Challenges of Evaluating Clinical Competence with Franklin Medio, PhD
What is the mission of the STAR Program at UCLA?
The mission is to train physician-scientists for careers in academic medicine. The STAR (Specialty Training and Advanced Research) Program is designed for physicians interested in an investigative career, allowing coordination of their clinical specialty training with an advanced research program leading to a graduate degree, such as a Ph.D. in basic science or health services or an MS degree for clinical research.
Who can apply to the STAR Program?
Applicants to UCLA clinical fellowships and certain UCLA residencies may apply to the STAR Program. Support from the applicant’s home department or division is required. Trainees are eligible to be in the STAR Program during clinical fellowship or residency at UCLA.
How is the STAR Program different from other physician-scientist training programs?
The primary distinction is that the STAR program combines research training with the later stages of clinical training, such as residency or specialty or subspecialty fellowship. This timing facilitates the transition from fellowship to faculty position. Physicians who already have a doctoral degree enter the Postdoctoral Track. A STAR fellow has the freedom to select a mentor from faculty in the basic science departments in the medical school, in the life sciences college at UCLA or at Caltech. For a Ph.D. in health services/outcomes research the fellow may select mentors with faculty appointments in the School of Public Health or the Pardee RAND Graduate School.
The program is structured to integrate clinical training with courses and research training. The clinical fellowship director, the STAR Program Director, and the research mentor in the graduate department work together to coordinate and facilitate the trainee's schedule. STAR Awardees receive salary support and benefits from their clinical department commensurate with clinical training (PGY) level, as well as graduate school tuition throughout the clinical and graduate research years.
What does the interview process entail?
Most applicants apply in conjunction with the clinical fellowship application so their fellowship interview day may include interviews with research faculty. The purpose of the interviews is to understand the applicants' career objectives and to discuss how the environment at UCLA and STAR Program supports a pathway to an academic and investigative career.
How is the STAR Program structured, i.e. clinical bs. research balance?
In the first year of fellowship, activities are usually 100% clinical. The remaining years are divided, 25% for clinical activities and 75% for research and pursuit of an advanced research degree (MS or PhD). This may vary slightly among specialties.
How long does it take to complete STAR?
The duration varies depending on clinical requirements, the type of advanced degree, prior research experience, and graduate department requirements. STAR awardees in the PhD tracks often advance to faculty positions as Clinical Instructors while completing their thesis requirements.
When do STAR fellows designate their degree?
In general, STAR fellows must declare their intention to pursue a specific degree in their first year of STAR fellowship. Graduates of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) and other MD-PhD programs are not expected to pursue an additional research degree.
Can STAR Award recipients change their degree choice?
Changing degrees or educational programs requires approval from the STAR Directors and the new graduate program. Fellows contemplating a change should meet with the STAR Directors as early as possible.
Do I have to have a mentor selected at the time of application to the Program?
This is required only for the MSCR track. For the other tracks, STAR fellows may choose mentors, during their first year. Awardees are encouraged to become familiar with mentors and research opportunities they offer as early as possible.
Am I limited to mentors in my division or in the David Geffen School of Medicine?
No. Past STAR fellows have received mentorship from faculty in other UCLA divisions and in other UCLA Schools (such as Public Health, Public Policy, Management, and Engineering) as well as from outside institutions, including the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Pardee-RAND Graduate School (RAND Corporation).
Do I need to seek additional funding during my STAR fellowship?
Additional funding is not required. The trainee’s home department/division covers the costs for graduate school tuition and salary, while the research mentor is expected to cover laboratory expenses.
When is the appropriate time to apply to the STAR Program?
Applicants from medicine specialties usually submit applications at the time of their clinical subspecialty fellowship application. Many of the divisions in medicine have a place on the ERAS fellowship application to select consideration for the STAR program. Interviews for the clinical fellowship and STAR are then coordinated for the same interview date. In the surgical specialties applicants apply at the time of their residency applications or during the first 2 years of the residency training.
The opportunity for fellows who are currently in the clinical fellowship to apply and interview for the STAR program is available if supported by the Division and/or Department.
Candidates planning a career in the subspecialties of Medicine or Pediatrics generally apply to the STAR Program in conjunction with their specialty clinical fellowship application. In the surgical specialties (i.e. Surgery, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Ophthalmology), in Pathology, and in Dermatology, applications are typically submitted at the time of residency application. Selection criteria include academic achievement, research experience, and clinical performance. Whenever possible, interviews for the STAR program and the clinical fellowship or residency are coordinated.
What is the STAR track record?
The STAR Program was originated in 1993, and as of 2014, approximately 137 physician-scientists have completed the program. It is estimated that 80% of these graduates have pursued careers in research
