Physician-Scientist Training Program

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

Subspecialty Research Pathway Requirements

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:  

• VUMC/VU Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence  
• VUMC Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Disability   
• Department of Medicine Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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.