UCSD Pediatric Physician Scientist Training Program

The Department of Pediatrics at UC San Diego offers a robust Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) designed to foster scientific inquiry throughout physician training and to cultivate the next generation of fellows and faculty for our department. This program is tailored for residents with MD/PhD degrees or those with a strong research background who aspire to academic careers with a research focus.

The PSTP aims to seamlessly transition residents into UCSD pediatric subspecialty fellowships upon completion of their residency. This continuity supports ongoing research projects and enhances the integration of clinical training, preparing trainees for successful academic faculty roles.

Our PSTP provides research-focused residency training through the American Board of Pediatrics Integrated Research Pathway and Accelerated Research Pathway. Residents who excel in the PSTP are guaranteed a fellowship position at UCSD in their chosen subspecialty area.

Research Opportunities and Engagement

Residents in the Pediatric PSTP benefit from full access to a dynamic research community both within UCSD and at leading institutions throughout San Diego. UCSD and our Department of Pediatrics boast a robust research portfolio, offering trainees the opportunity to connect with mentors and collaborators across various fields of medicine and science. Our Pediatrics Department has consistently ranked among the top 10 pediatric departments nationally in NIH research funding over the past five years, and the Blue Ridge Institute for Research recognized UCSD as #5 in the nation for NIH funding among U.S. Departments of Pediatrics in its 2019 rankings.

Residents and fellows at UCSD have the flexibility to select mentors and research programs not only within UCSD but also at esteemed collaborating institutions in San Diego, such as the Scripps Research Institute, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, and the La Jolla Institute for Immunology.

Our Pediatrics Department is home to numerous distinguished Pediatrician-Researchers, many of whom have been developed within or recruited to our department. They thrive in an engaging and collaborative research environment that spans UCSD Health Sciences, including the Medical School, Pharmacy School, and the new School of Public Health, as well as aligned basic science and engineering departments within the broader university.

The PSTP leverages the exceptional scientific expertise and physician scientists at UCSD/RCHSD by actively involving trainees in a wide range of research activities. Our Department provides an outstanding environment for research, teaching, and career advancement in biomedical sciences.

Resident scholars are supported through structured mentorship programs, specialized educational curricula, and enriching retreats and workshops, including:

UCSD/RCHSD Annual Pediatric Research Symposium

Showcases outstanding research from across the Department, including faculty, fellows, residents and students. Promotes collaboration and highlights high impact breaking discoveries
Research and poster presentations are showcased

UCSD/RCHSD Pediatric Grand Rounds

Features world-class physican-scientists from across the U.S. as part of weekly Grand Rounds
Grand Rounds mentorship Breakfast: invited illustrious physician-scientist speakers meet with trainess for informal discussions on research, academic pediatrics, career development, and networking

Annual AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting

PSTP residents are invited and supported to attend this Joint Meeting annually.
Attendance with Department Chair, Dr. Haddad, and PSTP leadership
Networking Luncheons

Support for travel and presentation at national meetings

PAS
AMSPDC
Other subspecialty conferences

Scholarship Oversight Committee (SOC)

Committee of 3-4 individuals, including research PI, with goal advise the resident on their research project and provide career mentoring and feedback
Provide support and guidance to PSTP residents
Begins in residency for IRP residents, and during fellowship for ARP residents

Fellow Research Seminar Series

PSTP residents are invited to attend this longitudinal series showcasing trainees research and focused on curricula to develop scientific projects
IRP pathway resident present current research in 2^nd/3^rd year

Major Interdisciplinary Research Centers at UCSD Health Sciences fostering cutting edge science and collaboration:

UCSD Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute
UCSD Institute for Genomic Medicine (IGM)

Programmatic Support and Scheduling

We work with each resident to develop a personalized schedule that works best for them and their goals.

Accelerated Research Pathway (ARP): 2 years of residency followed by a 4-year subspecialty fellowship that includes an extra year for research
Integrated Research Pathway (IRP): 3 years of residency including up to 11 months of research integrated into your residency schedule residency followed by a 3-year subspecialty fellowship

The Integrated Research Pathway (IRP) facilitates early research engagement during residency. Interns in this pathway have dedicated rotation time to explore potential research labs and mentors. In the second and third years, residents benefit from research blocks that can be tailored to either integrate research with clinical rotations or focus on extended periods of research. According to ABP guidelines, IRP residents become board-eligible for Pediatrics after completing their first year of fellowship. Each IRP resident is supported by a Scholarship Oversight Committee, which regularly meets to provide guidance and mentorship.

PSTP Resident/Leadership Dinners and Happy Hours offer a platform for residents and program leaders to discuss individual progress and program development. These events are a key part of our commitment to continuous improvement and feedback.

Additionally, PSTP resident socials provide opportunities for residents in the track to connect, socialize, and foster a sense of community.

Mentorship

Mentorship is crucial for developing a successful academic research career, and we take pride in the robust, personalized mentorship we provide to each resident in the Physician-Scientist Track. Residents are paired with both pediatric physician-scientist mentors and research-specific mentors aligned with their interests. Our PSTP Scientific Advisor, Dr. Brent Polk, meets regularly with residents to offer guidance, track their progress, and ensure they receive the support necessary for their success. Supporting and advancing the careers of physician-scientists is a fundamental goal of our Department of Pediatrics.

Fellowship Opportunities

The Department of Pediatrics has active fellowships in all areas of pediatrics. Successful Physician-Scientist track residents are anticipated to enter a fellowship at UCSD. Mentoring and career development opportunities within the residents chosen subspecialty division begin during residency.

T32 Training Grants- numerous training grants across UCSD

AMSPDC PSDP : We have been very successful in securing Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs (AMSPDC) fellowship training awards
Twice monthly research symposia
Access to the UCSD Clinical Research Enhancement through Supplemental Training (CREST) program

Transition to Faculty Positions

UCSD Pediatrics is committed to recruiting and retaining our trainees as faculty members.
Funding for a 4th year of fellowship
Mentorship for NIH training grants (K08, others)
NICHD K12 Child Health Research Career Development Award Program - “Developing diverse physician-investigator leaders for the future of child health."
Collaborating centers based in pediatrics

Junior Faculty Opportunities

The Department of Pediatrics has a strong track record of mentoring our junior pediatric faculty in

the K series and junior faculty have been successful in competing for higher-level NIH grants and have transition successfully to independent faculty. The Department has extraordinarily expanded its faculty (double) and research base (triple) in the last 10 years.

Child Health Research Career Development Award (CHRCDA)

Robust NIH award within the Department of Pediatrics with the goal to Develop Diverse Physician-Investigator Leaders for the Future of Child Health”

provide our young faculty scholars with a period of extended research training by proven, committed mentors in cutting-edge, high-level NIH-funded, basic and basic/translational research laboratories at UCSD Health Sciences

Comprehensive Research Center of Excellence in Minority Health and Health Disparities (CRCHD)

Partnership of UCSD with San Diego State University School of Public Health and the County of San Diego Public Health
Recruits, retain, and mentors women and URM faculty

UCSD National Center of Leadership in Academic Medicine (NCLAM)

7-month Health Sciences faculty development program committed to providing Assistant Professors with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to make successful transitions to careers in academic medicine
Emphasizes on understanding of the UC San Diego Health Sciences educational mission as well as the research and clinical practice environment.
includes faculty development workshops, a junior/senior mentoring relationship based on a key professional development contract, academic strategic career planning, and individual academic performance counseling sessions

Dr. Adriana Tremoulet, MD in the Department of Pediatrics serves as an Advisory Board Member.