Testimonials

As a trainee, the CDI provided essential information about the road to a K23 award, including cultivation of a scientific niche, assembling a mentorship team, negotiating interim support, and preparing for the grant review process. The individual mentorship I received, as well as the opportunity to participate in a mock grant review session, were particularly valuable. As I begin the transition from mentee to mentor, I continue to find myself relying heavily on my CDI experience.

Joshua L. Roffman, MD, CDI Class of 2004
Assistant in Psychiatry
Massachusetts General Hospital
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Harvard Medical School

The CDI for Psychiatry has been pivotal in strengthening my commitment to research and I hope that I can, in return, serve new investigators interested in mental health research.

Adriana Di Martino, MD, CDI Class of 2005
Leon Levy Assistant Professor of Child Adolescent Psychiatry
Phyllis Green and Randolph Cowen Institute for Pediatric Neuroscience
NYU Child Study Center

My mentorship of others is strongly motivated by a kind of "pay it forward" responsibility I embrace as a result of the mentorship I received myself as a CDI participant. I do not think I would have been nearly as successful in developing my career thus far if I had not had the good fortune of participating in the CDI just prior to transitioning from psychiatry residency to my postdoctoral fellowship. The combination of senior-level and peer mentors provided a wonderful mix of inspiration and encouragement, a realistic conviction that success was possible, and a set of concrete strategies for achieving that success. The CDI is also structured in a way that creates a lasting bond among the participants – I am still in touch with many of my "CDI siblings" through email and get-togethers at scientific conferences, and greatly value their ongoing support and advice. I look forward to helping this wonderful program grow.

Daniel Wolf, MD, PhD, CDI Class of 2005
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
University of Pennsylvania

I gained a tremendous amount from the CDI. I can honestly say that it was the best professional development workshop I have ever attended. I know that both the knowledge and the network of impressive mentors and peers I gained from that meeting have contributed significantly to the research success I have had so far. I am delighted to be able to "give back" to CDI and serve as a Peer Advisor in the coming years.

Christina Mangurian, MD
CDI Class of 2007
Assistant Professor
UCSF Department of Psychiatry

I found the CDI experience to be invaluable in guiding my career development and I am very enthusiastic about the opportunity to mentor junior investigators through future career development institutes.

Jess Fiedorowicz, MD, MS, CDI Class of 2007
Assistant Professor
Assistant Clerkship Director
Medical Student Elective Co-director
University of Iowa

The CDI has played an instrumental role in my success during the transition from Research Fellow to Assistant Professor, ranging from scientific feedback on my grant proposals to mentorship regarding career development. In fact, one of the 2007 CDI faculty is one of the mentors on my K08 award. In addition, I am currently collaborating with a fellow 2007 CDI classmate in a project supporting our mutual interest in developing mouse models of OCD. Because I feel the CDI has helped me significantly and shaped my career in a very positive way, I am eager to give back to the program as a Peer Advisor.

Susanne E. Ahmari, MD, PhD, CDI Class of 2007
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Columbia University Department of Psychiatry
New York State Psychiatric Institute/ Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc.

The CDI has played a vital role in my career development by furthering my clinical research education and introducing me to outstanding peers from across the country. Two members of the CDI Class of 2008 were recruited to join the psychiatry research faculty at the University of Utah. One has already had her K23 Career Development Award funded, and I plan to submit a K-award application in the fall of 2011.

Douglas Kondo, MD, CDI Class of 2008
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
The Brain Institute
University of Utah School of Medicine

I strongly support the core mission of the CDI to increase the number of new researchers from diverse institutions and disciplines and to provide mentorship support. Since emigrating as a child from Puerto Rico with my family, I have been fortunate enough to have the support and encouragement of programs like the CDI, which have been instrumental in shaping my interest in research.

Carolyn Rodriguez, MD, PhD, CDI Class of 2008
Assistant Professor
Columbia University
New York State Psychiatric Institute

I attended the CDI prior to submitting the K23 award and gained valuable insight into the application process, which I strongly believe helped me to submit a competitive application. In addition, the CDI helped me to begin networking with both established and junior researchers throughout the country, which will likely lead to future collaborations.

Melissa Lopez-Larson, MD, CDI Class of 2008
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
University of Utah School of Medicine
Assistant Investigator
The Brain Institute, University of Utah

The Frequently Asked Questions, Important Dates, and Application pages all provide information about how to apply to the Career Development Institute. For individual questions, please contact the Coordinator.