Training young physicians to perform research is challenging on many levels. Thus, many internal medicine training programs, including both core and subspecialty programs, struggle with providing a rigorous and successful research experience for their trainees. Here, the authors report on the rationale, design, practical implementation and outcome of a new program that was developed at the University Gastroenterology Fellowship Training Program. Before program inception, 33% of trainees presented original research at scientific meetings or published their work in peer-reviewed journals. After implementation, 100% of trainees accomplished these metrics. Additionally, the proportion of trainees remaining in academic medicine increased from 14% before implementation of the program to 51% after it began. Several elements were viewed to be critically important for the program including the following: communication of expectations and development of a robust program structure, dedicated protected time, a dedicated research curriculum, programmatic support, mentorship and oversight as well as accountability/tracking of accomplishments. The authors conclude that institutions able to adopt these or similar approaches will reap the many rewards of discovery research performed by trainees.