Physician-Scientist Track — AP

Applicants seeking an investigative academic career have the opportunity to combine their residency training in Pathology with two or more years of post-doctoral level training in any of the research laboratories at the Yale School of Medicine and Yale University. Trainees may also combine their research training with a subspecialty Pathology fellowship of their choice.

Admission to this track requires acceptance into the Pathology Residency Program through the ACGME Match.

Features/Requirements of the Physician Scientist Training (PST) Program in Postgraduate Pathology - for Residents

1. Admission to our ACGME residency program as either AP or AP/CP trainee. All admissions are through the Match.
2. PST trainees must meet all residency requirements and ACGME milestones throughout their clinical training.
3. PST trainees receive preferential consideration for the clinical fellowship of their choice.
4. “Laboratory Shopping” is encouraged during the formal ACGME training period.
5. While there are advantages to working closely with Faculty affiliated with Pathology, trainees may select any laboratory at Yale School of Medicine or Yale University in which to conduct their research, with approval from the PST program director.
6. Trainees will be fully supported (salary) at the appropriate PGY level for the first two years of research training.
7. Successful receipt of a research fellowship is NOT a requirement of the program. Support is guaranteed regardless of extramural funding, although PST trainees are required to apply for extramural funding.
8. Trainees participate and present routinely at Departmental Research in Progress (RIP) seminars.
9. Part-time laboratory research may be combined with subspecialty clinical fellowship training.

Mentoring Process After Acceptance into the Physician Scientist Training (PST) Program - for Residents

1. In the beginning of the first year (July or August), PST trainees will meet with the director of the PST program to discuss their career goals and interests and the identification of possible mentors. Trainees will be encouraged to visit multiple potential mentors and attend at least one or two lab meetings before choosing the initial research mentor.
2. By June of the PGY-1 year, PST trainees will have identified potential research mentors. During the trainees’ clinical years, they should plan to meet regularly with these mentors, and attend lab meetings or journal clubs to the extent possible given the demands of their clinical rotations. While one of these mentor(s) is likely to be the mentor chosen for the PST-supported research years, trainees are not bound to any mentor until the inception of PST support for the laboratory phase of their training.
3. The decision of the mentee to work in the mentor’s lab is confirmed by a signed agreement prior to the beginning of supported PST funding. The mentee must commit to 40+ hours per week and the mentor must commit to a minimum number of hours per month devoted to meeting with the mentee. Suggested interaction time is minimum 30 minutes per week. The selected mentor must agree to comply with the requirements for interaction.
4. Within the first month of PST funding, the mentee must create a PST Research Committee. This must include the mentor and two other scientists who are knowledgeable in the research area of the mentee and mentor. The mentor should help select this committee.
5. By the end of the 3rd month of PST support, the mentee must submit a research plan to his or her Research Committee. The plan must be approved by the mentor prior to committee submission, and should be kept to between 1 and 3 pages including the following sections: 1) Introduction and Hypothesis, 2) Specific Aims, and 3) Approach and Methods.
6. The Research Committee must approve the PST plan.