Arising from a listening session about challenges faced by junior clinician-scientist faculty and supported by leadership of physician-scientist training programs across campus, vertically-integrated programs (VIP) are a novel concept to enhance cohesiveness across the different stages of career development.

VIP brings together trainees and faculty around shared focused areas of interest, offering opportunities for training, discussion, and networking. In a highly segregated educational environment, VIP offers a solution for greater harmonization.

First launched by Dr. James Brugarolas in Cancer, VIPs are expected to develop in multiple areas including metabolism, neuroscience, vascular biology, and immunology.

Activities

VIP-C hosts monthly events, including:

• Research presentations by faculty and students
• Panel discussions
• Debates
• Networking and social events

In addition, VIP-C members have access to a Teams Channel, which serves as a:

• Networking venue to promote interaction between trainees and faculty
• Vehicle to learn about research and other opportunities
• Information resource

Eligibility

All UT Southwestern Medical Center students, trainees, and faculty are eligible to participate.

How to apply

Please send an email to Dr. Brugarolas (c.o. Kiki Fuller KCPAdmin@utsouthwestern.edu).

To be included in the Teams Channel, please reach out to Dr. Joshua Gruber (joshua.gruber@utsouthwestern.edu) or Dr. Ken Westover (kenneth.westover@utsouthwestern.edu), VIP-C channel administrators.

VIP-C Delegates (2023–2024)

Representation is sought from all stakeholders. Representatives meet every other month to brainstorm about VIP-C initiatives and future development.

• MS:
  • MS 1-2: Remington Hoyer
  • MS 1-2: Phillip Taboada
  • MS 3-4: Tidie Song, Josh Goh, Maishara Muquith
• MSTP:
  • MSTP1-MSTP2: Carlos Ayala Santos, Keyi Yin
  • MSTP >3: Holly Guo, Ben Kroger
• Residency:
  • Internal Medicine: Zane Gray, M.D., Marisa Kometas, M.D.
  • Pediatrics: Joseph Formella, M.D.
  • Surgery: Munir Buhaya, M.D., Morgan Pettigrew, M.D.
  • RadOnc: Joseph Kwon, M.D., M.P.H., Meng-Lun Hsieh, D.O., Ph.D., Maureen Aliru, M.D., Ph.D.
  • PSTP: Eliot Zhu, M.D., Ph.D.
  • TARDIS: Gilbert Murimwa, M.D., Haitao Xu M.D., Pete Carlsgaard, M.D., Natalie Williams, M.D.
• Fellowship (HemeOnc): William (Scott) Schwartzman, M.D.
• Junior Faculty: Yuanyuan (Faith) Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., Joshua Gruber, M.D., Ph.D.
• Senior Faculty: Jim Brugarolas, M.D., Ph.D., Kenneth Westover, M.D., Ph.D.

Integrating research and patient care panel discussion.

Kickoff event.

Panel discussion on ideas to build a research program around.

Vertically Integrated Program (VIP) Poster