- Internal Medicine Option — All trainees must successfully complete two years of training in an accredited categorical internal medicine training program. The usual requirement outside the Research Pathway is for three complete years. After completion of two years of clinical training, the candidate enters the research commitment, which lasts for three years. During this time, the candidate commits 80 percent of his or her time to research and 20 percent to clinical work.
- Clinical Subspecialty Training — On this track, the candidate is able to obtain board eligibility for general internal medicine as well as a subspecialty of medicine. The minimum requirement for full-time clinical subspecialty training for certification through the research pathway varies by discipline and would be 24 months in general internal medicine (rather than 36 months) followed by:
- 12 months in allergy and immunology, critical care medicine, diabetes and metabolism, geriatric medicine, hematology, infectious disease, nephrology, medical oncology, pulmonary disease or rheumatology
- 18 months in gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, pulmonary/critical care, rheumatology/allergy and immunology
- 24 months in cardiology
After completion of the appropriate clinical curriculum, the trainee would enter the research period for three years. Eighty percent of their time would be spent in research, 20 percent in clinical activities. Candidates must be qualified both clinically and academically to be considered for the pathway. Evidence of commitment to an academic career is also required. Candidates should already have obtained a Ph.D. or other advanced degree.
All applicants must apply to the Categorical Program via ERAS. Applicants wishing to identify themselves as interested in the Research Pathway should contact Susan Altmayer at saltmaye@uci.edu or 714-456-5691 so that we can include your interest in your file.
For more information regarding the ABIM research pathway please visit ABIM.org.