Sustaining and growing the physician-scientist pipeline
The work of the physician-scientist is essential to uncovering scientific discoveries and developing new therapies, treatments and preventive care in our communities. Yet, the number of physician-scientists in the U.S. continues to decrease, resulting in a shortage of physician-scientists in academia, government, world health and industry. At The Ohio State University College of Medicine, we are committed to strengthening the physician-scientist pipeline to retain and increase the number of physician researchers working in the U.S.
Ohio State’s Office of Physician-Scientist Education and Training encompasses several programs that are designed to develop and train early-career physician-scientists, with the intent to:
- Provide early, intensive training to physicians interested in incorporating medical research into their career
- Promote collaboration and build supportive environments within the physician scientific community, where they can ask hard questions and pursue difficult problems
- Connect and engage trainees with faculty mentorship at Ohio State
- Increase the diversity of physician-scientists
Explore our programming:
Physician-Scientist Development Program
The Postdoctoral Physician-Scientist Development Program (PSDP) at Ohio State provides residents and fellows with clinical and research training experience in a variety of subspecialties while connecting them to postdoctoral research mentors. At the end of the program, PDSP trainees will be poised to begin a tenure track physician-scientist research career. This new program is led by physician-scientist Robert Baiocchi, MD, PhD, a specialist in hematology oncology and director of the internal medicine physician-scientist training program (PSTP).
Medical Scientist Training Program
Ohio State’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) prepares students to not only become physician-scientists, but leaders in research and health care. MSTP students receive extensive training in research and clinical medicine and are provided with support and mentorship to achieve their personal and professional goals.
Medical Student Research Program
Ohio State medical students have numerous opportunities to become involved in biomedical research while completing their medical degree. The Medical Student Research Program connects interested medical students to basic, clinical and translational research, mentors and funding opportunities. Medical students are encouraged to pursue research training throughout medical school, including during Med IV, where students have the opportunity to build upon the research foundation acquired during medical school and to earn an Advanced Competency in Research.
ASPIRE Medical Research Program
Designed for undergraduate students, the ASPIRE program encourages and supports students from historically underrepresented groups to pursue advanced education and careers as physician-scientists and health care providers. During the summer-long program, students receive mentorship from Ohio State faculty and gain experience working in world-class laboratories.