Physician-Scientist Training Program (PePSTP)

Oliver Langenberg Physician-Scientist Training Program

Washington University and its Department of Pediatrics have a long and successful history of training pediatric physician-scientists.  Our Pediatric Physician-Scientist Training Program (PePSTP) was formalized in 2011, and the program has received substantial external support since 2013 from the Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation. The foundation has provided a grant in memory of Oliver Langenberg, a St. Louis businessman and philanthropist who led the foundation for 50 years and died in 2012 at the age of 99.

Quick facts

• Our Pediatric Residency Program averages 5.5 MD/PhD interns per entering class
• The PePSTP has inducted 33 trainees since 2012, has graduated 15 trainees and has 13 trainees currently in the program
• Among PePSTP graduates who have applied for K awards, success rate is 100%; additional graduates have received subspecialty-specific career awards
• Overall, the Department of Pediatrics has a K08 success rate of 95% and K-to-R success rate of 61%, both far above national averages

Key features

1. A flexible, individualized training experience combining both clinical and research training.
2. Enhanced mentoring to optimize transitions from clinical to scientific training and into the first academic faculty position.
3. Preferential access into any of the subspecialty fellowships at Wash U and SLCH. 
4. Discretionary educational funds and salary enhancement (see below).

The ultimate goal of the program is to ensure the successful launch of pediatric trainees into research-intensive faculty careers in academic medicine. Successful applicants will generally have both MD and PhD degrees, or be MD’s with a Master’s degree or other substantial research experience (including publications). Trainees in the PePSTP are encouraged to consider participating in the Accelerated Research Pathway (i.e., fast-tracking) as defined by the American Board of Pediatrics; to date, about 60% of our PePSTP trainees have elected to follow the ARP.

The PePSTP is dedicated to training young scientists and preparing them for successful careers in academic medicine. The program focuses on the period from the completion of the combined MD/PhD degree through the clinical and post-doctoral research training years, with the goal of achieving full-time academic appointment as an investigator. The PePSTP combines the intensive clinical training environment of St. Louis Children’s Hospital with rigorous scientific training in the world-renowned laboratories at Washington University. Presuming successful progress within the Categorical Pediatrics Residency Program, trainees enjoy preferential access into any of the clinical fellowships offered within the Department of Pediatrics. Fellowship research training (beginning in Year 4 if fast-tracking, Year 5 if on standard track) can be conducted within any laboratory across the broad biomedical research landscape of Washington University.

Program structure

Clinical training

Pediatrics Training: Trainees will complete their internship and residency years within our Categorical Pediatrics Residency Program. Trainees who participate in the American Board of Pediatrics Accelerated Research Pathway (i.e., fast-tracking) will begin their subspecialty fellowship training during their third post-graduate year (PGY3) in lieu of their senior resident year in Pediatrics.

Clinical Fellowship Training: Trainees will complete the required clinical subspecialty training as outlined by their ABP subspecialty boards. This typically entails 12 to 18 months total of clinical activities, depending on the specific fellowship chosen.

Research training

The selection of an appropriate post-doctoral training environment is critical to the success of the physician-scientist trainee. To assist this critical selection process, trainees are closely mentored by the program directors and the relevant division chiefs and fellowship directors.  Trainees will attend annual Department of Pediatrics Research Retreat and Career Development Retreat, in addition to retreat events offered by each Department and Research Program with the Graduate Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences.

Trainees are not limited to working within Pediatrics, but are encouraged to explore the broad and deep research environment across Washington University and can choose any laboratory in which to complete their post-doctoral research training. For specific information, see the faculty research listings the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences and the School of Medicine. Also, the Children’s Discovery Institute is a useful resource for residents, fellows, and faculty.

Coursework

Trainees can enroll in or audit courses offered through the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences and the Institute for Clinical and Translational Sciences covering every aspect of contemporary biomedical and clinical research.

Seminar series

PSTP Trainees from Pediatrics, Medicine, and Pathology participate in seminar series and retreat activities focused on research in medicine.

• Annual PSTP Symposium and Spring Talks series, featuring dinner with established physician-investigators
• Discussion in Medical Research. Joint seminar series with the Washington University MD-PhD (MSTP) program in which faculty members discuss their research programs and career paths

In addition, PePSTP Trainees attend:

• Pediatric Molecular Medicine Seminar: This series is centered on recent developments in molecular medicine. In addition, senior trainees discuss their research at this weekly forum
• Annual Department of Pediatrics Research Retreat
• Annual Pediatric Fellows’ Career Development Retreat

PePSTP trainees have full access to the activities and programs of the Division of Physician-Scientists, and often attend weekly seminar series and special lectures offered by the relevant basic science programs within the Graduate Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences.

Contact information

Current trainees

Graduates