Program Overview
The STAR-PSTP provides an ideal environment to support residents committed to pursuing physician-investigator careers following clinical training. With its demanding schedule, residency may disconnect residents from their research interests. The goal of STAR-PSTP is to seamlessly integrate residents into the research community at UCLA, keeping them engaged with their research goals while expediting required clinical training in residency and facilitating additional protected time for research in fellowship.
Educational Goals
STAR-PSTP residents are provided multi-level mentorship by the Department of Medicine (DOM) leadership, Specialty Training and Advanced Research (STAR) Program leadership, faculty mentors, and STAR fellows. There is also access to monthly STAR Seminar Series and research-focused social events to support ongoing research career development. The focus of DOM’s Internal Medicine Residency Program is rigorous clinical training to prepare physician scientists to become excellent clinicians. For our STAR-PSTP residents, we provide a guaranteed fellowship position at UCLA, contingent upon the successful achievement of all required clinical milestones. Expectations regarding the accelerated "fast-track" pathway vary across subspecialty divisions. We are committed to proving we are the ideal place to train and practice, and most of our STAR trainees choose to stay on faculty after they complete their training. Thus, when you interview for STAR-PSTP you are effectively interviewing for fellowship and a recommendation for a junior faculty position at UCLA. The goal of STAR-PSTP is create a nurturing environment that supports this developmental trajectory.
Curriculum Highlights
Education
STAR-PSTP residents are invited to all STAR program events (monthly seminars, research presentations, and annual symposium), with a requirement that they attend at least four seminars. Monthly seminars/roundtable discussions include research presentations by fellows or visiting investigators, workshops on applying for a K award, techniques for writing grant proposals, and identifying research mentors. STAR-PSTP residents may also present a poster of current or prior research at the STAR Symposium.
Community & Networking
STAR-PSTP residents are integrated into the vibrant research ecosystem of the Department of Medicine with connections to a range of research faculty. PSTP residents have frequent opportunities to engage with STAR fellows, alumni, and program leadership at STAR events, as well as activities of the subspecialty division. In addition, PSTP residents gather quarterly with STAR-PSTP leadership in informal settings. PSTP residents are also invited to join with programs and resources made available by the research pathway of the internal medicine residency program.
Mentorship
STAR-PSTP residents receive multilevel mentorship including a current STAR fellow “big-sib,” quarterly one-on-one meetings with STAR-PSTP leadership, and connections with faculty in their research areas of interest including those in their subspecialty
Career Development Fund
Department support is available to fund residents to make presentations of original research at regional/national scientific meetings. STAR-PSTP residents additionally have funding available to attend meetings for professional development and networking.