SAT-863 - Strengthening the Diabetes Early-Career Physician-Scientist Workforce through A National K12 Career Development Program

Background: In July 2022, the NIH launched the multi-center National K12 “Diabetes-Docs: Physician-Scientist Career Development Program” (DiabDocs) to strengthen the workforce of early-career physician-scientists conducting diabetes research. This structured program provides mentored research experiences and tailored career development training to foster the next generation of leaders in diabetes research to improve care for people of all ages living with diabetes. DiabDocs aims to address the critical shortage of endocrinologists and other physicians conducting innovative basic, translational, and clinical diabetes research. To expand opportunities for national participation and collaboration, DiabDocs scholars may hold faculty appointments at any eligible institution across the US.

Methods:
DiabDocs Program operates as a national, multi-center K12 initiative led by two Program Directors and supported by three committees – the Executive Leadership Committee, National Advisory Committee, and Study Review Committee – representing 29 research institutions thoughout the US. These committees oversee scholar recruitment, selection, and ongoing mentorship. Scholars are supported with 75% protected time and $50,000 annually for research expenses. They also engage in a structured career development curriculum focused on topics relevant for early career MD researchers. Recruitment occurs annually through a two-stage process involving Letters of Intent (LOIs) from which a subset are invited to submit full applications. Applicants are interviewed and proposals are reviewed and scored through a process modeled after NIH study sections. Program activities include an annual retreat featuring scientific presentations, peer mentorship, visiting scholar opportunities, and leadership development. Selection of the fifth cohort of scholars is in process and scholars will commence in Summer 2026.

Results:
Over five recruitment cycles, 56 individual applicants from 33 institutions have submitted LOIs. Importantly, applicants represented 29 institutions without prior K12 programs. Of 95 LOIs received, 61 advanced to full applications, resulting in ultimate selection of 24 Scholars for funding through cycle 4. Eleven Scholars are adult endocrinologists, nine are pediatric endocrinologists, three are combined adult/pediatric endocrinologists and one is an internist.

Conclusions: The DiabDocs program identifies, recruits, and supports outstanding junior faculty and recent fellowship graduates focused on careers as diabetes physician-scientists. The program provides a national network dedicated to protected research time, career development programs, and mentorship to develop the future workforce of physician-scientists focused on the advancement of diabetes research.

*Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts presented at ENDO must not be released to the press or the public until the date and time of presentation. For oral presentations, the abstracts are embargoed until the session begins. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.*