The American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) South Regional Meeting is an APSA-sponsored conference designed to facilitate mentorship and collaboration for those interested in physician scientist careers. The meeting is taylored towards trainees in the South region.
The Eastern Atlantic Student Research Forum (ESRF) is a two day symposium hosted by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. It brings together medical students, graduate students, MD PhD trainees, residents, and early career researchers to present original work, connect with mentors, and participate in career development programming. The forum highlights new discoveries across basic, translational, and clinical sciences while fostering the growth of the next generation of physician scientists.
The meeting is scheduled to take place Thursday and Friday, February 27th-28th 2026 at the 5th floor of Rosenstiel Medical Science Building at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (1600 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL 33136).
This conference welcomes all MD/PhD, DO/PhD, MD, DO and health sciences students, as well as undergrads and postbacs who are interested in learning about physician scientist careers. Residents, fellows, postdocs, and faculty are also welcome to attend as mentors.
Medical students, graduate students, MD PhD trainees, residents, postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, mentors, sponsors, and academic institutions interested in supporting trainee development.
Registration is open. The deadline to submit is on Monday, December 1st, 2025
Registration opened in October for all participants. There is no cost to register. If you want to cancel your registration, please email Antonio Fontanella (antonio.fontanella@physicianscientists.org)
Registrants and scholarship applicants will be notified of their award status on January Xth.
Abstract submission opens on October 31, 2025 and extended until Monday, December 1st, 2025. Abstract submission is now open.
Abstracts will be kept confidential and will not be shared online in any way.
Click here for the abstract submission form.
Guidelines: Abstracts must include a title, list of authors, and list of affiliations denoted with superscript. The main text should be a structured abstract and must include the following sections: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion sections, and should not exceed 2500 characters in length (not including spaces). These should be submitted below in a Word document. If your abstract does not meet these requirements, you will be asked to correct and resubmit before consideration. All abstracts will automatically be considered for Oral Presentations and Poster Presentation categories, unless otherwise specified.
Please upload a word document when you register!
Posters are automatically entered into a judging competition with cash prizes. Poster judging will be split, according to trainee level of education. All oral speakers will be eligible for cash prizes!
Poster sizing: keep your poster within 48 x 36 inches in dimensions. Presenters are expected to print their poster and bring it to the meeting.
TBD
Welcome Remarks
~Everyone
TBD
Professional Development Keynote
Dr. David J. Calkins
TBD
Oral Presentations
Public Health research
TBD
Poster Session #1
~Everyone
TBD
Panel Discussion
~Everyone
TBD
Oral Presentations
Clinical research
TBD
Dinner and Networking
~Everyone
TBD
Breakfast
~Everyone
TBD
Oral Presentations
Basic & Translational
TBD
Poster Session #2
~Everyone
Awards and Closing Remarks
~Everyone
David J. Calkins, PhD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Christine T. Dinh, MD
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
You can travel by flight to Miami International Airport (MIA) or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). For those traveling by car, we will provide further instructions in the coming weeks.
Travel grant recipients will be accomodated for travel expenses, up to $750 for undergraduates/postbacs and $250 for MD/PhD students.
If you plan to stay overnight in Houston, please consider booking a hotel in Brickell or Downtown. The Metrorail is accessible from these locations and is less than 15 minutes from the medical campus. Consider JW Marriott Brickell or Courtyard by Marriott Downtown
Please head to the 5th floor of the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building (1600 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL 33136). Enter the front sliding glass doors. There will be signs to assist you. Check-in will be on the 5th floor lobby.
Lunch and Breakfast will be provided. Breakfast will be provided by (catering company to come) and lunch will be provided by (catering company to come).
