Physician Scientist Training Program

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Physician-Scientist Training Programs (PSTP) provides training to physicians who have a MD or combined MD/PhD degree with strong commitment to becoming physician-scientists.

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Physician-scientists are physicians who devote regular components of their professional effort seeking new knowledge about health, disease, or delivery of patient care through research. Physician Scientist Training Programs (PSTP) are post-graduate training programs that aim to recruit highly qualified candidates who are committed in pursuing a career as an academic physician scientist. These programs may integrate residency training, clinical fellowships, and basic and clinical postdoctoral training to facilitate the transition period between MD/PhD, DO, and MD degrees and first faculty position.

The RiR model allows for usually 1-2 years of protected time to engage in research during residency training. 

Umbrella PSTPs are institution wide that are broad programs seeking to develop an institutional culture that promotes the growth and diversity of the physician scientist workforce at all levels of education and training ranging from undergraduate and medical school to trainees transitioning into faculty positions.

As you explore the PSTP option, this site enables you to ask good questions and make informed decisions. You should also contact each PSTP program to get answers to specific questions.

Specialties 

 

Webinars

Informational Series: Training Opportunities for Physician Scientists (TOPS)

The AAMC subcommittee on Training Opportunities for Physician Scientists (TOPS) announces a virtual discussion series for students interested in applying to research residencies. These 90min sessions are exclusively for students to get more information about: research residencies generally, individual specialties, individual programs, and the application process, and to directly ask their questions to PSTP directors, trainees and fellows who are in, or have recently completed research residencies.

Go to Archive to watch call recordings. Contact science@aamc.org with questions.

Program Events

Do you have an upcoming virtual event for PSTP or RiR applicants or future physician-scientists that you want to promote nationally?  Send the title, date and time, of your event, and a link to the online information to great@aamc.org and we’ll post it here. 

Medical Scholars Research Fellowship (MSRF) program

Podcast: Behind the Microscope - Preparing early: What to think about in your 1st and 2nd Med School Year with Dr. Michael Donnenberg

Podcast: Behind the Microscope

Resources

Postgraduate Training For MD-PhDs Optimizing The Path to Independence

Physician‐scientists in the United States at 2020: Trends and concerns

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MD-PhD Dual Degree Training

Information on how to become a research physician, also known as a physician-investigator or a physician-scientist.

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