ABIM Research Track
Boston University Medical Campus provides an outstanding environment for the training and development of physician-scientists and clinical investigators. The ABIM Research Track in our Internal Medicine Residency Program integrates training in clinical medicine and research for individuals committed to a career in basic science or clinical research.
Eligibility
The basic eligibility criteria for the ABIM Research Track is same as that of our categorical program. Additional requirements are as follows:
1. Candidate must show a strong commitment to a career in basic science or clinical research.
2. Candidate must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident.
Candidates who are offered interviews are expected to convey their research interest and sub-specialty interest at least two weeks before the interview date. We will try to arrange for meetings with research faculty on the interview date.
Residents who match into the ABIM Research Track will need to be accepted into a sub-specialty fellowship program at Boston University by the end of the internship year. Candidates who fail to gain acceptance into a subspecialty fellowship program during their intern year will continue training as a categorical internal medicine resident.
Clinical Training
Residents in the ABIM Research Track are required to satisfactorily complete 2 years of internal medicine residency including at least 20 months of direct patient care. They will also require additional 12-24 months of sub-specialty clinical training for sub-specialty board eligibility. The requirements for different types of training and board eligibility are noted in tables below.
Research Training
After the abbreviated 2 years of Internal Medicine Residency, trainees in the ABIM research track are required to complete at least 3 years of mentored basic or clinical research. Research training may incorporate formal course-work leading to a Masters or PhD degree. Residents pursuing clinical research may also benefit from the structured training and career development mentorship provided by our multi-disciplinary Clinical Research Training (CREST) Program .
Residents pursuing basic or translational research may seek formal training and mentorship through our NIH funded Clinical and Translational Science Institute programs
Training & Board Eligibility Requirements
| Requirement | Time-period |
| Internal Medicine Clinical Training (Residency Portion of ABIM Track) | 24 months (at least 20 months of direct patient care) |
| Sub-specialty clinical training | For training in allergy and immunology, endocrinology, geriatrics, infectious disease, nephrology, and rheumatology – 12 months For training in gastroenterology, hematology-oncology, pulmonary-critical care medicine, and rheumatology-allergy and immunology combined program – 18 months For training in cardiology – 24 months |
| Research Training | 36 months (at least 80% of time) |
| Ambulatory Clinic during research training | Half-day per week |
| Minimum training length | For training in allergy and immunology, endocrinology, geriatrics, infectious disease, nephrology, and rheumatology – 6 years For training in gastroenterology, hematology-oncology, pulmonary-critical care medicine, and rheumatology-allergy and immunology combined program – 6 years and 6 months For training in cardiology – 7 years |
| Internal Medicine Board Examination Eligibility | During the summer of PGY4 |
| Subspecialty Board Examination Eligibility | For training in allergy and immunology, endocrinology, geriatrics, infectious disease, nephrology, and rheumatology – Fall PGY 6 For training in gastroenterology, hematology-oncology, pulmonary-critical care medicine, and rheumatology-allergy and immunology combined program, cardiology – Fall PGY 7 |
| Internal Medicine and Subspecialty Board Certification Eligibility | After the completion of minimum training length |