Family Medicine residents have world-class clinical training, gaining the knowledge and skills needed to provide excellent healthcare to their communities. However, for residents interested in academic medicine and clinical investigation, it can be challenging to find resources, training, and research-focused communities while balancing the demands of an intensive residency program.
To help provide these resources to residents and other medical learners, the Utah Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (Utah StARR) program was created to train residents across disciplines for careers in academic medicine and clinical investigation.
Through Utah StARR, residents have opportunities to learn and practice clinical, transitional, health service, and community-engaged research skills during their residency training. The program provides residents with devoted research time over 12-24 months to prepare them for a long-term career in academic medicine.
The Division of Family and Community Medicine (FCM) encourages its Family Medicine Residents interested in research careers, including academic faculty positions, to apply for the program. Currently, the division has three residents participating in the Utah StARR program: first-year resident Tetsu Kawai, MD; second-year resident Tracy Hunter, MD; and fourth-year resident Kayla Jordanova, MD.
Dr. Jordanova, whose residency has exceeded the usual three years, specifically extended her residency to participate in the Utah StARR research track.
“I wanted to build upon the research skills I developed during medical school. Dedicated time for research during residency is rare, especially in family medicine, so as soon as I learned about the StARR program I knew it was a special opportunity,” said Jordanova.
The longitudinal nature of the StARR program, which intersperses research blocks with clinical blocks, also appealed to Dr. Jordanova. She appreciates how the program’s structure allows her to stay engaged with clinical training and co-residents while still having time to achieve meaningful research outcomes. This balance of developing skills in quantitative and qualitative analysis, in addition to clinical skills, has helped Dr. Jordanova avoid burnout.
Utah StARR Co-Program Director Joseph Stanford, MD, MSPH, CFCMC, believes Utah StARR is a great opportunity for residents like Dr. Jordanova who want to explore a research component in their careers.
“When I was a resident, I did a research project, but it was a challenge to complete in the middle of rotations,” said Stanford. “The program gives residents the time to research while receiving excellent mentoring.”
In addition to the dedicated research time, the StARR program has connected Dr. Jordanova with a network of mentors and peers active in clinician research positions. Having this network helped her gain a clear understanding of an academic medicine career path early on in her residency training.
"One of the main benefits of the StARR program is to have support through the mentorship network,” said Jordanova.
This network extends beyond Utah StARR scholars and mentors. A highlight of this networking occurred when Dr. Jordanova presented at the American Heart Association Epidemiology and Lifestyle Scientific Sessions conference in March. There, she connected with researchers around the country with similar research interests in weight management.
As Dr. Jordanova completes her final year of residency, she will spend six months focused on research and six months doing clinical rotations. Before graduation, she plans to tie up several research projects and aims to present her work at more conferences.
Upon completing the Utah StARR program, Dr. Stanford hopes residents have a clear understanding of how to conduct research and grasp key elements for success in the field, including project planning, writing grants, data analysis, and publishing findings. With these skills, participants can successfully transition to funded physician investigator careers in their chosen specialty.
