USC Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (USC-StARR) Program

To address the widely recognized decline in the physician-scientist workforce, new approaches are needed to recruit talented physicians to pursue research as an integral part of their medical training and future careers. The Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) initiative provides a new point of access to research by accelerating the entry of residents into meaningful research pursuits during residency. The USC-StARR Program will draw the most promising Resident Investigators from the General Surgery, Integrated Vascular Surgery, and Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Programs. We have designed an intensive, 24-month, contiguous StARR program. The goal of the USC-StARR program is to recruit, train, and mentor a group of exceptional Resident Investigators in acquiring rigorous research skills, conducting high-impact, clinically relevant research projects, and launching promising careers as surgeon-scientists in cardiovascular and pulmonary science. Our program will include two research tracks: 1) Basic and Translational Research and 2) Health Outcomes, Community Engagement, and Dissemination and Implementation Research. Our goals will be accomplished through the following specific aims: 1) recruit and train three Resident Investigators annually with the potential and commitment to become successful surgeon-scientists in cardiovascular or pulmonary science; 2) guide these Resident Investigators in obtaining more advanced methodological, analytic, and collaborative research skills appropriate for their level of training; 3) create and support effective, influential, and long-lasting mentor relationships during and after residency; and 4) guide Resident Investigators in successfully competing for other forms of clinical and translational research support that will pave the way for them to pursue long-term careers as surgeon-scientists. A Multi-Program Director structure will provide Administrative, Educational/Career Development, and Science/Research leadership for the program. The Resident Investigators will have access to a cadre of 32 carefully selected Research Preceptors with sustained NIH funding coupled with successful track records of mentoring early career scholars. A group of four highly dedicated and accomplished senior scientists will serve on the Internal and External Advisory Committees of the program. Each Resident Investigator will work with their primary Research Preceptor, Internal Advisory Committee, and Science/Research Director to achieve their individual and program goals, to provide independent evaluation of their progress, and to develop, advise on, and track their Independent Career Development Plan. The impact of this innovative proposal will be to increase the ability and capacity of the USC General Surgery, Integrated Vascular Surgery, and Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgery residency training programs to foster the development of surgeon-scientists in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary science. Through this program, we will increase the ability of these surgeon-scientists to transition to other forms of research and career development support.