Resources and Professional Development

MD-PHD PROGRAM

Mount Sinai Academy of Physician-Scientists

At MAPS, we know the transition from mentored trainee to independent investigator is one of the most consequential phases in any physician-scientist’s career. It’s not simply about submitting grants—it’s about navigating what many call the "second valley of death," the shift from career development support to sustained R01-level independence.

MAPS provides a practical toolkit for individual investigators designed to protect, promote, and sustain physician-scientist careers.

Our Faculty Champions Read the Annual Report Explore Career Stages

Funding opportunities exist across Mount Sinai and through federal and other external sponsors at every stage of the physician-scientist pathway.

Explore funding mechanisms that can provide protected research time, research training, pilot support, and pathways toward independence.

Institutional Pilot and Bridge Funding
Discover internal funding opportunities available across Mount Sinai, including pilot awards, early-stage project support, and bridge funding between external awards.

Explore Internal Funding Opportunities

R38/StARR Programs
Learn about NIH-funded Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) programs, which provide eligible residents with protected research time and structured research training, and may create a pathway to the NIH K38 Transition Scholar Award.

Learn More: Mount Sinai StARR Programs

TL1 and T32-Supported Training Programs
Explore NIH-supported institutional research training programs available across disciplines at Mount Sinai.

Find Training Programs

Career Development Awards can provide protected research time and mentored training during the transition toward research independence.

Understanding the available mechanisms, eligibility requirements, and application process can make it easier to identify the right opportunity at the right career stage.

NIH Career Development Awards
Explore NIH K awards and other mentored and independent career development mechanisms for clinician-scientists.

Explore NIH Career Development Awards

NIH Loan Repayment Programs
Learn about NIH Loan Repayment Programs, which may repay a portion of eligible educational debt for investigators who commit to qualifying research careers.

Discover the NIH LRP

Mount Sinai has an extensive research infrastructure, but knowing which office, platform, or resource to use is not always intuitive. These links can help physician-scientists navigate the systems that support research across the institution.

ConduITS
Find clinical and translational research resources, including biostatistics, regulatory guidance, recruitment support, and other research services.
Mount Sinai Innovation Partners
Learn about intellectual property, technology development, commercialization, and industry partnerships.
Grants and Contracts Office, InfoEd.
Access institutional resources for grant submission, research administration, and sponsored-project management.

A physician-scientist career involves decisions about protected time, clinical effort, mentorship, promotion, research independence, and long-term career direction. The resources below provide starting points for navigating these transitions.

Negotiation and Career Planning
Discover resources relevant to negotiating protected research time, faculty appointments, startup support, and clinical and research responsibilities.

Explore Career Resources

Promotion and Tenure
Find Mount Sinai guidance, policies, and resources related to academic advancement and promotion.

Learn About Promotion and Tenure

A physician-scientist career develops alongside family responsibilities, personal commitments, and major life transitions. Mount Sinai offers resources that can help trainees and faculty navigate these dimensions of academic life.

Starting and Raising a Family
Find information about childcare, lactation resources, family support, and other resources for parents and caregivers.

See Our Family Resources

Well-Being and Work Experience
Access Mount Sinai resources focused on faculty and trainee well-being, workplace experience, and support.

Explore Well-Being Support

Selected publications exploring physician-scientist training, career development, and the evolving physician-scientist workforce.

Choosing a Specialty and Career Path

Navigating the Path: Making Smart Choices: Advice to Physician-Scientists on Choosing a Clinical Specialty
Swartz TH, Cavazos JE, Horwitz MS, et al. eLife. 2026;15.

Dual-Degree Pathways in the Residency Match: A Comparative Analysis of Application Behaviors and Outcomes
Brock DC, Rupert DD, Darville T, Jansen CS, Wisdom EM, Tang CY. JCI Insight. 2026;11(7).

Explore Mount Sinai Physician-Scientist Residency Programs

Navigating Research and Clinical Transitions

Preparing MD-PhD Students for Clinical Rotations: Navigating the Interface Between PhD and MD Training
Goldberg C, Insel PA. Academic Medicine. 2013;88(6):745–747.

Effectiveness of a Clinical Intervention for MD/PhD Students Re-Entering Medical School
Bills JL, Davidson M, Dermody TS. Teaching and Learning in Medicine. 2013;25(1):77–83.

Career Development and Sustainability