(Clockwise from top left) Drs. Ori Scott, Justin Lam, Liana Figueiredo Nobre, Erica Wennberg, Brandon Maser, Ashish Deshwar, Nikhil Raghuram
The Department of Paediatrics offers a versatile, tailored and robust research/academic training pipeline designed to enable development of scholars/investigators and scientists engaged in a broad spectrum of transformative, leading edge child health science. The goal of our PIPs program – Paediatric Investigators, Scholars Scientists Pathways, is to train and equip the next generation of paediatric clinicians/scientist to tackle the problems of tomorrow by teaching them to be dynamic, versatile, innovative thinkers and strong multi-disciplinary collaborators.
The PIPs program offers multiple potential entry points for paediatric residents and sub-specialty fellows to pursue dedicated research training during, following or integrated with their clinical training program. Training programs for individuals interested in scholarship/research as a significant part of their future career are carefully and collaboratively designed by the directors responsible for clinical and research training. Senior trainees with advanced research training and achievements will have opportunities to compete for a Transition Clinician-Scientist position designed to prepare them for an independent faculty position as a paediatric clinician scientist/investigator.
Clinician-Scientist Training: Research and Academic Pathways
Explore our program and each level of training offered in the clinician-scientist pathway. Each level of training offers an enriched and immersive research experience with many of the world's best researchers, along with a longitudinal mentorship program and educational opportunities as part of our research training curriculum. Gaining in-depth research experience serves as a complement to the clinical training in the Department of Paediatrics, leading to an exciting and fulfilling career as a clinician-scientist!
The Department of Paediatrics is renowned for research and our Core Paediatric residency program provides the opportunity for residents to become involved in research and/or scholarly projects. It is expected that all paediatric trainees will complete at least one scholarly project during their three core years of training as per the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada requirements. These efforts are supported by research mentorship programs and two-weeks of protected time in the first year allows trainees the opportunity to begin projects. Further time may be set aside for these projects during the second, third and fourth year.
The Resident Research and Scholarship Committee, comprised of both faculty members across all paediatric specialties and residents, was formed to provide oversight, guidance and support to residents with respect to their scholarly endeavours, and to strengthen resident research and scholarship within the Core Paediatrics training program. The committee members may also serve as Resident Research and Scholarship Facilitators and meet one-on-one with the residents to discuss their research project goals and mentor the residents throughout their residency. Our Facilitators are also the first point of contact for the residents when they are searching for projects to get involved with during residency and for finding potential research supervisors to work with.
Core Paediatric Residents may enter the program with a Medical Degree (MD), or combination of MD plus graduate training (MD-PhD, or MD-MSc). Our tailored clinician-scientist program encourages many entry points into the pipeline should the residents wish to pursue this research training to become a clinician-scientist, and we have resources and a mentorship structure in place to help foster and develop an exciting career as a clinician-scientist.
Clinical Fellowship training is available in most of our paediatric subspecialties in the Department of Paediatrics. Our department is comprised of 17 divisions with each subspecialty program managed by a Divisional Education Program Director and team of Education Coordinators.
Research fellowships can be conducted under the mentorship of clinicians, clinician investigators/scientists and scientists with research appointments. At Temerty Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, trainees have the opportunity to train with researchers who are global leaders in their fields. They have exclusive opportunities to engage in ground breaking science and partake in efforts to translate research into improved patient care. As a research fellow, you will have unrestricted access to our expertise, state-of-the-art equipment, technologies and services provided by our core facilities. You will have the benefit of dedicated career mentorship, financial and educational support including those from the SickKids Research Training Centre and the Research Training Program in the Department of Paediatrics.
For more information on pursuing a Research Fellowship in paediatrics, please contact our office.
The Transition Clinician-Scientist (TCS) position is new research focused, mentored career development path created by the Clinical and Research Leadership at SickKids to promote and support the development of the next generation of innovative clinician-scientists/investigators focused on child health. The TCS program which is modeled after the NIH K-awards program in the United States, provides an opportunity for physician trainees with advanced research degrees or experience to undertake a termed fully funded junior research faculty position renewable for up to 3 years, after completion of core and/or subspecialty clinical training. Highly competitive trainees selected to enter the transition scientist junior faculty, will have very limited clinical responsibilities with 75-80% time protected to pursue and develop an independent research program guided by a senior scientist and a structured scientific and career mentorship committee that evaluates performance bi-annually. It is anticipated that transition scientist will have demonstrated scientific productivity and developed a competitive, innovative research program by the end of their term, and emerge well-equipped to embark on a successful career as a paediatric clinician-scientist/investigator.
