At UC Davis, all residents are encouraged although not required to pursue clinical research opportunities. Scholarship is a core mission of internal medicine and residents who become involved in research projects reap many potential benefits including: exploration of an academic career, development of credentials to bolster their fellowship application, and nurturing intellectual curiosity.

We have developed a structured research curriculum that has substantially enhanced the scholarly successes of our trainees as evidenced by resident publications, and regional and national presentations. In our experience, successful resident projects are conducted over a one-to two-year period, rather than during an isolated 4-week elective experience. (Reference) All resident research activities are coordinated by Dr. Tonya Fancher Research Director, Dr. Ted Wun Fellowship Director, and the Research Chief Resident.

Each intern rotates through a 3-week research immersion experience, the Intern Research Block. Through structured experiences at the new Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC) and VA Clinical Research Center, interns learn the basics of research methodology and study design, and develop a formal research plan. This center was established in 2006 by a $25 million NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award. The UC Davis GCRC is located in an 8,000-square-foot area on the fourth floor in the new inpatient tower at the Sacramento VA Medical Center. UC Davis was one of only 12 institutions funded that year.

Residents interested in becoming laboratory-based investigators are encouraged to apply to the ABIM Subspecialty Research Pathway during their second year. Residency program graduates may apply to the Mentored Clinical Research Training Program (K-30), which offers training in basic science or patient oriented research, or the Primary Care Outcomes Research Fellowship, which trains generalist clinician scholars. Please see the attached biography of a recent graduate who completed the K-30 program concurrently with his gastroenterology fellowship.

All residents are encouraged and given financial support to present their scholarly projects at the annual meeting of the American College of Physicians and any other national meetings.

We hope these activities will encourage residents to consider careers in patient-oriented research to address the national shortage of clinical investigators.

Reference: Hamann KL, Fancher TL, Saint S, Henderson, MC. Clinical Research During Internal Medicine Residency: A Practical Guide. American Journal of Medicine, March 2006; 119:3, 277-283.