. RESULTS During academic years 2004 to 2009, 562 students were enrolled, with assessment response rate of 94% pre-course and 85% post-course. The students' self-assessment of their current understanding of clinical and translation research significantly increased, as well as their understanding of how clinical advances will take place over the next decade. CONCLUSIONS A fourth-year course teaching clinical and translational research is successful, is seen as a positive experience and can meet the requirements for including clinical and translational research in the medical school curriculum.