Medicine PSTP

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. Graduates from non-U.S. medical schools are welcome to apply. Successful applicants will exhibit commitment to a career in academic medicine as a physician-scientist.

Program Coach

As the needs of each trainee are unique, trainees will be appointed a program coach at the beginning of their internship year to develop an individualized training program. The program coaches, who are successful physician-scientists, will meet regularly with trainees to assist with major decisions, such as subspecialty choice, selection of a research adviser and additional didactic training.

Clinical Training - Internal Medicine Training

Trainees participate in the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Research Pathway, 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, 24 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.

Clinical Training - Clinical Fellowship Training

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

Research training can be completed under the mentorship of any faculty member at Northwestern University. Applicants will be encouraged to interview potential research advisers before or early during their clinical fellowship training. Final selection of a research adviser will be made with the assistance of the program coach. During research training, an advising committee consisting of the program coach, research adviser, and divisional and departmental leadership and administration will be formed to assess the trainee and ensure progress toward independence.

There is a tremendously broad range of potential research advisers available to PSTP participants. All of the department’s subspecialties are engaged in innovative research with an emphasis on interdisciplinary projects. The department has the most funding of any department or center at the university with more than 500 awards totaling more than $110 million. To learn more about the research interests of Department of Medicine faculty, visit individual faculty profiles, as well as the research interests of faculty throughout the medical school who mentor graduate students in the Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences.

Didactic Training/Seminars

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 Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences. All trainees will participate in the Ethics in Biomedical Research Course required by the National Institutes of Health, the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation or the Master of Public Health.

Beyond participation in the numerous seminar series available through the medical school, trainees will participate in activities designed specifically for the PSTP. 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 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 Department of Medicine’s PSTP are guaranteed support for their clinical training years and three years of research training. They are also guaranteed a position in the fellowship program of any of the 12 clinical divisions in the Department of Medicine. 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 5 is the final year of the PSTP for General Internal Medicine. PGY5 positions may be at the clinical instructor level with supplemental support included as part of instructor level compensation.

*Year 6 is the final year of the PSTP for Allergy/Immunology, Endocrinology, Geriatrics, Palliative Care, Infectious Disease, Nephrology and Rheumatology. PGY6 positions may be at the clinical instructor level with supplemental support included as part of instructor level compensation.

**Year 7 is the final year for Cardiology, Critical Care/Pulmonary, Hematology/Oncology, and Gastroenterology/Hepatology. For these subspecialties, PGY7 positions may be at the clinical instructor level with supplemental support included as part of instructor-level compensation.

Applicants should apply to the Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP, 2247140C1) of the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University through Electronic Residency Application Service. Applicants may also apply to the Categorical Internal Medicine track (2247140C0) if they would like to be considered for the traditional three-year residency program.

In addition to their application through ERAS, applicants should submit the online PSTP application. If not already included in ERAS, applicants should also submit a letter of recommendation from their principal research mentor. Additional letters to support an applicant and their research potential may also be submitted if desired.

 ** The deadline to submit an application is October 6, 2023 at 11:59 PM Central Time. Applications received after the deadline unfortunately will not be honored. **