 | "I chose the NU PSTP because of my strong interest in both medicine and basic science. The program offers the perfect balance between clinical training and research that in indispensable to my development as a physician scientist."
- Egon Ozer MD PhD
University of Iowa |
The Department of Medicine’s Physician-Scientist Training Program at the Feinberg School of Medicine focuses on the transition period from graduation with an MD or combined MD/PhD degree to appointment to a full-time academic position as a physician-scientist. Beyond training in the Categorical Internal Medicine Training Program at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University and the Feinberg School of Medicine, trainees accepted into the program will be guaranteed a position in the fellowship program of any of the eleven clinical divisions in the Department of Medicine and a minimum of $75,000 of support during clinical and research training. Biographical Sketches of Current PSTP Participants 
This program is designed for individuals who are entering internship with either a combined MD/PhD degree or an MD degree with a record of intensive research experience. Successful applicants will exhibit commitment to a career in academic medicine as a physician-scientist.  | As the needs of each trainee are unique, trainees will be appointed a program mentor at the beginning of their internship year to develop an individualized training program. The program mentors, who are successful physician-scientists, will meet regularly with trainees to assist with major decisions, such as subspecialty choice, selection of a research mentor, and additional didactic training. |
Trainees are encouraged to participate in the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Clinical Investigator Track, which allows completion of internal medicine training in two years and initiation of subspecialty fellowship training during the PGY-3 year. As per ABIM requirements, 20 months of direct patient care responsibility will be performed. Training at Northwestern provides the opportunity to care for a diverse patient base and interact with our numerous and talented clinical faculty members. Clinical rotations will encompass both inpatient and outpatient rotations at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and VA Chicago. A laboratory rotation during the PGY-1 or PGY-2 year may also be possible. Applicants will fulfill the required clinical fellowship training as determined by their subspecialty board. This is typically one year of intensive clinical training with maintenance of a subspecialty clinic during subsequent years.  Research training can be completed under the mentorship of any faculty member at Northwestern University. Applicants will be encouraged to interview potential research mentors before or early during their clinical fellowship training. Final selection of a research mentor will be made with the assistance of the program mentor. During research training, a mentoring committee consisting of the program mentor, research mentor and at least one other faculty member knowledgeable in the chosen area of research will be formed to assess the trainee and ensure progress towards independence.
There is a tremendously broad range of potential research mentors available to PSTP participants. Northwestern University received over $157 million in NIH research funding in FY04, almost $43 million in the Department of Medicine alone. To learn more about the research interests of Department of Medicine faculty, visit the “Faculty” and “Recent Publication” pages of the Divisional websites, as well as the research interests of faculty throughout the Medical School who mentor graduate students in the Integrated Graduate Program in the Life Sciences. To support research activities, the Feinberg School of Medicine has a large number of Shared Research Resources or “core” services available. |
Depending on the needs and interests of trainees, additional didactic training is available during years three through six of the program. Trainees will be able to audit courses offered by the Integrated Graduate Program in the Life Sciences, the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation or the Masters of Public Health programs at the Feinberg School of Medicine. All trainees will participate in the Ethics in Biomedical Research Course required by the National Institutes of Health.  | Beyond participation in the numerous seminar series available through the Feinberg School of Medicine, trainees will participate in activities designed for the Physician Scientist Training Program. These include a bimonthly evening seminar series that allows trainees to meet with faculty members to discuss topics in molecular medicine and other issues related to biomedical research and career development as physician-scientists. Interested residents, fellows and Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) students are also invited to attend. An annual meeting of PSTP participants will be held to allow senior trainees to discuss their research projects. |
Trainees in the Physician-Scientist Training Program are guaranteed support for their clinical training years and three years of research training. Trainees in their research years will be encouraged, with the support of their research mentor, to seek outside support to help facilitate their transition to independence. In addition to salary support for postgraduate years one through six as stipulated by the Office of Graduate Medical Education, the following financial support will be provided to trainees: | Year 1 | Internship | $4,000 | support for travel to a national meeting, journals, etc. | Year 2 | Junior Residency | $4,000 | support for travel to a national meeting, journals, etc. | Year 3 | Clinical Fellowship | $7,000 | support for a computer and software, travel to a national meeting, journals, etc. | Year 4-6 | Research | $20,000 | $15,000 to supplement salary; $5,000 to support travel and other expenses |
Applicants should apply to the Categorical Internal Medicine Training Program of the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University through ERAS. In addition to their application through ERAS, applicants should submit the PSTP application. Please download the PSTP Application Document. If not already included in ERAS, applicants should also submit a letter of recommendation from their principal research mentor. Copies of all available published research publications should be sent to Dr Wayne at the address below. Additional letters to support an applicant and his/her research potential may also be submitted if desired. For more information, or to submit an application, contact:
Diane Wayne, MD
Director, Residency Program
Department of Medicine
Galter 3-150
251 East Huron Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611-2908 |
