The Seldin Symposium
The Donald W. Seldin, M.D., Research Symposium is the Department of Internal Medicine's annual showcase research event. Established in 2016, the Symposium celebrates the mentored research accomplishments of Internal Medicine trainees. Each year, trainees of all levels present more than 100 posters spanning a range of research interests, from basic science and clinical investigations to quality improvement and medical education. Participants include residents, clinical fellows, postdoctoral fellows, MSTP and Ph.D. students who are training or interested in training in the Department.
Message from the Chair
Welcome to the Donald W. Seldin Research Symposium. Throughout his 36-year tenure as Chair of Internal Medicine, Dr. Seldin was an unwavering advocate for research and scholarship. As academic medicine evolved with increasing clinical demands, Dr. Seldin ensured that research remained a cornerstone of the core mission of the Department. He emphasized the intertwined relationship between research and clinical medicine, noting that ‘the critical observation and analysis of disease contributes both to good medical care and new knowledge.’ The Department remains strongly committed to carrying out this tradition.”
By the Numbers
From the Archives
Funding
Thanks to generous donations, monetary awards are presented to trainees whose work reflects a commitment to novel, impactful science, and the translation of discoveries into clinical practice. Awards are named in honor of former Department Chairs Donald W. Seldin, M.D., and Daniel W. Foster, M.D., who laid the foundation for the outstanding trainee research ongoing today.
Additional resources are also provided to their faculty mentors to continue and extend the collaborative mentor-trainee research project, thereby supporting the publication of the results in a peer-reviewed journal and/or presentation at a national meeting.
Awards
From its inception, the Seldin Symposium has sought to celebrate scientific inquiry and research collaboration by recognizing outstanding submissions. As the symposium has grown, the number and types of awards have evolved to serve as a springboard for new initiatives, increase interest and participation in research, and foster new projects between faculty and trainees that lead to new discoveries.
These awards honor exceptional research and collaboration between trainees and their mentors, encouraging further advancements in medical science and patient care.
- Seldin Scholar
The Seldin Scholar is chosen from among the Foster Fellows following oral presentations of their work to the UT Southwestern community during Internal Medicine Grand Rounds. Named in honor of Donald W. Seldin, M.D., the Department's longest-serving Chair, the designation of Seldin Scholar is the Department's highest honor for a trainee who is involved in research activity. Dr. Seldin was a giant of academic medicine in the U.S., who built a strong tradition of physician-led, transformative research in the Department. Under his leadership, the Department was dramatically transformed and achieved remarkable prominence, hightlighted by the 1985 Nobel Prize awarded to two faculty members in the Department: Drs. Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein.
- Foster Fellows
Six trainees who have standout presentations are designated as Foster Fellows. From this select group of finalists, the Seldin Scholar is named. The Foster Fellows are named in honor of Daniel W. Foster, M.D., the Department’s third chair. From 1987 to 2003, Dr. Foster spearheaded Internal Medicine’s remarkable academic growth, recruiting numerous outstanding faculty who went on to establish their own successful careers at UT Southwestern. Dr. Foster was strong advocate for the Department's house staff and a renowned physician-scientist who made significant contributions to our understanding of metabolism and diabetes pathophysiology. His visionary leadership enabled enabled the launch of the transformative Dallas Heart Study, among other achievements.
- Research in Quality of Care & Education at Parkland Memorial Hospital
This award is sponsored by the Ron Anderson, M.D. Professorship in Clinical Care and Education at Parkland Memorial Hospital via the Hoblitzelle Foundation. It recognizes excellence in clinical care with an emphasis on the importance of continuous improvement and education at Parkland Memorial Hospital.
- Case Presentation Awards
Three trainees are recognized for excellence in the presentation and analysis of clinical cases. Recipients have demonstrated exceptional skill in presenting a clinical case, including a thorough patient history, diagnostic process, treatment plan, and outcomes. Winning presentations are those that encourage continuous learning and improvement in clinical practice.
- Social Impact Award
The Social Impact Award recognizes scholarly activity that focuses on unmet clinical needs in underserved populations, moves the needle on social determinants of health, or raises the collective consciousness about health equity in medicine.
- Basic Science Award
Two individuals in non-GME fellowship training are recognized for their innovative appraches and the impact of their work on expanding our understanding of basic scientific principles. As such, they not only highlight individual achievement, but also inspire future research and collaboration within the Department and beyond.