This program allows medical students to pursue a career in clinical research by allowing them to take a year off from their formal schooling and experience clinical research first hand at an academic medical center which offers a wide range of clinical research opportunities. The program provides both didactic training in clinical research as well as collaborative research opportunities with both junior and senior faculty research mentors.

The foundation of the program at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, which has a long tradition of clinical research and outstanding clinical investigators, integrates the considerable clinical research strengths of the institution with existing educational resources. Special meetings and other didactic programs specifically designed for this unique program ensure a comprehensive experience in clinical research training. The School is pleased to recognize the generous support of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation which is supplemented with funding from the School.

The Program will provide each Fellow a stipend of $27,000 per year in 2009-10, P&S individual student health insurance, and other programmatic fee costs, as well as access to student housing on the Medical Center Campus of Columbia University. The Program will also provide support for travel to scientific meetings as well as research costs.

Fellows are registered at the College of Physicians and Surgeons under a special classification created specifically for this program, the tuition costs of which are covered by the Program. Fellows receive a Columbia University/College of Physicians and Surgeons transcript which, in addition to listing their courses and grades (pass/fail), will also contain a statement that they have successfully completed the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship Program.

Students must have completed the major clinical year of medical school before the start of the Fellowship (July 1, 2009) and thus most students should apply for this 12-month program in their third year at a U.S. medical school. Fourth year students, who are not graduating in 2009, are eligible to apply. Applicants do not need to have selected a mentor before applying. It is anticipated that, at a minimum, 6 students will be selected and up to two of these will be students not currently enrolled in the College of Physicians and Surgeons. In past years, 8-25 Fellows have been enrolled. The Program is interested in receiving applications from students enrolled in historically black medical schools or individuals from groups traditionally considered to be underrepresented in the biomedical sciences. Applications are accepted from students attending U.S. osteopathic schools of medicine. See the Foundation's and Columbia University's "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ's) for further information on the program.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons has also been awarded additional funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to support 2 Fellows in 2009-10 for a full year of mentored clinical research in global health. Please see the full description of the International Clinical Research Fellowship (ICRF) for complete information.