Physician-Scientist Training Program (PePSTP)

Oliver Langenberg Physician-Scientist Training Program

Washington University and its Department of Pediatrics have a long and successful history of training pediatric physician-scientists.  Our Pediatric Physician-Scientist Training Program (PePSTP) was formalized in 2011, and the program has received substantial external support since 2013 from the Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation. The foundation has provided a grant in memory of Oliver Langenberg, a St. Louis businessman and philanthropist who led the foundation for 50 years and died in 2012 at the age of 99.

Quick facts

  • Our Pediatric Residency Program averages 5.5 MD/PhD interns per entering class
  • The PePSTP has inducted 33 trainees since 2012, has graduated 15 trainees and has 13 trainees currently in the program
  • Among PePSTP graduates who have applied for K awards, success rate is 100%; additional graduates have received subspecialty-specific career awards
  • Overall, the Department of Pediatrics has a K08 success rate of 95% and K-to-R success rate of 61%, both far above national averages

Key features

  1. A flexible, individualized training experience combining both clinical and research training.
  2. Enhanced mentoring to optimize transitions from clinical to scientific training and into the first academic faculty position.
  3. Preferential access into any of the subspecialty fellowships at Wash U and SLCH. 
  4. Discretionary educational funds and salary enhancement (see below).

The ultimate goal of the program is to ensure the successful launch of pediatric trainees into research-intensive faculty careers in academic medicine. Successful applicants will generally have both MD and PhD degrees, or be MD’s with a Master’s degree or other substantial research experience (including publications). Trainees in the PePSTP are encouraged to consider participating in the Accelerated Research Pathway (i.e., fast-tracking) as defined by the American Board of Pediatrics; to date, about 60% of our PePSTP trainees have elected to follow the ARP.

The PePSTP is dedicated to training young scientists and preparing them for successful careers in academic medicine. The program focuses on the period from the completion of the combined MD/PhD degree through the clinical and post-doctoral research training years, with the goal of achieving full-time academic appointment as an investigator. The PePSTP combines the intensive clinical training environment of St. Louis Children’s Hospital with rigorous scientific training in the world-renowned laboratories at Washington University. Presuming successful progress within the Categorical Pediatrics Residency Program, trainees enjoy preferential access into any of the clinical fellowships offered within the Department of Pediatrics. Fellowship research training (beginning in Year 4 if fast-tracking, Year 5 if on standard track) can be conducted within any laboratory across the broad biomedical research landscape of Washington University.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include graduates with a combined MD/PhD degree, or an MD degree and a strong record of scientific experience, including publications. PePSTP trainees must fulfill all eligibility requirements for our Categorical Pediatrics training program. The most competitive candidates will have a strong commitment to a research career in academic medicine (including subspecialty fellowship training following residency) and an outstanding academic record.

Under-represented in medicine (URiM) Students: Learn more about the Kornfeld Post-Bac initiative seeking to address limited representation of minorities and disadvantaged populations in medicine and the biomedical workforce.

Application Process

All MD/PhD applicants should use ERAS to apply to the PePSTP track at SLCH.  For an MD/PhD applicant to be considered for PePSTP, a recommendation letter from the applicant’s PhD mentor or research supervisor must be included within the ERAS application materials. In addition, the ERAS Personal Statement should encompass the research experience of the applicant and should be specific and detailed regarding future plans for academic career development. 

In the current season, interviews for all MD/PhD residency applicants will be held by Zoom in October through January and consist of two days:  the first (Thursday) a traditional residency interview, and the second (Friday) focused on PePSTP program details and research training opportunities.

Applicants who wish to be considered for both the PePSTP and categorical tracks should apply to both tracks in ERAS.

ERAS IDs:

  • PePSTP: 1869320C1
  • Categorical: 1869320C0
Financial Support

PePSTP Trainees are guaranteed funding for both their clinical training years and their years of post-doctoral research. Senior fellows are encouraged to seek additional extramural funding (e.g., NIH K awards) to facilitate a subsequent transition to their first academic faculty position.

PePSTP Trainees receive additional funds to support their career development that include:

  • Internship (Year 1) – $3,000 for the purchase of computers, software, books
  • Years 2 and 3 – $2,000 per year for travel to national meetings or purchases of software or books
  • Years 4, 5 and 6 – $10,000 annual supplement to salary (reflected in the stipends shown below)

Stipends *

Year 1Intern$65,833
Year 2Resident$68,753
Year 3Clinical Fellow$71,533
Year 4Research Fellow$84,756
Year 5Research Fellow$88,031
Year 6Research Fellow$90,426
* For the 2023-24 academic year, on Accelerated Research Pathway

Program structure

Clinical training

Pediatrics Training: Trainees will complete their internship and residency years within our Categorical Pediatrics Residency Program. Trainees who participate in the American Board of Pediatrics Accelerated Research Pathway (i.e., fast-tracking) will begin their subspecialty fellowship training during their third post-graduate year (PGY3) in lieu of their senior resident year in Pediatrics.

Clinical Fellowship Training: Trainees will complete the required clinical subspecialty training as outlined by their ABP subspecialty boards. This typically entails 12 to 18 months total of clinical activities, depending on the specific fellowship chosen.

Research training

The selection of an appropriate post-doctoral training environment is critical to the success of the physician-scientist trainee. To assist this critical selection process, trainees are closely mentored by the program directors and the relevant division chiefs and fellowship directors.  Trainees will attend annual Department of Pediatrics Research Retreat and Career Development Retreat, in addition to retreat events offered by each Department and Research Program with the Graduate Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences.

Trainees are not limited to working within Pediatrics, but are encouraged to explore the broad and deep research environment across Washington University and can choose any laboratory in which to complete their post-doctoral research training. For specific information, see the faculty research listings the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences and the School of Medicine. Also, the Children’s Discovery Institute is a useful resource for residents, fellows, and faculty.

Coursework

Trainees can enroll in or audit courses offered through the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences and the Institute for Clinical and Translational Sciences covering every aspect of contemporary biomedical and clinical research.

Seminar series

PSTP Trainees from Pediatrics, Medicine, and Pathology participate in seminar series and retreat activities focused on research in medicine.

  • Annual PSTP Symposium and Spring Talks series, featuring dinner with established physician-investigators
  • Discussion in Medical Research. Joint seminar series with the Washington University MD-PhD (MSTP) program in which faculty members discuss their research programs and career paths

In addition, PePSTP Trainees attend:

  • Pediatric Molecular Medicine Seminar: This series is centered on recent developments in molecular medicine. In addition, senior trainees discuss their research at this weekly forum
  • Annual Department of Pediatrics Research Retreat
  • Annual Pediatric Fellows’ Career Development Retreat

PePSTP trainees have full access to the activities and programs of the Division of Physician-Scientists, and often attend weekly seminar series and special lectures offered by the relevant basic science programs within the Graduate Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences.

Contact information

Anthony French, MD, PhD

PePSTP Co-director
Email: french_a@wustl.edu

David Hunstad, MD

PePSTP Co-director
Email: dhunstad@wustl.edu

Are you ready?

Learn more about our application process.

Current trainees

Matthew Biehl, MD, PhD

Matthew Biehl, MD, PhD

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago

Graduation Year: 2020

Subspecialty: Nephrology Fellow (ARP)

Lena Dang, MD, PhD

Lena Dang, MD, PhD

Medical School: Washington University in St. Louis

Graduation Year: 2021

Subspecialty: Cardiology

Kevin Graepel, MD, PhD

Kevin Graepel, MD, PhD

Class of 2023

Medical School: Vanderbilt University

Graduation Year: 2020

Subspecialty: Critical Care

Matthew Grunewald, MD, PhD

Matthew Grunewald, MD, PhD

Medical School: University of Iowa

Graduation Year: 2021

Subspecialty: Rheumatology

Eric Hawley, MD, PhD

Eric Hawley, MD, PhD

Medical School: Indiana University

Graduation Year: 2021

Subspecialty: Hematology/Oncology

Jonathan Liang, MD, PhD

Jonathan Liang, MD, PhD

Class of 2026

Medical school: Yale School of Medicine

Graduation year: 2023

Subspecialty: Rheumatology & AIPM

Jerome Molleston, MD, PhD

Jerome Molleston, MD, PhD

Medical School: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Graduation Year: 2018

Subspecialty: Gastroenterology Fellow (ARP)

Research Mentor:  Dr. Megan Baldridge

Lance Peterson, MD, PhD

Lance Peterson, MD, PhD

Medical School: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Graduation Year: 2017

Subspecialty: Rheumatology Fellow (ARP)

Research Mentor: Dr. Kodi Ravichandran

Daniel Pike, MD, PhD

Daniel Pike, MD, PhD

Medical School: St. Louis University School of Medicine

Graduation Year: 2022

Maria Schletzbaum Bowler, MD, PhD

Maria Schletzbaum Bowler, MD, PhD

Class of 2026

Medical school: University of Wisconsin

Graduation year: 2023

Subspecialty: Rheumatology & AIPM

Courtney Vaughn, MD, PhD

Courtney Vaughn, MD, PhD

Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Graduation Year: 2022

Subspecialty: Hematology/Oncology

Daniel Verbaro, MD, PhD

Daniel Verbaro, MD, PhD

Class of 2023

Medical School: Washington University in St. Louis

Graduation Year: 2020

Subspecialty: Gastroenterology

Graduates

Tarin Bigley, MD, PhD

Tarin Bigley, MD, PhD

2022 Graduate

Current position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Rheumatology

Current institution: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

Research Mentor: Dr. Wayne Yokoyama

Funding: NIAID K08

Lab: bigleylab.wustl.edu

 

Nicole Brossier, MD, PhD

Nicole Brossier, MD, PhD

2018 Graduate

Current position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology

Current institution: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

Funding: Hyundai Hope on Wheels Young Investigator, NICHD K12

Lab: brossierlab.wustl.edu

Margaret A. Ferris, MD, PhD

Margaret A. Ferris, MD, PhD

2018 Graduate

Current position: Instructor in Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology

Current institution: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

Funding: NICHD K12

Research mentor: Dr. Dan Link

Leslie Fogel, MD, PhD

Leslie Fogel, MD, PhD

2022 Graduate

Current position: Instructor in Pediatrics, Rheumatology

Current institution: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

Research mentor: Dr. Julie Bubeck Wardenburg

Sarah Greene, MD, PhD

Sarah Greene, MD, PhD

2022 Graduate

Current position: Instructor in Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases

Current institution: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

Research mentor: Dr. Gary Weil

Carmen Halabi, MD, PhD

Carmen Halabi, MD, PhD

2014 Graduate

Current position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Nephrology

Current institution: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

Funding: NIDDK K08

Lab: halabilab.wustl.edu

Jennifer Ikle, MD, PhD

Jennifer Ikle, MD, PhD

2022 Graduate

Current position: Instructor in Pediatrics, Endocrinology

Current institution: Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford

Funding: NIDDK K08

Suong Nguyen, MD, PhD

Suong Nguyen, MD, PhD

2022 Graduate

Current position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Current institution: Emory School of Medicine

Research mentor: Dr. Dan Goldberg

Anthony Orvedahl, MD, PhD

Anthony Orvedahl, MD, PhD

2016 Graduate

Current position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases

Current institution: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

Funding: NIAID K08, NIH DP2

Research Mentor: Dr. Gary Silverman

Lab: orvedahllab.wustl.edu

David Rosen, MD, PhD

David Rosen, MD, PhD

2015 Graduate

Current position: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases

Current institution: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

Funding: NIAID K08, R01, R42, R21

Lab: rosenlab.wustl.edu

Ellen Schill, MD, PhD

Ellen Schill, MD, PhD

2023 Graduate

Current position: Instructor in Pediatrics, Newborn Medicine

Current institution: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

Medical school: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

Graduation Year: 2017

Research Mentor: Dr. Rodney Newberry

Erica Schmitt, MD, PhD

Erica Schmitt, MD, PhD

2021 Graduate

Current position: Instructor in Pediatrics, Rheumatology

Current institution: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

Funding: NICHD K12