Physician-Scientist Training Program

• All candidates entering the PST program will have to be enrolled in an ACGME-accredited residency program. The candidates should have successfully completed a minimum of 24 months of residency prior to commencing the PhD program.
• The candidate must demonstrate a commitment to scientific research and an academic career.
• The candidate must be in good standing in the residency program. The director of the residency program will need to authorize the candidate’s leave of absence for the duration of the program and commit to allowing the candidate to resume clinical training once research work is completed.
• Each candidate will be evaluated by the PST Program Chair, Director and Executive committee with input from the PI of the lab where the proposed graduate work will be undertaken.
• Screened candidate will then be presented by the PST program director to the PIBBS admissions committee, which includes Faculty from the individual PhD program that the candidate wishes to pursue. The candidate will be considered as a direct-admit to the individual PhD program.

• Each candidate is allowed to choose one of the four PhD tracks offered in the health sciences campus of USC. This decision is influenced by the candidate’s research interest, ultimate career choice and the nature of research being undertaken in the laboratory of the mentor.
• The candidate is admitted to the PST program and considered a direct-admit into the appropriate PhD program.
• The candidate is expected to provide appropriate credentials for verification to be eligible for PhD course credits (similar to the process being followed by the MD/PhD students).
• The candidate then has to fulfill all the course and research-related requirements of the specific PhD program for graduation.
• As part of the PST program, each candidate is expected to also enroll in the following courses considered required for this track –

  Applied Biostatistics (INTD ) – 4 units
  Scientific Writing (INTD 577) –  units
  Responsible Conduct of Research (INTD 500) – 1 unit

The research years of the candidate are fully protected from clinical responsibilities. The candidates are not expected to provide coverage for any clinical activity during this time period. The candidates may be required to take the annual in-training examination at the behest of their residency program.

The normative time to degree completion is governed largely by the PhD program in which the candidate is enrolled. It is expected that the candidate will receive credits for certain required courses. The candidates directly enter the research lab where they are expected to complete their graduate work (and not be required to enroll in laboratory rotations). During their first year in the lab, they are expected to be able to complete the qualifying examination and advance to candidacy. They are expected to be able to complete the requirements for graduation within a period of three years in the program.

• Normative Time to Advancement to Candidacy: 2 semesters
• Normative Time in Candidacy: 4-5 semesters
• Normative Time to Degree: 6-7 semesters (3-3.5 years)

These times serve as estimates only. It is explicitly accepted that it is the prerogative of each individual PhD awarding program to determine successful completion of work leading to a degree. The PST program supports all appropriate research activities that results in maximal benefit to each candidate.

All candidates are funded by the laboratory where they undertake the graduate work or by funds from the Department of Surgery. Where available, funds are secured from training grants such as NIH T32, CIRM fellowship training grant and individual training grants from American Heart Association (AHA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), American College of Surgeons (ACS), Society of University Surgeons (SUS) and surgical foundations (AVA, TSFRE, etc.). It is the responsibility of the primary mentor to ensure adequate funding for the candidate for the duration of the thesis. It is expected that as a research assistant (graduate student pay-scale) will be afforded standard tuition credits for the duration of their PhD program.