Tips & Guidelines

Guidelines for Scholarship Day Poster Presentations

1. Poster must fit on standard 40” x 60” foam core display board, which will be presented on an easel.
2. The poster must have a title with authors and institution listed. The title should be centered in the top-middle part of the poster.  Put the title text in a larger font than the text of the general pieces of the poster.
3. Research studies will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
   • Introduction – Background and Significance
     • literature review pertaining to the research question
     • relevance to family medicine
     • clearly stated hypotheses in a declarative form
     • innovativeness of the research
   • Methods
     • description of the methods to include supporting evidence for the validity of the assessment/measurement scheme.
     • appropriateness of the methods used to address the hypotheses
   • Results
     • description of the analyses
     • description of the results
     • are the results publishable and/or can be widely disseminated?
   • Conclusion
     • how the results inform the pertinent research literatures and the practice of family medicine
     • limitations of the study
   • Presentation
     • clarity of the format
     • visual appeal
     • sense of mastery of the study
     • poster presenter displayed passion/enthusiasm for project
4. Case studies will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
   • Introduction
     • literature review pertaining to the case
     • background of the case, including the disorder
     • gap analysis
     • relevance to family medicine
   • Case
     • relevant medical history of the patient (to include relevant positive and negative findings)
     • description of the patient’s symptoms and signs
     • description of the tests that were carried out
     • description of any treatment or intervention
     • description of the results of the treatment or intervention
     • is the case publishable and/or can be widely disseminated
   • Conclusion
     • how the case informs the pertinent research literatures and the practice of family medicine
     • how the case informs understanding of the disease etiology or treatment mechanism
   • Presentation
     • clarity of the format
     • visual appeal
     • sense of mastery of the study
     • poster presenter displayed passion/enthusiasm for project
5. Other projects (e.g., educational interventions, evidence-based reviews, etc.) will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
   • Introduction
     • literature review pertaining to the topic
     • relevance to family medicine
     • clearly stated problem statement or need for project
     • innovativeness of the project
   • Methods
     • description of the methods
     • appropriateness of the methods used to address the problem statement
   • Outcomes
     • description of the project outcomes
     • are the results publishable and/or can the project be widely disseminated?
     • project has wide-reaching impact – impacts many patients or practitioners
   • Conclusion
     • how the project can inform the practice of family medicine
     • limitations of the project
   • Presentation
     • clarity of the format
     • visual appeal
     • sense of mastery of the study
     • poster presenter displayed passion/enthusiasm for project
6. All criteria will be scored on a scale from 1 = “poor” to 5 = “excellent”.
7. Improving readability
   • Use a larger font than normal – 32 pt font works well for content. Title should be larger
   • Use boldface type.
8. Helpful hints
   • The text on the poster does not have to explain everything about the project.  Explain the most important information in a way to generate conversation, comments, and questions with those people reading the poster.
   • Graphs, tables, and drawings often work well for the results of the project.
   • Pictures and photographs may enhance the poster as long as they are large enough.
   • See “Tips for Designing Scientific Posters” for more hints.

Download Poster Presentation Guidelines*