Training & Curriculum
The Neurology Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP) is focused on preparing academic neurologists for careers as independent physician-scientists. PSTP trainees will complete a medical internship year followed by neurology residency, in which the rotation schedule is optimized to allow the trainee to identify a mentor early and begin meaningful research training. Neurology PSTPs are expected to publish and present their work performed during residency and receive additional financial support during residency to attend conferences.
Depending on their interests, trainees will be eligible for early match to an accredited subspecialty fellowship program at Cedars-Sinai, or may devise their own non-accredited subspecialty fellowship program under the guidance of clinical and research mentors.
Fellowships
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Accredited Fellowships
For ACGME-accredited fellowships (Cedars-Sinai Neurology & Neurosurgery Felowships), PSTP trainees meeting performance expectations will be eligible for early match to the subspecialty program of their choice, and can continue their research efforts while becoming subspecialty board eligible. Subsequently, they will undergo two years of mentored research training, typically maintaining no more than 20 percent clinical effort.
Non-ACGME Accredited Fellowships
For non-ACGME-accredited fellowships, PSTP trainees will develop a two- to three-year program unique to their interests that includes additional subspecialty clinical training, together with mentored research training. Typical effort for this program would include no more than 20% clinical effort, with the remaining time dedicated to mentored research training.
For most applicants, acceptance into a specific subspecialty fellowship program occurs during the first year of residency and is contingent on successful completion of residency training.
Mentorship
At the beginning of PGY-1 (intern year), the PSTP trainee is assigned an adviser to help navigate the institution and identify an appropriate research mentor. A research mentor is formalized by the start of fellowship training. After choosing a mentor, a career development committee will be established.
This committee comprises the research mentor(s), the PSTP director and 3 additional faculty members who have established track records of training physician-scientists. The committee is focused solely on the career development of the PSTP trainee. The committee members will be available as an additional resource for the trainee to discuss scientific and career questions throughout the training period.
Additional information
All PSTP trainees receive support to present their research at one national or international conference per year throughout the entirety of the program.
Seminars and courses on a variety of topics such as grantsmanship, biostatistics, bioethics and career development, among others, are offered annually to enhance the training experience during the research training years. For trainees in the Internal Medicine PSTP track, the ability to obtain a Master's in Health Delivery Science is also possible. Please visit the following websites for more information:
- PhD Program in Biomedical and Translational Sciences
- Clinical Scholars Program
- Clinical and Translational Science at Cedars-Sinai
- Master's Degree in Health Delivery Science
At the successful completion of the PSTP training, candidates that have shown fidelity to the mission of the training program will be provided an opportunity to become a faculty member to continue their career development toward an eventual establishment of an independently funded research program.
Have Questions or Need Help?
If you have questions or would like to learn more about our training programs, please contact: