Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center are committed to becoming a destination for physician-scientists at all career stages by creating a nurturing community and infrastructure that prepares our trainees for a sustainable research career, and forges a sustainable physician-scientist career development pipeline.
Penn State values and supports aspiring physician-scientists. The Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP) is an institution-wide program aiming to develop a culture that promotes the growth and diversity of the physician-scientist workforce. PSTP provides research training and mentoring to all trainees ranging from medical students to junior faculty with a specific focus on clinical residency and fellowship trainees.
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More about the Physician-Scientist Training Program
The goal of the Physician-Scientist Training Program is to prepare trainees for a successful and sustainable research career by integrating focused research time, didactic sessions, individualized mentoring and a supportive community of scientists.
Objectives
- To prepare trainees for a sustainable research career
- To provide structured curriculum and training
- To create a supportive network of peers, near-peer mentors and senior advisors
- To promote professional identity and sense of community
- To support resilience and wellness in the physician-scientist career
- To increase diversity in the physician scientist workforce
PSTP is a two-year program from September to June. Scholars will participate in seminars and workshops twice a month along with individual mentored research activity.
Curriculum: The interdisciplinary and integrated curriculum is designed to expose scholars to both clinical and basic research activities throughout the two-year program.
Monthly, in-person interactive sessions and small group activities, along with monthly webinar/Zoom activities, will facilitate training in biomedical research and integrate with clinical patient care. Courses will focus on training along the following four main themes.
- Research resources – PSU research support services and tools
- Research proposal development – fellowship, career development, grant/manuscript writing
- Raising resilient scientist – wellness, resilience, work-life alignment, feedback
- Research communication – presenting/promoting research, including written and oral skills
In addition to these sessions, scholars will:
- Be encouraged to form an interdisciplinary mentoring team of three faculty and to develop SMART goals and an “Individual Development Plan” with input from the mentors
- Identify a research project and build a research trajectory with milestones and timeline
- Receive real-time feedback of their specific aims, abstract submissions and/or oral presentations by PSTP mentors
- Complete optional certification courses that are relevant to a research project (Examples: scientific writing, clinical trial design).
- Have the opportunity to apply for funding support and PSTP scholar travel awards to present research at national meetings.
- Network with scholars across the United States from other PSTP and ABIM research-pathway programs through the American Physician Scientists Association (APSA)
Program Director
The Physician-Scientist Training Program is directed by Chandrika Gowda Behura, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology and SCT, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and Penn State College of Medicine.
Dr. Gowda is also a member of Penn State Cancer Institute and its Next-Generation Therapies research program.
Applications for 2024-2026 cohort are open through August 31, 2024, via this REDCap survey. (If you are a resident or fellow in a research year and interested in joining PSTP, you may apply to enter the program each year.)
Who should apply?
Graduate medical trainees with a strong commitment to a career in research.
- Residents in “short track” or “research pathway”.
- Residents with MD/PhD or MD/DO degree with research experience and strong commitment to a physician-scientist career currently not in a formal research track.
- Subspecialty fellowship trainees in their research year.
- Current Penn State College of Medicine medical students who are not in the Medical Scientist Training Program.
- Clinician (non-physician) trainees with research experience and a strong commitment to clinician-scientist career.
If you have questions about the application process, program eligibility, or participation, please email the program at pstp@psu.edu.
Gitanjali Bhushan, MD Candidate 2024
Gitanjali Bhushan, a class of 2024 MD candidate, was recently accepted into the National Institute of Health’s Medical Research Scholars Program. Bhushan will be taking a year off from medical school to pursue the year-long research fellowship located at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. She will be working with a mentor to create a foundation for a research career in translational infectious disease, which will relate to antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic viruses or the epidemiology of emerging infectious disease.
Alicia Green, DO, Resident in General Surgery, Department of Surgery
- Research projects
- Several clinical outcomes projects in pediatric surgery and surgical oncology
- A few of the larger projects:
- We are examining the use of disease modifying drugs, or biologics, in pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease. Using MarketScan, a national claims database, we plan to assess the relationship between the number of biologics a patient has used within the first year of disease treatment and the odds of subsequently needing a colectomy. (Dr. Kulaylat)
- Using a claims database, we are evaluating the trends in the management of pediatric spontaneous pneumothorax. (Dr. Kulaylat)
- Using the National Cancer Database, we are analyzing the characteristics, disparities, and survival for young adults with melanoma. (Dr. Shen)
- Using the National Cancer Database, we are looking at how the Medicaid expansion effected survival of young adults with melanoma. (Dr. Shen)
- Upcoming conferences that I am presenting at
- 18th Annual Academic Surgical Congress – Feb 7-9, 2023 – Houston, TX
- Greene AC*, Mankarious MM, Finkelstein A. Shen C, Rocourt DV, Kulaylat AS, Kulaylat AN. Utilization of MIS Approaches in Pediatric UC Patients Requiring Urgent and Emergent Colectomies. Oral Podium Presentation.
- Greene AC*, Patel A, Matzelle-Zywicki M, Mankarious MM, Reyes L, Santos MC, Moore MM, Kulaylat AN. Implementation of an MRI Protocol for the Evaluation of Pediatric Post-Appendectomy Abscess. Quick-Shot Oral Presentation.
- American Pediatric Surgical Association Annual Meeting – May 10-13, 2023 – Orlando, FL
- Greene AC*, Mankarious MM, Patel A, Matzelle-Zywicki M, Reyes L, Tsai AY, Santos MC, Moore MM, Kulaylat AN. Implementing an MRI protocol for the evaluation of pediatric post-appendectomy abscess: a quality improvement initiative. Quick-Shot Oral Presentation.
- Mankarious MM, Greene AC*, Hoskins M, Tsai AY, Kulaylat AN. Trends in the operative management and timing of resection in pediatric congenital pulmonary airway malformations: an ACS NSQIP-Pediatric Study. Quick-Shot Oral Presentation.
- International Pediatric Endosurgery Group Annual Meeting – July 5-8, 2023 – Sorrento, Italy
- Greene AC*, Ngo L, Wang C, Tsai AY, Saunders BD, Kulaylat AN. Mediastinal parathyroidectomy by VATS for persistent, sporadic, primary hyperparathyroidism in an adolescent. Video Presentation.
- 18th Annual Academic Surgical Congress – Feb 7-9, 2023 – Houston, TX
- Lists of publications (since starting research dedicated time in June 2022)
- Greene AC, Clark JB, Fell B, Samson T, Ravnic D, Cilley RE, Dillon P, Mackay D, Tsai A. Successful Application of the Innovation Process to a Case of Floyd Type I Tracheal Agenesis. Surgery Open Science. 2022 Dec 5;11:73-76. doi: 10.1016/j.sopen.2022.11.005. PMID: 36578695; PMCID: PMC9791920.
- Greene AC, Rocourt D, Tsai A. A Unique Case of Distal Tracheoesophageal Fistula with Proximal Esophageal Atresia Duplication. Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports. 2021 Oct; 73. Doi.org/10.1016/j.epsc.2021.102012.
- Su L, Greene AC, Tsai A. Almost Slipped Through the Crack: Pediatric Patient with Bilateral Slipped Rib Syndrome and Twelfth Rib Syndrome of the Eleventh Ribs. Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports. 2022 Oct; 85. Doi.org/10.1016/j.epsc.2022.102408.
- Swaffield TP, Greene AC, Tsai AY, Olympia RP. Two Cases of Splenic Injuries in Adolescent Lacrosse Players. Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports. 2022 Nov; 86. Doi.org/10.1016/j.epsc.2022.102433.
- Ngo L, Wang C, Greene AC, Tsai AY, Kulaylat AN, Saunders BD. Mediastinal parathyroidectomy by VATS for persistent, sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism in an adolescent. Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports. 2023 Jan; 88. Doi.org/10.1016/j.epsc.2022.102522.
- Donekal Chandrashekar N, Manuel M, Park J, Greene AC, Safford S, Gracanin D. An extended reality simulator for Advanced Trauma Life Support Training. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 2022 Jun; 13318 LNCS: 31-44. Doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-06015-1_3.
- McNulty E, Greene AC, Tsai A, Olympia RP. Evaluating appendicitis transfers to a tertiary care center. Pediatric Emergency Care. Accepted 2023 Feb. (awaiting official print)
Madison Hearn, MD Candidate 2024
Publications
- Fowler M, Hearn M, Wilkins A, Worley S, Westcott K. Coalition-Building Across Sectors to Advance Community Health. Poster Presentation. Family Medicine Education Consortium 2021 Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 9, 2021.
- Hearn M, Moss J. The effect of SES on patient travel time among rural Appalachian women. Poster Presentation. ATRN 11th Annual Health Summit, Online, October 19-20, 2021.
- Hearn M, Fowler M, Worley S, Moss JL. Increasing the health literacy of youth in Rural Pennsylvania through community engagement: The ACHIEVE program. Journal of Rural Health. 2021. PMID: 34767658.
- Hearn M, Goyal N, King T, Goldenberg D. Reproductive factors, obesity, and risk of thyroid cancer among women: a multicenter research network analysis. Poster Presentation. Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting (COSM) 2022, Dallas, Texas, April 27-28, 2022.
- Fowler M, Hearn M, Wilkins A, Worley S, Westcott K. Coalition-Building Across Sectors to Advance Community Health. Poster Presentation. Family Medicine Education Consortium 2021 Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 9, 2021.
- Hearn M, Moss J. The effect of SES on patient travel time among rural Appalachian women. Poster Presentation. ATRN 11th Annual Health Summit, Online, October 19-20, 2021.
- Hearn M, Fowler M, Worley S, Moss JL. Increasing the health literacy of youth in Rural Pennsylvania through community engagement: The ACHIEVE program. Journal of Rural Health. 2021. PMID: 34767658.
- Hearn M, Goyal N, King T, Goldenberg D. Reproductive factors, obesity, and risk of thyroid cancer among women: a multicenter research network analysis. Poster Presentation. Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting (COSM) 2022, Dallas, Texas, April 27-28, 2022.
Lauren Kaminsky, MD, PhD, PGY-6 Allergy & Immunology Fellow
Awards
- First Place virtual poster presentation: Lactobacillus acidophilus enhancement of the intestinal epithelial tight junction barrier is mediated by toll-like receptor-2- and TIR domain containing adaptor protein (TIRAP)-dependent but myeloid differentiation primary response protein-88 (myd88)-independent mechanism. Resident/Fellow Research Day – Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
Ema Karakoleva, MD Candidate Class of 2025
Scholarship
- Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group Scholarship Recipient
Accepted abstracts
- First author of abstract “Effect of Lens Thickness on Performance of the Barrett Universal II and Hill-RBF Formulas Amongst Diabetics” accepted for presentation at the 2023 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting.
- Co-author of abstract “Caregiver Perceptions of the Stressors Involved in Caring for a Child With Optic Nerve Hypoplasia using a Modified CarCGQoL Score” accepted for presentation at the 2023 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting.
- Co-author of abstract “Refractive Outcome of Cataract Surgery in Eyes with Prior Scleral Buckle” accepted for presentation at the 2023 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting.
- First author of abstract “Association of Age and HgbA1C with Lens Thickness and Central Corneal Thickness Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography” accepted for presentation at the 2023 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Annual Meeting.
- Co-author of abstract “An Analysis of the Association Between Age, HbA1c, Central Corneal Thickness, and Lens Thickness Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography” accepted for presentation at the 2023 Endocrine Society (ENDO) Annual Meeting.
Submitted abstracts
- “Culturally Responsible Free Healthcare Delivery to Bhutanese Refugees in Central Pennsylvania” abstract submitted to the Society of Student Run Free Clinics (SSRFC).
- “Journey from junior resident to senior resident: Neurology residents’ perspective of meaningful transformative experiences” abstract submitted to EdVenture.
Additionally, I have submitted 2 IRB proposals and am working on submitting a 3rd IRB proposal and 3 papers.
Christine Lin, BS, MD Candidate 2023
Penn State CTSI Translational Science Fellowship, summer 2020 cohort
View publications on ORCID.
Madison Oxford, MD Candidate 2024
Meetings
- American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons Winter Meeting
- Place and Date: New Orleans, LA, February 2023
- Format: Poster
- Role: Presenter
Published Abstracts
- Oxford, MA., McLaughlin, Ca., McLaughlin, Ch., Johnson, T.S., Roberts, J. Characterization of Integrated Plastic Surgery Residents’ Patterns of Utilization of the Electronic Medical Record. Poster presented at: American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons meeting; February 2023; New Orleans, LA.
Hanel Watkins Eberly, MD Candidate 2024
Meetings
- American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Place and Date: Boston Hynes Convention Center, May 3-7
- Format: Podium presentation
- Role: Presenter, first author
Published Abstracts
- Eberly H., King T., Chung T., “National Trends in Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis & Treatment Utilization Among Various Racial Groups” (2023), American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology.
- Vu, T., Eberly H., McGillen K., Cruz, J., Shin, B., “Significance of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient in Surveillance of HCC in Patients With Pre-cirrhotic Bridging Fibrosis Liver Disease” (2023), American Roentgen Ray Society Emerging Research Abstract Program.
- Vu, T., Eberly H., Zheng, A., Hintze, A., McGillen K., Cruz, J., Shin, B., “Clinical Significance of Measuring Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient on Transjugular Liver Biopsy for Patients with Pre-Cirrhotic Bridging Fibrosis.” (2022), American Association for The Study of Liver Diseases.
- Abdeen A., Hines S., Koroneos Z., Morgan K., Eberly H., Aynardi M., “Patient Outcomes Following Flatfoot Reconstruction With the Use of a Spring Ligament Fibertape Device.” (2022), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society.
- “Assessment of Arterial Supply to The Stomach After Bariatric Surgery Using Multidetector CT Arteriography” Global Embolization Oncology Symposium Technologies 2022. ID#1233206 (Poster presentation) Khalil A, Gomez E, Gowda P, Weinstein R, Gong A, Garg T, Eberly H, Shafaat O, Birkholz J, Sarwani N, Rogers A, Weiss CR
- Vu, T., Eberly, H., Zheng, A., Hintze, A., Cruz, J., Shin, B., “Measuring Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient on Transjugular Liver Biopsy For Patients with Pre-cirrhotic Bridging Fibrosis: Effect of Portal Hypertension on Clinical Outcomes.” (2022), ACP Abstracts.
- Vu, T., Eberly, H., Zheng, A., Hintze, A., Cruz, J., Shin, B., “Measuring Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient on Transjugular Liver Biopsy For Patients with Pre-cirrhotic Bridging Fibrosis: Effect of Portal Hypertension on Clinical Outcomes.” (2022), Society of Interventional Radiology.
- Hallan, D., Eberly, H., Rizk, E., “Appendicitis and Presence of a Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt”, American Association of Neurological Surgeons 2022.
Publications
- Vu T, Eberly H, Zheng A, Hintze A, McGillen KL, Cruz J, Shin B. Clinical significance of measuring hepatic venous pressure gradient on transjugular liver biopsy for patients with pre-cirrhotic bridging fibrosis liver disease. Clin Imaging. 2023 Feb 10;96:44-48. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2023.02.004. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36801536.
- Hallan D R, Eberly H, Rizk E (March 25, 2022) Appendicitis and Presence of a Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt. Cureus 14(3): e23491. doi:10.7759/cureus.23491
- Eberly HW, Carbine KA, LeCheminant JD, Larson MJ. Testing the relationship between inhibitory control and soda consumption: An event-related potential (ERP) study. Appetite. 2022 Mar 3;173:105994. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.105994. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35247478.
- Monahan, K, Watkins Eberly, H., Pan, T., Anagnostakos, J., Konopitski, A., & Hennrikus, W. L. (2021). Hemiepiphysiodesis via the Bowen Method for Genu Valgum in Adolescents. Archives of Surgery and Surgical Education. https://doi.org/10.24966/ASSE-3126/100017
Awards
- Naugle Family Medicine Research Award
- Scholarship awarded to one medical student research proposal
- Proposal: Multisensory Brain-Computer Interface for Communication in ALS
- Date: May 2021
Alicia Green, MD
Resident PGY-2
Hanel Eberly
Medical Student (2024)
Ksenia Varlyguina, MPH
Medical Student (2025)
Nitya Devireddy
Medical Student 2025
The Physician-Scientist Training Program supplements training curriculum and promotes collaboration and networking with other clinical training programs within Penn State College of Medicine.
Wellness, including emotional, spiritual, social and physical health, is a crucial component to training and to becoming a professional, compassionate and resilient physician. Self-care is a skill which must be continually practiced and reinforced. Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health are committed to addressing wellness among residents and fellows, with multiple resources readily available.
Institutional Resources
Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine celebrate, embrace and support the diversity of all patients, faculty, staff, students and trainees.
Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
In keeping with this, Penn State Health has an active Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with various programs, networks and resource groups, including:
- Talks and lectures on diversity, equity and inclusion through Inclusion Academy
- Regular events on topics such as eradicating racism and creating a culture of inclusiveness
- An allyship support group
- Many affinity resource network groups, including:
- Disability Affinity Resource Network Group
- Group on Women in Medicine and Science
- Interfaith Affinity Resource Network Group
- LGBTQ and Allies Affinity Resource Network Group
- Military/Veterans Affinity Resource Network Group
- Multicultural Affinity Resource Network Group
- NextGen
Learn more about the Penn State Health Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Learn more about the College of Medicine’s Office for Diversity, Equity and Belonging
Office for Culturally Responsive Health Care Education
The vision at Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health is to equip learners with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they will need to provide culturally excellent health care and research for an increasingly diverse U.S. population. The Office for Culturally Responsive Health Care Education was formed to help meet that goal.
Learn more about the Office for Culturally Responsive Health Care Education
Office for a Respectful Learning Environment
In addition, the institution does not tolerate discrimination, biases, microaggression, harassment or learner mistreatment of any kind, and any concerns are immediately addressed by the Office for a Respectful Learning Environment.
Learn more about the Office for a Respectful Learning Environment
Mentoring
Career and Research
- Clin -STAR Career & Research Resources
- Edge for Scholars Edge for Scholars
Candid Commentary. Gritty Truths. Sharpen your Academic Edge.
Unconscious Bias Training
Contact the Program
Contact the program by email at pstp@psu.edu.
The PSTP program coordinator, Terri Smith, BS, LPN, CCRC, can be reached at tjs97@psu.edu