To be eligible for the National Clinician Scholars program, applicants must be:

• MDs, DOs, or RNs with a doctoral degree (PhD or DNP)
• Committed to a career in serving as change agents to improve health and health care
• Highly regarded by those responsible for their clinical training
• In completion of the clinical requirements allowing for independent clinical work by the date of entry into the program (except for surgeons; due to the structure of the "research years" in the middle of many surgical residencies, surgical residents who will be PGY-3 or higher are eligible to enroll in the program)
• In completion of the doctorate by the date of entry into the program, if a nurse
• Within 5 years of having completed clinical training at the time of application, if a physician, and within 5 years of having completed the doctoral degree, if a nurse (in other words, to be eligible to apply for the 2026-2028 NCSP cohort, applicants must have completed their clinical training or doctoral degree in the year 2021 or later)
• Eligible for or already have a medical or medicine license, if a physician
• Funding for people who are neither United States citizens nor permanent residents can be difficult. If you are neither, please contact a program director at the site(s) to which you are interested in applying. Please note that the NCSP cannot sponsor work visas.

We are actively recruiting nurse scholars with a diversity of interests. All sites have special spots for nurses interested in veterans’ health issues. We also have some targeted slots for nurses interested in diabetes care, cancer care, global health, artificial intelligence (AI) in medical care, and nursing shortage/workforce.

Hear more about the fellowship in the video below. You can hear from more of our Scholars and see a longer version of the video here.

You may view previous Info Sessions on the national NCSP YouTube channel below!