Psychiatry Residency Physician-Scientist Training Program

The Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) is designed to successfully train physician scientists to be the next generation of leaders in academic psychiatry.

The program integrates clinical and research training cementing the resident's identity as both a physician and researcher.

The program is open to one resident per year.

Successful completion of a MD or DO degree and significant research experience or a PhD in a relevant scientific area are required for admission.

Program Leadership

• Mark Ehrenreich, MD
  Program Director

• Todd Gould, MD
  PSTP Research Director

Training Program Overview

PGY 1 & 2

During the first half of the residency training, PSTP residents focus on clinical training, finding a primary research mentor and defining their scientific interests. During the PGY 1 Year, the residents will spend 1.5 months on the research unit at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (MPRC). In the PGY-2 year there are three continuous months of protected research time, during which the resident will not have call duties.

PGY 3 & 4

In the second half of their residency, PSTP trainees will have an extensive mentored research experience. PSTP trainees will continue to design and refine their research project, generate and interpret data, present, publish and lay the groundwork for an independent career. The PSTP trainee will have 20% (third year) and 75% (fourth year) protected time for research.

Research Training

The primary research training experience will be a mentored research experience. Our research leading faculty engage in many disciplines within psychiatry and neuroscience, with research opportunities ranging from the bench to the bedside.

Each PSTP trainee will be required to select a primary mentor in the first year of their residency, who will work with the trainee in developing a research project and will engage the trainee in ongoing work within the laboratory of the mentor.

The PSTP trainee will also be expected to select a secondary mentor prior to the middle of their second year of residency. The secondary mentor will provide mentorship on career development and augment the training from the primary mentor if needed. The resident – in coordination with their primary mentor – will complete an "individualized development plan" by the middle of their PGY-2 year.

Manuscript Writing Training

Training in grant and manuscript writing is a critical focus for future independent investigators and as such, PSTP trainees will have the option to enroll in courses through the University of Maryland School of Medicine Office of Research Career Development.