Physician Scientist Pathway
The Physician Scientist Pathway (PSP) is a post-graduate training program within the Osler Medical Residency and the Bayview Internal Medicine Residency Program intended to produce clinically well-trained scientists with interests ranging from basic to translational and clinical research. Our goal is to recruit, inspire, develop and retain physician scientists who will make scientific breakthroughs for the future of medicine. This pathway formalizes a long tradition of these goals at Johns Hopkins.
About the Program
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine has long been at the forefront of medical education and the training of physician scientists. This environment affords trainees a wide range of research options within an institution with a strong historical commitment to the physician scientist model and with unparalleled mentorship, depth and breadth of scientific accomplishments, and spirit of discovery and innovation.
The program provides continued clinical and scientific education, mentorship, networking opportunities and career advice.
The goal of the Physician Scientist Pathway is to provide young physician scientists opportunities to flourish within their research in the biomedical sciences and to facilitate the early career development of individuals with the high potential to conduct transformative research to advance human health.
The Physician Scientist Pathway aims to:
- Expose trainees to broad intensive clinical training. Some of the most important research questions come from the bedside.
- Foster an environment of intellectual curiosity through exposure to PhD, MD/PhD and MD scientists throughout the University. This will occur through clinical rotations, journal clubs, specialized lectures and social events with Johns Hopkins scientists.
- Develop research goals and fellowship plans and facilitate meetings with Johns Hopkins researchers in the trainees’ area of interest.
Several reports published during the past 35 years have chronicled the decrease in physician-scientists in the biomedical workforce. Learn more about the JHSOM Physician Scientist Training Program.
Pathway Structure
The pathway consists of two or three years of intensive clinical work and is designed to meet all criteria required by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) for certification eligibility. Participants have the opportunity to enter the ABIM Research Training Research Pathway after two years in the standard program (i.e. subspecialty short track). This decision is made in consultation with the Program Director in the middle of the intern year and allows qualified candidates to begin their sub-specialty fellowship training in lieu of their third year of residency. This is not required and categorical (three years) candidates can also participate in the PSP. For more details of the ABIM Research Training Pathway see the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) report on physician scientists.
Activities in the pathway include an annual two-week PSP elective, elective time for research, and monthly seminars and meetings with PSP participants, PSP leadership, and scientists throughout the Johns Hopkins enterprise.