The Summer Student Research Program was established in 1986 and provides a limited number of undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in a clinical research study and a medical curriculum organized by Hawai‘i Pacific Health.

The program is designed to expose students to the “real world” of medicine.  It provides hands-on experience to discover how clinical research can be integrated into a medical career.  Each student is matched with a Principal Investigator (PI) and his or her clinical research project; usually a pilot study. 

1. Conduct a literature review and summarize the findings.  This serves to familiarize the student with the current state of knowledge as well as to provide a basis for the introduction and discussion for their presentation and final paper.
   
   
2. Participate in the design of the data collection instrument.The data collection instrument must be well thought out in order to obtain the information necessary to answer the research questions.
   
   
3. Collect study data through reviewing medical records or other means.
   
   
4. Develop a computer database or continue one already established; enter data and validate it.
   
   
5. Analyze data (with assistance), applying appropriate statistical tests and interpreting the results.
   
   
6. Prepare a final report including the documentation of study methods, analysis of findings, and sufficient information that a project may be completed or interpreted after the student leaves.
   
   
7. Present research subject matter and results to an audience of health care professionals and other guests,using appropriate audio-visual aids.

One other component of the SSRP is "Healthy Living," a community service event organized and presented by the Research Scholars for the members of the Lanakila Multipurpose Senior Center.