OVERVIEW

The Department of Psychiatry at U.T. Southwestern is committed to preparing interested residents for research careers. With its extensive faculty active in all areas of basic and clinical research and broad connections with other departments in the medical and graduate schools, the department is in a unique position to provide optimal preparation for successful academic research careers. UT Southwestern, as an institution, has made a commitment to supporting and nurturing research oriented residents, especially though not exclusively, MD, PhD's.

ENTERING THE RESEARCH TRACK

Residents identify themselves and enter the research track at the end of their PGY-1. Their PGY-2 schedules are then modified to allow earliest possible completion of the core requirements. During the PGY-2, research track residents have an additional, required didactic that meets Tuesdays at noon (Tuesday being the core didactic day for all residents), coordinated by our Chair, Eric Nestler, M.D. Ph.D, and Vice Chair for Research, A. John Rush, M.D. This seminar is part journal club involving various researchers in the department presenting their work and part formal lectures covering such topics as research methodology, design, techniques, grant writing, etc. Advanced residents on the research track will also continue to participate in this seminar, including presenting some of their own work.

During the PGY-3, residents who are headed towards basic research will have 2 days/week available and those headed for clinical research will have 1 ½ days/week available for research training activities. The entire PGY-4 will be free for research related activities.

A variety of departmental and university funded research fellowships are available to bridge the transition from trainee to junior faculty. Please see the research section of this website for more information on ongoing research, funding opportunities and the department's research programs, in general. Also, please see the University's Physician Scientist Training Program site.

Currently, there are three PGY 2's, one PGY 3's and four PGY 4's in the research track. Many past participants in the research track have been able to develop their own independent funding either during residency or shortly thereafter and gone on to successful academic careers.

As part of the department's encouragement of resident research activities, at graduation each year the Chair's Research Paper Award is presented to a resident or fellow in an accredited clinical training program. It includes an honorarium of $750 and the expectation that the winner will present his/her work at a Grand Rounds early the following year.

The department also encourages residents who are not pursuing research careers to understand the process of research. All psychiatrists will be consumers of the research literature throughout their careers and an ability to critically read the literature is crucial. Thus, all departmental researchers are involved in teaching residents and a variety of two to three month electives in the PGY 4 that involve brief participation in a clinical research program are offered. They have been very popular.The Department of Psychiatry at U.T. Southwestern is committed to preparing interested residents for research careers. With its extensive faculty active in all areas of basic and clinical research and broad connections with other departments in the medical school, the department is in a unique position to provide optimal preparation for successful academic research careers. UT Southwestern, as an institution, has made a commitment to supporting and nurturing research oriented residents, especially though not exclusively, MD, PhD's.

Research training in the Department is supported by NIH funded training grants, including R25 and T32 grants from NIMH and a T32 and a R-25 grant from NIDA.