“It is the oldest statewide family medicine research forum in the U.S., originally hosted by MSU,” said planning committee member and associate chair for research and academic affairs in the Department of Family Medicine Dr. Henry Barry in an email.

About eight MSU research projects will be presented at today’s conference between both the oral and poster presentations for all students, residents and faculty.

“We put a lot of tough work and time into the research, and it’s nice to finally have the opportunity to present what we think are very important things,” third-year MSU medical student Skyler Johnson said.

Johnson will be presenting his five-person team’s research on the impact of educational debt on medical students’ lives at the conference. Other research being presented includes “Experiences of Women Family Doctors in Rural Communities,” by MSU’s Sarah Hartwick, and “Parental Perceptions of Their Child’s Weight in Primary Care,” by Edwin Mangune of St. John Hospital and Medical Center.

“(We want) to inspire students and residents to do research when they’re training or finished,” University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine conference assistant Blythe Bieber said.

Since the time the conference originally was founded by MSU 35 years ago, the event has changed from MSU as the sole host to a rotation each year by the universities. University of Michigan is the primary host of this year’s conference.

“It speaks volumes to the faculty and their willingness to teach and interact with the students,” said Johnson of MSU’s continued sponsorship of the conference.

Each oral or poster presentation will be reviewed by a panel of judges for placement in several categories, Barry said. Criteria for winning projects include high ratings in areas such as the importance of the topic to patient care, the methodologic rigor, how well the presenter communicated his or her work and whether the methods supported the conclusions.

“People attending see the broad array of research being done across the state,” Sandra Spoelstra, a presenter for a winning presentation last year, said. “It improves the family practice program that Michigan State has.”

Many organizers and participants said the group discussions and the exchange of ideas are what make the day truly important.

“There is an incredible level of energy,” Barry said. “It’s a very rewarding day for the faculty, as well as for the people who are presenting.”