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 postgraduate 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 great@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
Resources
Postgraduate Training For MD-PhDs Optimizing The Path to Independence
Physician‐scientists in the United States at 2020: Trends and concerns