Participants will explore the latest advancements and best practices in clinical research, broadening their knowledge of research methodology, so that by the end of the nine-month training they can be confident in designing and performing clinical research, analyzing and interpreting research data, as well as master the know-how and how-tos of successful grant proposals and leading clinical teams.
Participants of Harvard Medical School’s Clinical Science Scholars Program at Semmelweis University will also develop a research proposal in the framework of a capstone project, with the top ten submissions being presented in a webinar and the top three at the final workshop.
Dr. Zsófia Drobni is a resident at the Department of Cardiology and completed the program in the first academic year 2023-2024. “I applied for the training to further my knowledge and gain new methodological skills that would be useful in my research and clinical work. I particularly appreciated the practical approach to the training. I found the capstone project to be the most useful, where I had to develop and write a research plan and prepare an abstract, very similar to the one required for a National Institute of Health grant proposal. My topic was a randomized trial to investigate whether we can improve CT image quality in patients with atrial fibrillation when performing coronary CT by giving beta-blockers to reduce the heart rate. We received regular feedback from faculty throughout the project, so I was constantly able to fine-tune my work. I usually went over the videos and materials in the evenings and on weekends. The assessments were not that difficult but rather helped us to keep on track and not fall behind. The program met my expectations to the fullest; a great community formed during the training and I feel that these professional relationships will last in the long run.”
Three workshops – one in Budapest, one online, and one in Boston – form the backbone of the program. The curriculum is structured in five modules: epidemiology, research ethics, biostatistics, clinical trials, and leadership/teamwork.
Workshop dates:
- WS1 July 14 – July 17, 2025 (Budapest)
- WS2 November 3 – November 6, 2026 (Online)
- WS3 March 17 – March 20, 2026 (Boston)
Dr. Tamás Hegedüs, a clinical physician at the Clinic for Prosthodontics and Head of the Alumni Directorate, is a member of the 2024-2025 cohort and considers it a unique opportunity to have an HMS training program available in Central Europe. “The methodology, especially the high-level biostatistical methods, will definitely be beneficial for my clinical work and future research in preparing and evaluating trials and conducting research in international affiliations. Many of my classmates are engaged in similar fields, so the program is also useful for networking. In between the three intensive training weeks that form the core of the program, we are engaged in mandatory or optional webinars, quizzes, or assignments, which require approximately 5-6 hours per week. We have access to a common knowledge platform where further literature related to the training is also available. We are working in international, multidisciplinary groups of five during the training. One of the tasks involved putting together a hypothetical research plan. My group includes plastic surgeon, pulmonologist, and cardiologist participants besides me, so the focus is really on learning research methodology, such as epidemiological aspects, target group selection, and using statistics software. In some cases, we can freely choose the topic of our research, and in others, we have to decide on a hypothetical study based on a data sheet. In the presentation to be submitted, we always have to specify what area of the task each person was responsible for, so the program also puts a strong emphasis on real, effective teamwork.”
Under the terms of the agreement between Semmelweis University and Harvard Medical School Postgraduate Medical Education, the Foundation for National Health Care and Medical Education will fund 50 percent of the tuition fees of fifty Semmelweis Citizens.
Applications for the program are open on Harvard Medical School’s website, where prospective participants can submit their CV, cover letter and letter of recommendation. Applications close on June 18, 2025.
For further questions, please contact learn@hms.harvard.edu (program specifics) or scholarship@semmelweis.hu (tuition reduction).
Judit Szabados-Dőtsch
Photos by Attila Kovács, Boglárka Zellei – Semmelweis University; Dr. Zsófia Drobni
