Part 2: Scholarly Research
After exploring how students begin building clinical skills at the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine (which was the first of our four-part series), the next step will be learning to interpret what they’ve learned and seen, into change in the communities they will serve.
In Part Two of this series, the focus now turns to scholarly research and how students will learn to translate data, understand health disparities, and advocate for underserved and rural communities through evidence-based research.
At the new School of Medicine – which is taking applications now for its first class in the summer of 2026 – scholarly research will serve as a bridge between patient experiences, community needs, and data-driven solutions. Students will not only be introduced to research methods, but will be guided in using data to better understand inequities in health outcomes across Southeastern North Carolina.
Research as Advocacy
At the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine, scholarly research is rooted in the school’s mission: “To prepare graduates to become socially accountable, community engaged, evidence-based, compassionate, and equity-focused physician leaders who help reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in southeastern North Carolina and beyond.”
That mission will shape how research is presented in the early student experiences and curriculum and meshed with clinical and community exposure.
“From the very first year, students work directly with community organizations and clinics, gaining first insight into the lived experiences and healthcare challenges faced by rural and underserved populations in Southeastern North Carolina,” said Miranda van Tilburg, Ph.D., associate dean for Research and professor of Health Systems Science. “These deep, real-world perspectives cannot be replicated through classroom instruction alone, or at institutions without early direct access to the communities they aim to serve.”
In Southeastern North Carolina, this approach is more important than ever. Eight counties in the region rank among those with the poorest health conditions in the state, a direct consequence of long-standing physician shortages across specialties.
To prepare students to step up to those challenges, the school of medicine requires that they must participate in a scholarly project focused on health equity or community health.
“Through a required scholarly project focused on health equity, our students learn how to transform this awareness into action,” van Tilburg said. “They will be asking meaningful community-rooted questions and generating data that can drive real-world impact.”
Patient-Centered Research
At the MU CFVH SOM, scholarly research is tied to patient care and engaging in community. Students will work with the people and populations they aim to serve, developing skills that will become increasingly important as the nation faces a growing physician shortage.
According to workforce projections from the Association of American Medical Colleges, by 2034 the United States is expected to face:
- A shortage of 17,800 to 48,000 primary care physicians
- A shortage of 21,000 to 77,100 specialty physicians
This keeps research focused on real people and the communities they live in while supporting the MU CFVH SOM’s mission of creating evidence-based care in the community.
To learn more about the full curriculum, admissions information, and upcoming deadlines and events visit methodist.edu/academics/medicine/.
Next in Our Series: Financial Aid
Part Three will highlight the financial aid at the MU CFVH SOM and explore tuition remission, student awards, and financial aid counseling.