MPAS Capstone Project Proposal Submission (2026-2028 Cohort)
Due Date: Friday, 21 August 2026

Overview:
The MPAS Capstone Research Project is a scholarly experience of 18-months designed to immerse Physician Assistant students in applied health research. This initiative emphasizes mentorship, research literacy, and real-world impact, while accommodating the timeline and clinical demands of the MPAS program.
Research project proposals are being solicited for consideration. All feasible projects fitting the parameters outlined below will be offered to the students. Student preferences will drive the matching process, to take place from September - October.

Project Characteristics:
  • Duration: 18 months (~2–4 hours/week; ~200 hours total)
  • Structure: Milestone-based with quarterly check-ins with MPAS faculty, and a final presentation.
  • Format: Normally individual, but may form a self-contained part of a larger project or team.
  • Supervision: Any U of S faculty member (including adjuncts); co-supervision with external faculty and/or clinicians allowed.
  • Scope: Includes chart reviews, surveys, prospective data collection, literature reviews, educational scholarship, and even bench research, or any other methodology upon consultation with the course instructors. MPAS students will be required to participate in a scoping review as part of their program, which may form part of the capstone project if the topics align.
  • Outcomes: By June/July 2028, a final written report or manuscript draft, oral presentation, and participation in internal capstone symposium. Development and participation in a conference oral or poster presentation is encouraged.
Supervisors are expected to:
  • Provide mentorship and guidance over the project duration.
  • Participate in regular check-ins (recommended biweekly or monthly).
  • Assist students in navigating ethics applications and operational approvals, if not already completed.
  • Ensure the project remains feasible and on track with milestones.
  • Review and provide feedback on student deliverables including literature reviews, data analysis, and final reports.
  • Support students in preparing for poster presentations and internal symposium.
  • Maintain professional communication and uphold academic standards.
  • Notify MPAS faculty of any concerns or delays in project progress.
Students are expected to:
  • Dedicate approximately 2–4 hours per week to the project averaged over the program length (~200hr total).
  • Maintain regular communication with their supervisor and MPAS faculty.
  • Complete required ethics training (TCPS2 CORE and HiREB tutorials if applicable).
  • Meet all project milestones including literature review, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
  • Submit a final written report or manuscript draft (maximum 3,500 words)
  • Prepare and deliver an oral presentation at the internal capstone symposium.
  • Uphold academic integrity and professionalism throughout the project.
  • Notify MPAS faculty of any challenges or delays in project progress.
Ethics:
All students must complete the TCPS2 Tutorial (CORE) and, if applicable, the HiREB Chart Review Tutorial. Projects involving human participants, biological materials, or secondary data require ethics approval from the University of Saskatchewan Research Ethics Board. Early ethics application, even at the proposal stage, is encouraged.

Project Screening Guidelines
Projects will be screened by MPAS research co-chairs to ensure:
  • Feasibility within the timeline and student time commitment.
  • Relevance to medicine, clinical practice, or health systems.
  • Clear and achievable objectives and methodology.
  • Appropriate supervision by U of S faculty (co-supervision allowed).
  • Ethical compliance and readiness for REB submission if required.
  • Defined deliverables including final report and presentation.
  • Suitability for student skill level and available resources.
  • Alignment with MPAS program goals and educational outcomes.
SUBMISSION:
Please submit project proposal in the template below.

Questions may be directed to the MPAS Research and Evidence-Based Medicine co-chairs:
Dr. Robert Henderson (robert.henderson@usask.ca), or
Dr. Scott Tunison (scott.tunison@usask.ca)
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Email *
Title of project *

Provide a concise and descriptive title that reflects the core focus of the research.

Lead Supervisor Name and Department *

- Full name
- Institutional affiliation(s)

Principal and Co-Investigator(s), Collaborators and Affiliation *

List all investigators and collaborators, including:
- Full names
- Institutional affiliations
- Roles in the project (e.g., Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, Clinical Collaborator)

Project type *

(e.g., chart review, survey, etc.)

Project Summary (Approx. 250 words) *

Summarize the project, including:
- Background and rationale
- Research question or hypothesis
- Relevance to clinical practice, health systems, or medical education
- Feasibility within the MPAS timeline and student workload

Research Objectives *

Clearly state the aims of the project. Include:
- Primary objective(s)
- Secondary objective(s), if applicable

Methodology *

Describe the research design and methods, including:
- Type of study (e.g., chart review, survey, prospective data collection, literature review)
- Data sources and collection methods
- Analytical approach
- Tools or software to be used
- Any anticipated challenges and mitigation strategies

Expected outcomes *

Outline the anticipated results and deliverables, such as:
- Final report or manuscript draft
- Oral presentation at the capstone symposium (date TBD 2027)
- Potential for conference presentation or publication

Timeline and milestones *

Provide a timeline aligned with the 12–18 month project duration, including:
- Key milestones (e.g., ethics approval, data collection, analysis, report writing)
- Suggested check-in points with the student

Ethical considerations *

Indicate whether ethics approval is required and include:
- Status of ethics application (e.g., not started, submitted, approved)
- Type of approval needed (e.g., TCPS2 CORE, HiREB)
- Plans for supporting the student through the ethics process

Additional notes

E.g., if student already identified.

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