Clinician Scientist Program
Note: This program is available only to residents in the Department of Psychiatry. For application and instructions, links are embedded in the text below.
Overview
The Program was developed to address the shortage of new academic psychiatrists and insufficient number of residents pursuing academic careers. Programs similar to the Clinician Scientist Program have successfully addressed these problems in other medical specialties, and we’re confident that this Program will make a major impact in the development of committed researchers in our field. We believe this program will significantly enhance the psychiatry residency training at University of Toronto.
The Program consists of two stages for residents training under the new Royal College requirements:
- The Clinician Scientist Stream (CSS) in PGY-1 through PGY-4 years will allow residents who think that they may be interested in a research career, to become involved early on in their training. Entry into the CSS is available to residents commencing their PGY-1 year and to current PGY-1 residents going into their PGY-2 year.
- The formal Clinician Scientist Program (CSP) will commence in the PGY-5 year when residents will be expected to be enrolled full time in graduate school.
Application Process
Please read the following summaries first. If you qualify and are interested in applying, download all documents below.
Clinician Scientist Stream (CSS) – Application Deadline: Friday, May 13th, 2011
Residents interested in the CSS must find a supervisor in the Department of Psychiatry who has an appointment in the School of Graduate Studies, and who is willing and able to commit to supervising a CSS PGY-1 resident for up to a two months research supervision in the PGY-1 year, as well as half day per week with the resident in formal research training in the PGY-2, 3 and 4 years. For the PGY-1 year, residents would be expected to two elective months in research in their PGY-1 year. Reimbursement for travel expenses for presentations at scientific meetings will be available up to $1,500 per year; throughout the 4 years of the CSS (PGY-1 to PGY-4) and 2 years of the CSP (PGY-5 and one year of fellowship) All CSS/CSP residents are expected to participate in the CSS/CSP seminar series that occur monthly throughout the 6 years of the combined Program.
Checklist:
- One copy of the CSS/CSP-ApplicationForm
- Personal statement by the candidate related to why he/she wants to engage in research training
- Your Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of support from an identified supervisor in the Department outlining:
- A proposed research project,
- An assessment of the candidate’s potential as a researcher
- A statement of the supervisor’s commitment to supervising the resident for a half day per week in the PGY-2 to PGY-4 years and two months in the PGY-1 year
- Commitment to write a yearly report.
Please see list of potential supervisors on the Dept. of Psychiatry website
- An independent letter of support to include more information on the candidate and an assessment of candidate’s track record.
Clinician Scientist Program (CSP) - Application Deadline: Monday, October 31st, 2011
Residents will be eligible to apply to the CSP when they are in their PGY 4 year. Applicants must be accepted into a graduate degree granting program and begin graduate work full time as of September of their PGY–5 year and are expected to complete at least a Masters degree and preferably a PhD. Graduate program tuition fees will be paid by the CSP for successful applicants for 2 years of graduate school training (approximately $7,000 per year). Reimbursement for travel expenses for presentations at scientific meetings will be available up to $1,500 per year for up to 2 years. There is also an expectation that applicants apply for and receive salary support to provide for at least one year of salary for the second year of the CSP, which will occur in a fellowship year post residency training. There is an expectation that applicants be enrolled in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons’ Clinical Investigators Program (CIP) while in the CSP. All CSP trainees are expected to participate in the CSS/CSP seminar series that occur monthly throughout the 5 years of the Program. The CSS/ CSP will accept those residents who already have a postgraduate degree (Masters or PhD) as “status only” trainees. They will also be eligible to receive up to $ 1500/year throughout the 5 years of residency for attending/presenting at scientific conferences. All status only CSS/CSP trainees are expected to participate in the CSS/CSP seminar series that occur monthly throughout the 5 years of the Program
Checklist:
- One copy of the CSS/CSP-Application Form with description of proposed research (3 additional pages to be appended)
- Your Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of support from an identified supervisor (please see list of potential supervisors on the Dept. of Psychiatry website) outlining:
- A description of the potential research project
- An assessment of the candidate’s potential as a researcher
- The supervisor’s statement of commitment to supervise the CSP resident as a graduate student.
- The supervisor’s commitment to writing a yearly report
Students are encouraged to seek the supervisor that most closely reflects their research interests. However, CSP residents who wish to receive supervision from a supervisor who is not on the approved list will be required to identify a supervisor who is on the list as the primary supervisor.
- Two additional letters of support attesting to the CSP applicants potential as a researcher and an evaluation of his/her academic track record.
- Proof of enrollment in a graduate program or of having applied to a graduate program
Documents:
Director, Clinician Scientist Program:
Z. Jeffrey Daskalakis, MD, PhD, FRCP(C)
Staff Psychiatrist, Schizophrenia Program
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Director, Brain Stimulation Treatment and Research Program
Director, Research Training
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
University of Toronto