Frequently asked questions
General
Graduate School
Lab work, Projects and Mentorship and Travel
Application & Employment
General
What is the purpose of the 7-year Physician Scientist Program?
There is a shortage of academic orthopaedic surgeons, as discussed here. Thus, the purpose of the program is to train orthopaedic surgeons with an interest in practicing academic orthopaedic surgery.
How do I benefit from doing the Physicians Scientist Training Program ?
For those interested in academic orthopaedic surgery, the Physician Scientist Training Program provides an invaluable opportunity to learn how to be an independent scientist in a hands-on, yet protected environment. The graduate will have a very strong research CV, personal experience with lab work, and be comfortable with the grant-writing and intellectual property issues that
How long has the Physician Scientist Program been around?
The first Physician Scientist was enrolled in 1999 and the program has been in continuous existence since then.
How many people have finished the program?
The first three Physician Scientists have completed the entire 7-year program. An additional five have completed the laboratory component and are in the clinical phase.
How is the program structured?
The Physician-Scientist program is 7-years of training: two laboratory years and 5 clinical years. In the third year of the 7-year program (after 2 years in the lab), the Physician-Scientist is placed in the 5-year WFUBMC Orthopaedic Surgery residency and treated as a PGY-1 in Orthopaedic Surgery from then on. Below is an example:
|
Year in Physician Scientist Program |
Academic year |
Clinical |
Research |
|
1 |
2006-2007 |
--- |
12 months |
|
2 |
2007-2008 |
--- |
12 months |
|
3 |
2008-2009 |
Internship |
1 month |
|
4 |
2009-2010 |
Ortho (HO-2) |
|
|
5 |
2010-2011 |
Ortho (HO-3) |
4 months |
|
6 |
2011-2012 |
Ortho (HO-4) |
|
|
7 |
2012-2013 |
Ortho (HO-5) |
|
Graduate School
Does completion of the research component lead to an advanced degree?
No. Completing the 7-year Physician Scientist Program does not itself lead to an advanced degree. Many of the previous Physician-Scientists already had advanced degrees before entering the program. However, beginning in 2007 a few of the Physician-Scientists chose to concurrently enroll in the Graduate School and pursue a Ph.D. while in the lab and with their clinical training. Not all of the Physician-Scientists have chosen to do this. Currently, two Physician-Scientists are in the Neuroscience Program and one is in Molecular Medicine. They are at various stages of the Ph.D. program. Some have completed their preliminary exam, while others have not yet chosen an advisor.
Does acceptance into the 7-year Physician Scientist Program lead to automatic admission to the Wake Forest Graduate School of Arts & Sciences?
No. Application and interviews for Graduate School may follow if the accepted candidate chooses. Usually candidates who are academically and personally qualified for the Physician Scientist program are also competitive for Graduate School.
Do I need to take the GRE to apply for Grad School?
No. Submission of your MCAT and USMLE scores is sufficient for the application.
What if I just want to do research? Do I have to enroll in Graduate School?
Enrolling in Graduate School is not mandatory for acceptance into the 7 year program, nor is it expected. It is purely up to the individual.
What are the course requirements and work load for grad School?
This really depends on the particular program the Physician Scientist is enrolled in. The typical course requirements and sequence of classes for Physician Scientists in the Molecular Medicine program is shown here.
Who supervises the Physician Scientists?
Day-to-day daily activities are supervised by Tom Smith, Ph.D. Each physician scientist also chooses a clinical and basic science mentor for the two years in lab. These mentors may have funded projects that can guide the Physician Scientists’ research.
Will I have to write grants to fund my own research?
No. There are ongoing funded projects that the Physician Scientist can participate in without securing funding. However, it is strongly encouraged that the Physician Scientist write and apply for resident-level grants. This develops skills in experimental design, preliminary data collection and grant writing—all fundamental skills for someone interested in an academic career.
Can I work on whatever I want?
Within reason. Salary support is guaranteed, but funds for research supplies and equipment is usually limited by grant constraints, equipment availability and access to qualified collaborators. That being said, at any given time the faculty have numerous funded projects available for the Physician Scientist to take the lead on. Since progress in research is dynamic, most of the Physicians Scientists usually guide their own projects. Furthermore, many of the Physicians Scientists have secured funding through resident-level grants for projects centered on their own interests.
Is there funding to sponsor travel?
Yes. Travel to meetings where the Physician Scientist is presenting is sponsored by the Department. Other meetings/travel where the Physician Scientist is not presenting are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. However, most reasonable travel is approved. This travel is not considered vacation time. Click here to view a list of meetings attended by the Physician Scientists
Application & Employment
How is the position filled?
Interviews are conducted in the fall. Offers are usually made shortly following the interviews. Candidates are expected to accept or decline the offer within a reasonable period of time. Following the candidate’s acceptance of the position, the candidate submits a request to withdraw from the Match. The candidate starts the following July 1st.
How is the position filled outside the Match? Is this against NRMP rules?
The Physician-Scientist program at Wake Forest has an exemption from the Match. See the letter from the NRMP to Peter Apel (Physician Scientist 2006-2013).
Does acceptance into the Physician-Scientist program guarantee acceptance into the 5-year clinical program?
They are separate programs—but yes, the Physician Scientist Training Program is “all-inclusive”. The Physician Scientist program is not an isolated research fellowship.
Do I need to have prior research experience to be qualified for the physician scientist position?
Prior research experience demonstrates a commitment to an academic career, but is not an absolute prerequisite.
What are the requirements for the physician scientist program?
Applicants are expected to be competitive for orthopaedic residency in terms of grades, test scores, personal qualities and letters of recommendation. Beyond these basic qualifications, applicants are expected to have an interest in an academic career.
From whom does the Physician-Scientist program accept applications?
The Physician-Scientist program welcomes applications from graduating fourth-year medical students, as well as both U.S.-trained and internationally-trained physicians. The candidate must have an M.D. or equivalent academic degree by the starting date of July 1st. Applications from individuals of all backgrounds are encouraged. Wake Forest University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, creed, age, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, marital status or parental status, sexual orientation, or disability.
Does the Physician-Scientist program sponsor visas?
Unfortunately, the Physician-Scientist program does not sponsor visas.
How do I apply?
The Physician-Scientist program application has two parts:
1) The applicant’s complete ERAS application should sent to the Wake Forest Orthopedic Surgery program.
2) A cover letter and CV should also be sent to Dr. Tom Smith and the Residency Program Coordinator, Kathy Hermance.
Can I come for a visit?
Yes. Applicants are welcome to come for an informal visit any time before interviews. Contact Dr. Tom Smith to arrange this.
Can I come for a clinical or research elective?
The School of Medicine offers both basic science and clinical electives for credit to 4th year medical students at LCME-accredited schools. These are highly recommended for serious applicants. Unfortunately, due to institutional constraints, applicants who already have an M.D. are not eligible for clinical electives.
What will I get paid?
For the first two years, you will be paid according to the NIH guidelines for postdoctoral fellows (current stipend $36,996 in 2008). After that, your salary will follow the WFUBMC House Officer Guidelines beginning at the PGY-1 level (even though you are in your third year in the Physician Scientist program). Unfortunately, your lab time does not increase your clinical salary level.
How much vacation do I get?
Two weeks per year.