ABIM Research Track | Emory School of Medicine

Our Research Residency Track combines internal medicine and clinical fellowship training with scholarly research. It is an American Board of Internal Medicine-approved pathway that offers exceptional clinical training and robust research opportunities. The goal of this program is to train physician-scientists who will become leading scholars in academic medicine.

Program Overview

Mission:

To train and prepare physician-scientists for careers in research

Method:

Provide rigorous clinical training in internal medicine and subspecialties
Provide personalized and focused research experiences
Establish robust mentorship for research and career

Program Priorities

In keeping with our goal of training leading physician-scientists, our program’s two primary priorities in selecting trainees for this track are scholarly potential and clinical excellence.

Applicants to the research track should have evidence of significant previous research experience and a strong interest in a career as a physician-scientist career pathway. Applicants are expected to indicate the subspecialty in which they want to train, as a critical component of our selection process is ensuring a rigorous and productive mentored research experience that aligns with our trainees’ goals and interests.
Applicants must have a very strong clinical background that will prepare them for success in the context of an accelerated residency training sequence.

Program Application Process

Applications are reviewed starting the week of September 8th. They are reviewed first by the internal medicine program, then by the fellowship program. Invitations for our 2-day interview will go out approximately 2-4 weeks after application submission begins. Applications completed later in the application season may not be reviewed.
Please be clear in your application which fellowship program you are interested in.
Applicants invited to interview will meet with both internal medicine and fellowship faculty. Fellowship interview day will be tailored to each individuals research interest.

Research Track Activities

We are dedicated to providing trainees with mentoring and other resources necessary for the successful development of an academic career. While most training takes place within the context of the clinical residency and individual subspecialty programs, the research track program works to foster community among research track trainees and to provide mentorship throughout the program. This takes place through individual mentoring and group activities that are both social and career-oriented.

Program events

Four events a year, one each quarter
- Mentoring dinners with a recent graduate
- DOM Research Day
- Annual Physician scientist symposium

Program features and perks

Training Sequence

Our program follows the requirements for the ABIM research pathway. This involves 24 months of categorical internal medicine training, at least three years of mentored research training, and clinical training commensurate with the subspecialty program selected.

Program Years Description

PGY-1: Foundational Clinical Experiences

PGY-1 research track interns have the same schedule as our categorical interns and are immersed in patient care through diverse clinical experiences in our four-hospital system. Through ward, ICU, and consult experiences in both inpatient and outpatient settings, our interns acquire a robust core knowledge base and establish a framework for a rational and systematic approach to care.

Rotations include:

Six inpatient medicine blocks
Two subspecialty consultation or subspecialty outpatient blocks
One cardiology block
One ICU block

PGY-2: Consolidated preparation in leadership and independent practice

In PGY-2, research track residents consolidate their leadership, supervisory, and teaching skills while also meeting ABIM and ACGME requirements for internal medicine training.

Rotations include:

Four inpatient medicine blocks
Two ICU or CCU blocks
One subspecialty consultation or subspecialty outpatient block
One geriatrics block
One neurology block
Two-week blocks of night float
Two weeks of emergency medicine
Two weeks of palliative care

PGY-3-7: Subspecialty fellowship training and mentored research

Research track residents complete at least three years of mentored research training, along with 12-24 months of clinical training, according to the subspecialty in which they are training. The total duration of the fellowship period varies based on subspecialty and board eligibility requirements.

Our program is dedicated to helping facilitate the identification of research mentors, who are selected before the start of research training. We also continue to provide mentoring and guidance to trainees throughout the fellowship training period.

DOM Fellowships

Please note that the following list of fellowship programs is not comprehensive. To view all fellowship and sub-specialty fellowship programs offered by each division, visit the specific division's education page.