Opportunities for Physician Scientists

We are interested and experienced in training future physician scientists. This group includes MD applicants with demonstrated experience, enthusiasm and productivity in biological research, including most candidates from MD/PhD programs. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) provides a variety of outstanding research opportunities during residency, fellowship, and beyond.

Biomedical research at CHOP is conducted within The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute. In addition, most Children's Hospital trainees have the opportunity to perform research at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), which is affiliated with CHOP and located on an adjacent campus.

Our interview program for MD/PhD students and other research-oriented applicants is integrated within our standard Pediatric Residency interview process. We provide information on the categorical residency program as well as available research opportunities and training tracks. Interviewers for such research-interested applicants typically include physician scientists on our faculty in addition to faculty serving on the Intern Selection Committee. We welcome the opportunity to facilitate additional meetings with faculty members and laboratories on campus with shared research interests, either on the day of the interview or the following day. Please contact Dr. Hogarty to discuss such arrangements, as we are happy to try to accommodate your individual research-related interests.

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute oversees one of the largest pediatric research programs in the country, with more than 425 world-class investigators. In FY2009, 721 grants were awarded, totaling $154M. Additionally, CHOP has been awarded 17 stimulus grants to date, totaling $4.4M. Research awards to investigators have nearly doubled twice in the past decade, exceeding the growth of NIH's extramural budget. More than 600 studies are currently in progress in The Institute, ranging in scope from basic molecular and developmental biology to clinical trials. Many of our residents and fellows from the Department of Pediatrics are involved in these studies.

The Leonard and Madlyn Abramson Pediatric Research Center opened in 1995 and houses nine floors of research laboratories. In addition, occupancy of the new Colket Translational Research Building is beginning in October 2009 and houses an additional 12 floors of pediatric research space. This state-of-the-art facility is evidence of CHOP's commitment to scientific discovery and supports our ongoing recruitment of cutting-edge researchers in every field.

Residents at CHOP may pursue biomedical research according to two training options, the Accelerated Research Pathway [ARP] and the Integrated Research Pathway [IRP], outlined by the American Board of Pediatrics. Independent of these special programs, residents can use their elective time (approximately six months total) to participate in faculty mentored research projects. This provides opportunities for trainees to gain experience in top-notch research, co-author publications and present their work at national and international meetings. In addition, numerous fellowship programs at Children's Hospital provide specialized clinical training combined with excellent opportunities for basic and translational research, clinical research, health services research and health policy research.

For more information on career opportunities for physician scientists at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, please contact:

Michael D. Hogarty, MD

Director, Physician Scientist Development
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Phone: 215-590-5476
hogartym@email.chop.edu

Additional opportunities for research training

Past physician scientist events

Lunches with Grand Rounds speakers

Dr. Michael Welsh, University of Iowa. Topic: “Development of a New Model for Cystic Fibrosis.”
Dr. Richard Lifton, Yale University. Topic: “Genes for Heart, Kidney and Bone Disease: New Insights from Human Genetic Studies.”
Dr. David Ginsburg, University of Michigan. Topic: “von Willebrand Disease (VWD) and Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP): Different Sides of the Same Coin.”
Dr. Thomas Look, Dana Farber Cancer Institute. “Zebrafish models: New Clinical and Translational Insights into Pediatric Leukemia and Neuroblastoma”
Dr. Louis Muglia, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. “Understanding Pregnancy's Clock: The Genetics of Birth Timing.”
Dr. Christopher Walsh, Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard University. “Genetics of autism and other developmental brain disorders of children.”
Dr. Richard Whitley, University of Alabama at Birmingham. “Engineered Herpes Simplex Virus for Gene Therapy.”
Dr. David Williams, Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard University. “Somatic Cell Reprogramming to Facilitate Genetic Correction in Fanconi Anemia.”
Dr. Kathy High and Dr. Jean Bennett from CHOP/ The University of Pennsylvania. “Curing Blindness through Gene Therapy.”

Development dinners for current CHOP physician scientist residents

Dinners at Philadelphia restaurants to discuss career issues and plan events.

Development lunchtime talks with CHOP/Penn faculty

Dr. Jake Kushner (Division of Endocrinology, CHOP): “Self-renewal of pancreatic islet cells.”
Dr. Josh Friedman (Division of Gastroenterology, CHOP): “MicroRNAs and cholestasis.”
Dr. Aimee Payne (Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania): Topic: “Work/life balance as a resident, fellow, and beyond.”

Pediatric Residency Program