biostudies-literatureUnknown6(1)Macedo B<h4>Introduction</h4>Physician-scientist training programs expect applicants to have had extensive research experience prior to applying. Even at the best of times, this leaves individuals from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds at a competitive disadvantage, especially those remote from major academic centers. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated that disadvantage by closing research laboratories and suspending summer research opportunities.<h4>Methods</h4>The Virtual Summer Research Program (VSRP) was designed to combat this shortfall by helping participating students become better informed and better prepared for applying to MD/DO-PhD programs. 156 participants were recruited from historically black colleges and universities and from national organizations for underrepresented trJournal of clinical and translational sciencee120https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9549583biostudies-literatureThe Virtual Summer Research Program: supporting future physician-scientists from underrepresented backgrounds.PMC9549583Granovetter MCDaye DMacedo BChristophers BBhoj EBarrere-Cain RAlbrecht YSBrass LKumar RRodrigues JAfalseThe Virtual Summer Research Program: supporting future physician-scientists from underrepresented backgrounds.<h4>Introduction</h4>Physician-scientist training programs expect applicants to have had extensive research experience prior to applying. Even at the best of times, this leaves individuals from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds at a competitive disadvantage, especially those remote from major academic centers. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated that disadvantage by closing research laboratories and suspending summer research opportunities.<h4>Methods</h4>The Virtual Summer Research Program (VSRP) was designed to combat this shortfall by helping participating students become better informed and better prepared for applying to MD/DO-PhD programs. 156 participants were recruited from historically black colleges and universities and from national organizations for underrepresented tr2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-04T23:19:28.924Z2025-04-04T23:19:28.924ZS-EPMC95495833628502010.1017/cts.2022.447