UW Medical Student Addiction Research (MedStAR) Program to Address Substance Use Disorders in Urban and Rural Communities in Five Western States

The University of Washington’s Medical Student Addiction Research (MedStAR) Program is an NIH supported program dedicated to providing research training and education to the next generation of physicians to address substance use and use disorders in Urban and Rural Communities across Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Students who participate in this program receive specialized mentorship and training in conducting addictions-related research during the summer based on the Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) courses that are a UW School of Medicine requirement. MedStAR students participate in the Discovery Pathway.  Students benefit from continuous clinical and research mentorship throughout their remaining medical school training, as well as additional supports to work toward the goal of presenting their research at a scientific meeting and publishing in a peer-reviewed journal. Students also have opportunities to network with Addiction Medicine fellows and faculty to learn more about careers caring for persons with substance and use disorders.

---