Collaborative seminar series to develop the next generation of physician-scientists.
Welcome to the Young Physician-Scientist Series (YPSS) webpage maintained by Duke University!
The YPSS began with a partnership between Duke, Washington University in Saint Louis, and Weill Cornell Medicine - we recently expanded to include Vanderbilt University and the University of Texas-Southwestern. Participating institutions alternate hosting and moderating these sessions on topics that are relevant to early-career physician-scientists.
You do not need to be affiliated with one of the participating institutions to attend our seminar series. Please register below for our mailing list to receive updates on YPSS events. If you are affiliated with Duke University, please register for our Duke mailing list.
Next Seminar:
The next seminar will be hosted by Vanderbilt and will explore 'Building your lab team: From 1st hires, trainees, and more' on February 25th at 4 PM ET, 3 PM CT. Panelists and participants from the participating universities will provide insight into how to overcome challenges when starting a new lab:
- Recruiting and mentoring your first hires
- Developing your own leadership style
- Juggling the complexities of funding and resource allocation
This meeting will be hosted by Vanderbilt University, with Chelsie Sievers (MD, PhD), Vanderbilt PSTP Chief Fellow, moderating the panel. Panelists include:
- Hao Zhu (MD), University of Texas-Southwestern
- Yash Choksi (MD), Vanderbilt University
- Anna S. Nam (MD), Weill Cornell Medicine
- Jonathan R. Brestoff (MD, PhD), Washington University-St. Louis
- Jeffery Russ (MD, PhD), Duke University
Taking Discovery Science to Clinical Trials (January 23, 2026) An inter-institutional panel discussion hosted by Duke University:
- Christopher Holley, MD, PhD; (Moderator), Associate Professor of Medicine, Duke University
- Vishal Patel, MD; Yin Quan-Yuen Distinguished Professorship in Nephrology, University of Texas-Southwestern
- Michael Savona, MD; Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology Oncology, Vanderbilt University
- Andrew Young, MD, PhD; Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology, Washington University-St. Louis
- Caitlin Gribbin, MD; Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine
- Karl-Dimiter Bissig, MD, PhD; Chen Family Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Duke University
Building a Diverse Funding Portfolio (November 19, 2025) An inter-institutional panel discussion hosted by Washington University in St. Louis with:
- Christoph P Hornik, MD PhD MPH; Professor of Pediatrics, Duke University
- Nicolas Gomez-Banoy, MD; Fellow in Endocrinology, Weill Cornell Medicine
- Scott McCall, MD, PhD; Assistant Professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt University
- Steven Vernino, MD, PhD; Professor of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern
How to Write a Successful K-application (August 27, 2025) An inter-institutional panel discussion with:
- Rasheed Gbadegesin, MD; (Moderator), Associate Dean for Physician-Scientist Development, Duke University
- Jillian Hurst, PhD; Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Duke University
- Drew Schwartz, MD, PhD; Assistant Professor, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis
- J.P. Arroyo, MD, PhD; Assistant Professor, Nephrology, Vanderbilt University
- Steven Crowley, MD, Professor, Medicine (Nephrology), Duke University
- Emre Turer, MD, PhD; Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern
- Hasina Outtz Reed, MD, PhD; Assistant Professor, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine
- Panelist answers to attendee questions:
Navigating the Path to Independence (February 6, 2025) An inter-institutional panel discussion with:
- Kyu Y. Rhee, MD, PhD; (Moderator) Professor, Medicine (ID), Weill Cornell Medicine
- Daniel Cook, MD; Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology Weill Cornell Medicine
- Angela Hirbe, MD, PhD; Associate Professor, Medicine (Oncology) Washington University in St. Louis
- Stacey Maskarinec, MD, PhD; Assistant Professor, Medicine (ID) Duke University
How Do I Fund My New Lab? (August 21, 2024) An inter-institutional panel discussion with:
- Megan Baldridge, MD, PhD; Associate Professor, Medicine & Molecular Microbiology, Washington University
- Andrew Landstrom, MD, PhD; Associate Professor, Pediatrics, Duke University
- Kyu Y. Rhee, MD, PhD; Professor, Medicine (ID), Weill Cornell Medicine
- Jacqui Hawkins,PhD; (Moderator) Director, Scientific Training of Physician-Scientists, Washington University)
Tips on Starting a Research Lab (May 22, 2024) An inter-institutional panel discussion with:
- Gow Arepally, MD (Moderator); Professor of Medicine, Hematologist, Duke University;
- Anna Nam, MD; Assistant Professor, Pathologist, Weill Cornell Medicine;
- Sudarshan Rajagopal, MD, PhD; Associate Professor, Cardiologist, Duke University; and
- Melissa Mavers, MD, PhD; Assistant Professor, Pediatric Oncologist, Washington University-St. Louis