Application Process
Applications for the 2027-2029 cohort are now open!
Interested applicants submit a single application to indicate interest for one or multiple NCSP sites.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the National Clinician Scholars program, applicants must be:
- MDs, DOs, or RNs with a doctoral degree (PhD or DNP)
- Committee 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 2020 or later)
- Eligible for or already have a medical license, if a physician
- Citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its territories at the time of application (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.)
Selection Process
Applicants are chosen based on a match process similar to the one conducted by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). By September 29, 2025, applicants must indicate their desired site(s) in order of preference. Notice of acceptance will be provided personally by one of UCSF’s Program Directors in November. Selected Scholars will start their training at UCSF on July 1, 2026.
We seek applicants who have:
- Demonstrated interest in improving health or the healthcare system
- Exhibited leadership capabilities
- Demonstrated ability to develop new ideas and to implement them
- Ability to interact and communicate effectively with others
- A record of consistent accomplishment of project activities
- Previous research experience, published or unpublished
- Interest in, and/or experience with, community organizations
The UCSF National Clinician Scholars Program is committed to equal opportunity in its selection process. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, age, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
NCSP at UCSF adheres to the following:
- Federal Antidiscrimination Laws (Title IX, VI, VII and all other relevant statutes)
- State Anti-discrimination Laws (CA Proposition 209 and AB 2925 and all other relevant statutes)
- UC anti-discrimination policy
Applications for all NCSP sites are accepted centrally at the NCSP site. Applicants may choose to apply to one site or multiple sites.