The Internal Medicine Residency Training Program offers a physician-scientist program, the ABIM Research Pathway. Two to three applicants each year are accepted to this pathway who have evidence of significant previous research experience and a strong interest in a career as an academic physician-scientist. 
This track has two career pathways. The Subspecialty Research Pathway which includes a clinical fellowship and The Internal Medicine Research Pathway which combines a fast-track residency training with protected mentored research.
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The Subspecialty Research Pathway
The UAB Department of Medicine ranks consistently in the top 20 in the nation for NIH grants and is committed to training talented housestaff to become independent investigators. The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) has created a training pathway for residents committed to academic physician-scientist careers. The ABIM Research Pathway (also known as a “short track”) is a structured program that combines internal medicine residency training, clinical fellowship training and scholarly research. Applicants to the UAB ABIM Research Pathway are expected to have had extensive research training, such as a combined M.D./Ph.D. programs or other significant research experience. Applicants are expected to commit to a fellowship program at the time of application.
The essential elements of the pathway are as follows:- 24 months internal medicine training: The ABIM Research Pathway resident will devote this portion of the pathway to patient care. Since this critical period of training is shortened from 36 months of standard categorical training to 24 months, participants are expected to be outstanding clinicians that excel at patient care.
- 12-24 months clinical subspecialty training: The training period is dependent on the type of fellowship, and is determined by the ABIM and the professional subspecialty boards. See tables below.
- 36 months research training: A research mentor will be selected before the completion of residency training. During the research training period, it is expected that the participant will develop, with the guidance of the research mentor, a research program. The participant will also present oral and/or poster presentations at regional, national and international scientific meetings and publish in peer-reviewed journals, and participate in structured seminars, journal clubs and laboratory meetings. At least 80% of effort during this three-year period will be devoted to research training, along with ½ day per week (10% effort) of an ambulatory subspecialty continuity clinic. The remaining 10% of effort will be a combination of additional clinical or research time to be determined by the subspecialty program.
- It is expected that successful participants will apply for a NIH Career Development Award or other competitive career development award during the last year of the program.
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The Internal Medicine Research Pathway
The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) has also created a training pathway for physicians committed to academic careers, where subspecialty clinical training is not required. The Internal Medicine Research Pathway is dedicated to promoting the academic careers of those focused on such fields as clinical epidemiology, public health, health policy, behavioral sciences and outcomes research. Applicants are encouraged to have had previous experience that can include combined M.D./M.P.H. programs or other significant research or public health experience.
The essential elements of the pathway are as follows:- 24 months internal medicine training: The ABIM Research Pathway resident will devote this portion of the pathway to patient care. Since this critical period of training is shortened from 36 months of standard categorical training to 24 months, participants are expected to be outstanding clinicians that excel at patient care.
- 36 months research training: A research mentor will be selected before the completion of residency training. During the research training period, it is expected that the participant will develop, with the guidance of the research mentor, a research program. The participant will also present oral and/or poster presentations at regional, national and international scientific meetings and publish in peer-reviewed journals, and participate in structured seminars, journal clubs and laboratory meetings. At least 80% of effort during this three-year period will be devoted to research training, along with ½ day per week (10% effort) of an ambulatory subspecialty continuity clinic. The remaining 10% of effort will include additional clinical training that may be intermittent or block time
- It is expected that successful participants will apply for a NIH Career Development Award or other competitive career development award during the last year of the program.
For more information on this program, please contact the Program by e-mail at tpickens@uab.edu or visit the national ABIM web site for requirements and qualifications for Board certification.
Note: Once your primary application is reviewed, we will request a supplemental application that describes your current and past research experience.
Applying to Our Program
Only electronic applications via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) are accepted for Internal Medicine ABIM Research Pathway Program. We do not accept any applications that are mailed or faxed to our office. Please see the residency criteria and NRMP numbers for our track.
If applying for our program, you will need the following in addition to the documents required in ERAS:
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Research Mentor Letter of Recommendation (unless this was already included in your LORs within ERAS)
ABIM Research Pathway Interview Dates
As is required by the NRMP, all interviews will be virtual this year. Thursday and Friday interviews will consist of:
Thursday interviews with your fellowship program of choice, Friday morning with the Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Friday afternoon interviews with the ABIM Research Pathway Leadership.
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November 21-22
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December 5-6
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December 12-13