This story was edited at 3:43 p.m. May 6, 2005.

by Brooke Bunch

Using a combination of humor and insight, OU-COM alumnus Charles T. Mehlman, D.O. (’89), M.P.H., kicked off the Alumni Research Series sponsored by the Office of Alumni Affairs, CORE Research Office and Student Government Wednesday, May 4.

Mehlman, the attending pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, discussed the importance of clinical research in the medical field.

According to Mehlman, the director of musculoskeletal outcomes research and the director of pediatric orthopedic resident education at the medical center, clinical research is critically important for any medical student.

“The most important skills we can ever teach you is the critical evaluation of the medical literature,” he told the students. “The day after you graduate, that medical knowledge has already started to depreciate. It’s all about life-long learning.”

In addition, said Mehlman, clinical research drives medical decisions in the 21^st century.

“We’re moving beyond the ‘I think therefore I am’ version of medicine to the state of ‘science dictates X, Y or Z treatment,’” he said. “We’re moving beyond what some would call an artisan approach to medicine and evolving into the scientific practice of medicine.”

According to Mehlman, OU-COM students should grasp the importance of clinical research because the pace of progress is slow.

“We need people to speed up the process,” he said.

In addition, said Mehlman, personal experience can be treacherous. Physicians need to go beyond personal experience and understand the importance of clinical trials.

“You must be an evidence-based physician,” he said.

Mehlman used the example of osteosarcoma in children and the progress made in chemotherapy since the 1970s, when prior to that period, incidences of childhood osteosarcoma were primarily fatal.

“In this instance, science guided treatment and produced incredible results for patients,” he said.

Mehlman also stressed that conflict of interest issues can be dangerous in medicine.

“They can push medicine and science in certain directions,” said Mehlman, who emphasized the importance of clinical trials.

Mehlman concluded by offering tips to the students on writing scholarly articles on scientific research.

“I was very impressed,” says Joy Matthews-Lopez, Ph.D., director of CORE research. “He was brilliant in his communication with the student audience. He was able to convey in less than an hour what we've being trying to say for two years: that is, solid research skills enhance clinical practice.”

“In this day of evidence-based medicine, the evidence comes from research. In order to use that evidence, one has to have knowledge and understanding of research.”

After graduating from OU-COM in 1989, Mehlman completed a rotating internship and an orthopedic surgery residency at Grandview and an internal medicine residency at Akron General Medical Center. After completing a pediatric orthopedic surgery fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, he went on to earn an M.P.H. degree in clinical effectiveness and outcomes research at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Mehlman is the first of four speakers to lecture this year for the series. The series, says Sharon Zimmerman, director of alumni affairs, will provide OU-COM alumni an opportunity to inspire and mentor students interested in research.