American Physician Scientists Association Annual Meeting

American Physicians Scientists Assn, Westford MA

Investigators

Abstract

Due to their unique training in both biomedical research and clinical medicine, physician-scientists serve an important role in dissecting the pathophysiology of human disease to develop new treatment modalities for patient care, which is integral to the continued success of the scientific enterprise. Physician-scientists also provide a critical pipeline for faculty and leaders in academic medicine. In June 2014, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Physician-Scientist Workforce (PSW) Working Group released a report detailing the present state and projected future of the PSW. In addition to the overall small number of physicians pursuing research (1.5%), the workforce is aging (average age at first R01 is 44 for MD-PhDs) while being fed by an increasingly lengthy training path. Therefore, it is increasingly important to recruit and support trainees who are competitive, resilient and drawn from the entire national talent pool. The American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) and the APSA Annual Meeting (AM) were created to foster and strengthen the national community of physician-scientist trainees, as no pre-existing organization or conference encompassed all members of this trainee community. Organized in conjunction with the annual meetings of the Association of American Physicians (AAP) and the American Society of Clinical Investigation (ASCI), the APSA AM is truly unique in that it unites physician-scientists at all phases of the career spectrum, from aspiring undergraduates to current trainees, residents, fellows, to highly accomplished physician scientist role models. Since its inception in 2005, the APSA AM has expanded its services and total participants, increasing from an average of 350 attendees between 2014 to 2019 to over 500 in 2025. The AM provides a structured environment to disseminate career advice from established physician-scientists in all career sectors, to promote the development of mentoring relationships, and to foster community building amongst physician-scientist trainees. Moreover, the APSA AM provides a critical venue for discussing and addressing issues faced by trainees with senior physician-scientist leaders. This application seeks funds to broaden participation in the APSA AM by providing travel awards for individuals who represent all stages of training (undergraduates/postbacs, MD or DO students, MD/DO-PhD students, residents and fellows) to present their meritorious research in poster and/or oral format and engage in physician-scientist specific mentoring, career development and networking.