Physician-Scientist Training Program

Training for residents utilizing the American Board of Internal Medicine Research Pathway

The Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is committed to the career development of physician-scientists and provides an outstanding environment for receiving exceptionally high-quality clinical and research training.

The Physician-Scientist Training Program utilizes the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Research Pathway to facilitate combined clinical and research training of individuals who are committed to careers in academic medicine. Training is enhanced by membership in the Harrison Society.  

Opportunities for future leaders in academic medicine

Since 1999, the Vanderbilt PSTP has attracted incoming residents who seek high-quality clinical training combined with cutting-edge research opportunities and who aspire to become future leaders in academic medicine. Sixty-nine alumni have completed the program since its inception. Today, 32 residents and fellows representing 23 different medical schools are enrolled in the program.  We matriculate up to seven trainees each year. Two-thirds of our trainees hold combined MD and PhD degrees. 

Career development for physician-scientists

The mission of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program is to promote discovery of new biomedical knowledge and translation of this knowledge to patient care through the training and development of physician-scientists.  

The Vanderbilt Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP) is strongly committed to the career development of physician-scientists who utilize the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Research Pathway to facilitate combined clinical and research training.  

Training is enhanced by membership in the Harrison Society, a select peer group of physician-scientists in training. The Society facilitates mentoring by Vanderbilt faculty and distinguished visiting professors. 

Specialized Research Training

Trainees complete two or three years of internal medicine residency, and most pursue clinical fellowship training in medicine sub-specialties. The clinical training phase is followed by three years of either basic or clinical research training (80% effort) to qualify for board eligibility in Internal Medicine through the ABIM Research Pathway.  

During the research phase of training, there is the option of pursuing a master's degree in one of three disciplines: Public Health, Clinical Investigation or Biomedical Informatics. Trainees engaged in translational or patient-oriented research may elect to pursue a PhD during their residency or fellowship years as part of the Clinical Investigator Track of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP-CIT). Time spent earning advanced degrees is considered part of the research training period.  

Research training may take place outside the Department of Medicine in one of Vanderbilt’s exceptional basic science departments or research centers. The PSTP offers a high degree of flexibility in designing individual training programs. All trainees have a primary research mentor and receive frequent career counseling by the PSTP director throughout their residency, fellowship, and beyond.  

We aim to attract the best and brightest trainees who seek a top-quality clinical experience coupled with cutting-edge research opportunities and who aspire to become future leaders in academic medicine.  

Internal Medicine Research Pathway Requirements

Internal Medicine Training24 months
Meaningful patient responsibility20 months
Research Training (80%)36 months
Clinical training during research (20%)1 day/week
Total training5 Years
Internal Medicine examinationAug., PGY-5


Subspecialty Research Pathway Requirements

Internal Medicine Training24 months
Meaningful patient responsibility20 months
Subspecialty clinical training12 to 24 months*
Research Training (80%)36 months
Ambulatory clinic during research training (10%)1/2 day/week
Total training6 or 7 years*
Internal Medicine examinationAug., PGY-4
Subspecialty/AQ examinationNov., PGY-6 or 7

* depending on the subspecialty


The Vanderbilt Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP) thrives on the educational and training benefits that flow from having a diverse cohort of trainees, mentors, and colleagues. We celebrate the contributions of diverse perspectives to our program and the ripple effect this has on the medical center community at-large.   

The Vanderbilt PSTP embraces a collaborative model to support our physician-scientist trainees who come to our program with unique abilities, interests, and scientific pursuits. Our passion for science is rivaled only by our passion for justice in healthcare and the broader community.  

Our philosophy of equity, diversity, and inclusion is grounded in the understanding that we become better learners and practitioners when we are working alongside people who may be different from us, so we strive to create opportunities for our trainees to learn from diverse peer groups and faculty mentors throughout all phases of their training.  

We believe that it is our collective diversity that expands the experience and knowledge base in the physician-scientist workforce, so we are committed to sustaining an environment that is supportive of our trainees and their ability to bring their whole selves to work.   

Relevant Links:  

Applications for the Physician-Scientist Training Program are processed through ERAS ONLY.  

Applicants interested in applying to our PSTP:  

  • Please select: Int Med/ABIM Research Path - code 1702140C1.  
  • Email Sarah Andrews, Program Manager, notifying her of your intention to apply to the PSTP.  

Please note, there is no supplemental application. Applicants should describe in their personal statement:  

  • Future research interests 
  • Subspecialty training interests 

There are four (4) two-day interview dates for the 2023-2024 interview season:  

  • November 15-16, 2023  
  • December 13-14, 2023  
  • January 10-11, 2024  
  • January 24 - 25, 2024  

Contact us: 

Sarah Andrews, Program Manager
Physician-Scientist Training Program 
Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center 

Phone (615) 936-3940 

Email: sarah.a.andrews@vumc.org  

Trainees receive an academic enhancement allowance of $9,000  that is available to them throughout their training to help with the purchase of books, software and computer equipment, professional memberships, and travel to scientific meetings. Base salary level during the research training phase is commensurate with postgraduate year plus a $15,000/year supplement.  

The salary supplement is increased to $25,000 during the final year of research training if a trainee submits an application for an NIH K-award or equivalent extramural career development grant.  

During the research years, trainees are supported initially by institutional training grants or the equivalent and then are encouraged to pursue individual fellowship awards.  

The success rate among trainees in obtaining extramural funding has been extremely high. For example, our trainees have a >70% success rate in obtaining NIH Loan Repayment Awards to help relieve them of debt incurred during medical school. During the later stages of their research training, trainees are encouraged to apply for NIH K awards and other similar funding mechanisms to enable their transition to an independent faculty position.  

Trainees are also eligible for an intramural Vanderbilt Physician-Scientist Development Award which can provide a similar bridge between fellowship and faculty positions. In many cases, senior trainees have been promoted to Instructor (non-tenure track faculty appointment) at a commensurate salary level while they complete their training. 

Sarah Andrews, Program Manager
Physician-Scientist Training Program 
Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center 

Phone: (615) 936-3940  

Email: sarah.a.andrews@vumc.org  

Program Leadership

Patrick J. Hu, MD, PhD

Director, Physician-Scientist Training Program 

Executive Secretary, Harrison Society

Donate

to the Tinsley Randolph Harrison Society

Your generosity to The Tinsley Randolph Harrison Society, named for Vanderbilt's first chief resident in Medicine, helps provides support to residents in the Physician-Scientist Training Program as they pursue clinical and basic research.

Donate Now