The MedStAR program provides UW medical students with opportunities for mentored research and training in Addiction Medicine with the goal of encouraging medical students to consider careers in Addiction Medicine and research. The above timeline summary outlines the activities and milestones students will accomplish as they finish up their medical school training.
The program is centered on the “Independent Investigative Inquiry” 9-week block between 1st and 2nd year of medical school (approximately mid-June to mid-August) and involves a mentored substance use disorder (SUD) research project, structured didactics and clinical experiences in Addiction Medicine. Applications are contingent upon acceptance in III Scholarship of Discovery and being a student in good standing, i.e., does not have extensive remediation requirements.
The program facilitates opportunities to present scholarly work at regional and national meetings as well as fostering ongoing mentoring. Students are linked with a research mentor (an experienced, NIH-funded SUD researcher), a clinical mentor (an active addiction medicine clinician) and have the expertise of a PhD research coach (see diagram below).
