The Department of Medicine encourages applications from individuals who plan careers as physician scientists. This program is designed to attract individuals who have experience in biomedical research, want to devote time during their residency to research development, and are planning to develop fundamental skills and expertise in research to conduct rigorous and original clinical investigation.

 

The mentorship of these residents is a major priority for our training program. We therefore offer the Research Pathway option for certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine. We have also established the Haynes Society to enhance mentorship of physician scientist during their training.

 

 

 

This training program is designed for residents committed to careers as physician scientists with an emphasis on laboratory investigation. There is no limit to the number of residents who can participate in the program. These residents typically have a PhD degree or have had significant experience in the laboratory setting prior to residency.

 

But more importantly, the trainees in this program will have made a clear commitment to a future career in fundamental research. We fully anticipate that many of the participants in this program will emerge as national and international leaders in biomedical research.

 

 

 

 

Residents will complete 24 months of clinical training in internal medicine with at least 20 months of direct patient responsibility; this schedule is identical to the typical schedule for categorical residents. The option of two years of clinical internal medicine training requires demonstration of clinical competence and the approval of the program director.

 

If residents plan subspecialty fellowship training, they will apply for fellowship during the first year of residency. Residents often complete their subspecialty clinical training immediately after the initial two years of residency, but this timing is ultimately decided by the fellowship program director. Subspecialty clinical training lasts from 12 to 24 months depending on the choice of subspecialty.

 

 

 

The Research Pathway includes 36 months of research training, and 80 percent of time must be devoted to research. Up to 20 percent of each year may be spent in clinical work. The plan for research training will be developed by the fellow in consultation with the fellowship program director and research mentors.

 

Fellows have the option of graduate and post-graduate level course work that is applicable to their research. Fellows have the option of spending two to three month rotations in different laboratories to explore potential research options, or they may begin their research program immediately if they have selected a mentor.

 

By the end of this research training period, fellows are expected to be ready to apply for funding such as the Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08).