Overview and Timeline

MS-Y1 Fall

Applications open in early fall and selections are made by the end of the calendar year (see Application Process).

MS-Y1 Winter/Spring

Students will typically meet with mentoring team in early winter to plan projects and write their UWSOM III project proposals. Students submit their project proposals to III for UW SOM review and approval (typically in late February/early March) and are notified of acceptance in the spring.

Summer Training Block

Between MS-Y1 and MS-Y2, students participate in the MedStAR program’s Summer Training Block (mid-June to mid-August). The summer MedStAR training block consists of academic half days which include guest lecturers, career panels, journal clubs, and work-in-progress presentations.

 

Lecture topics range from stigma associated with substance use, public health and epidemiology, infectious diseases, statistics, therapeutic modalities for treatment of substance abuse and addiction, and many other related topics. Additionally, students will be offered optional workshops on statistical analysis, citation/reference management software, and publication and presentation prep.

During the summer training block, students will complete a milieu of online trainings in responsible conduct of research as well as other substance use disorder related trainings. For students to receive credit for their III graduation requirement they are required to enroll in, and fulfill all requirements for, the Independent Investigative Inquiry – this includes a 6-credit summer course of independent study (credit to complete their research) and a 1-credit MS-Y2 Fall course where they submit and present their summer researching findings at their corresponding WWAMI foundation site.

Also during the summer training block, students will meet with their research and clinical mentor regularly and receive professional mentorship via assistance with their research and career guidance throughout the summer and beyond. Students may also shadow their clinic mentors while they see and treat patients who have clinically diagnosed substance use disorders.

 

MS-Y2 through Medical School Graduation

After completing the summer block, students will continue to meet with mentors for the remainder of their medical school training until they graduate. We hope that the professional mentorship crafted and curated by the MedStAR program will last well beyond students’ graduation, especially those who continue on to Addiction Medicine fellowships.

Students will also receive opportunities to present their research findings at national or regional addiction related conference such as CPDD, ASAM, AHSR, AMERSA, etc. Students also will receive support from their mentors, research coach and program faculty to publish their research in a peer-reviewed journal before graduating.

MedStAR students will also be asked to attend annual program dinners and receptions to meet with mentors, faculty and other MedStAR student peers and UWSOM Addiction Medicine Fellows.

Pictured: 2022 MedStAR Reception

Program Stipend and Funding

The MedStAR program provides a $5,000 stipend for the summer research block between 1st and 2nd year to support students to attend our program. The stipend is considered taxable income; if students have questions or concerns regarding the impact of the stipend on financial aid, please contact the UW Financial Aid office to assess your unique circumstances.