Clinical Investigator Track (CI)
The Department of Medicine partners with the Department of Public Health Sciences, allowing one upper-level resident to obtain a department-sponsored Master of Science in Clinical Research degree. Residents chosen for the Clinical Investigator (CI) Track complete a one-year accelerated master’s degree program (31 credits) during their PGY-2 year while maintaining their continuity clinic responsibilities. Interested applicants must take the In-Service Training Exam as a PGY-1 and score in the 50th percentile to be eligible for application to this program.
The Master of Science in Clinical Research (MS-CR) program provides training to healthcare professionals who want to develop quantitative and analytic skills in patient-oriented and translational research and more traditional clinical investigation. Using an interdisciplinary blend of biostatistics, epidemiology, clinical trial design, medical informatics, and health services research, the MS-CR program equips clinical researchers with the statistical and data management tools to conduct comparative effectiveness studies in medical care. There are also additional training opportunities for students interested in quality improvement, healthcare administration, medical economics, and community health. The coursework is taught by faculty in the Department of Public Health Sciences in collaboration with other faculty in the UVA Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Arts and Sciences, Business, and Law.
Resident Testimonials
For me, the CI track was one of the defining experiences of residency. Dedicated time for the master’s program allowed me to grapple with challenging concepts and learn new skills I otherwise would not have had time for. Classes like Epidemiology and Translational Research, Environmental Epidemiology (both with Dr. Wells!), biostatistics using R, and Database Management using SQL, helped me to develop a framework for critically designing and evaluating medical research. This framework can be applied not only as I conduct my own research, but as I work clinically and apply the research of others’ using evidence-based medicine. Through the CI track, I am both better equipped to become a physician-scientist and a stronger clinician.
The clinical investigator track at UVA offers a unique chance to earn a master’s in clinical research while in residency. I appreciate that the program allows customization of courses to suit individual interests, providing immediately applicable skills. Core classes like biostatistics integrate SAS/R and Tableau, while electives such as informatics teach SQL and environmental epidemiology covers ESRI/GIS. Personally, I’m interested in biotech/medical devices and was able to take BME courses through the program, where I found mentors and explored this field. Thanks to these connections and skills, I achieved my goal of patenting a medical device and starting a company, something I thought was impossible before joining the program.
Emily is graduating in July 2024, followed by Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship at UC San Diego.
The Clinical Investigator (CI) Track is an excellent opportunity to gain a formal education in medical research and clinical trial design. Furthermore, it lays the groundwork for a career in academic medicine. In the CI track, I benefited from protected research time with faculty mentors, a well-integrated curriculum in statistics and epidemiology, and great continuity in my clinical training. One of my favorite classes was PHS 7120 Theory and Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology, during which we designed clinical trials and conducted a mock NIH grant review that was judged by our classmates. I also enjoyed learning how to use research tools such as SAS, SQL, RevMan, and Tableau. With this education, I feel empowered and well-equipped to pursue new research endeavors. I highly recommend this unique opportunity to any applicant passionate about academic medicine.
Jonathan is now a Cardiology Imaging fellow at UVA
I can’t say enough good things about the clinical investigator track. It truly is a unique program to UVA. I was given the opportunity to complete a Masters in Clinical Investigation during the second year of residency, without extending my training. Because of the masters, I now have a better understanding of study design, statistical analysis, and writing grants. In addition, there is protected time during the track, to complete several research projects. Because of the knowledge I gained during my masters, I was able to ask a study question, design the research project, and complete the analysis. I then had the opportunity to present my findings at several national conferences. Because of this track, I now feel equipped to pursue an academic and research career in Cardiology.
Sthuthi is now a Cardiology fellow at UCLA