ENTtoday
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • Practice Focus
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Departments
    • Issue Archive
    • TRIO Best Practices
      • Allergy
      • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
      • Head and Neck
      • Laryngology
      • Otology/Neurotology
      • Pediatric
      • Rhinology
      • Sleep Medicine
    • Career Development
    • Case of the Month
    • Everyday Ethics
    • Health Policy
    • Legal Matters
    • Letter From the Editor
    • Medical Education
    • Online Exclusives
    • Practice Management
    • Resident Focus
    • Rx: Wellness
    • Special Reports
    • Tech Talk
    • Viewpoint
    • What’s Your O.R. Playlist?
  • Literature Reviews
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Events
    • Featured Events
    • TRIO Meetings
  • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Triological Society
    • Advertising Staff
    • Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Place an Ad
    • Classifieds
    • Rate Card
  • Search

The Physician-Scientist Model: Does It Work in Our Specialty?

by Paul Spring, MS, MD • November 1, 2007

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version

The Making of a Physician–Scientist

Fortunately, many defining examples exist of successful surgeon–scientists translating their basic science research into clinically applicable concepts and practice. One such individual is Cherie-Ann Nathan, MD, Professor and Vice-Chairman of Otolaryngology/HNS at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center–Shreveport and Director of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology at Feist-Weiller Cancer Center. Dr. Nathan has researched and published extensively on characterization of surgical margins through the molecular analysis of the eIF4E proto-oncogene. Dr. Nathan offers the following insights for developing a bona fide physician–scientist career: “Collaborations with basic scientists are the key. They love clinicians, as we understand the disease and they want our patient samples. However, if they do not see our commitment, they lose enthusiasm.”

You Might Also Like

  • The Medical Home Gains Momentum: Could a team-based model work for otolaryngology?
  • So You Want to Be a Surgeon-Scientist?
  • Is It Time to Reevaluate Your Physician Compensation Model?
  • Is the Fee-for-Service Physician Payment Model Doomed?
Explore This Issue
November 2007

Unfortunately, the realities of modern medicine in general, and academic medicine in particular, dictate that the earnest physician–scientist must be willing to negotiate up front with his or her institution in order to secure the proper financial and philosophical support combined with necessary release time to concentrate on his or her projects. Dr. Nathan opines, “The first five years of one’s academic career are most important in developing a research program. The institution should make a commitment toward paid protected time for a physician–scientist for the first five years. Salary should not suffer because of decreased clinical load. After five years, if funding is not obtained, then one can expect faculty to bring in their share clinically.”

This model seems to be the de facto approach that many institutions are employing with their young faculty, who they project will be successful at establishing their careers combining research with clinical interests.

Physician–Scientists in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

In our specialty, we are fortunate to have bright individuals who have upheld the surgeon-scientist model. The greatness of our specialty is the commitment of our members who have willingly waded into the often thankless and unrecognized path of academic educators and innovators seeking excellence in their pursuits. As a specialty we have numerous subspecialties that lend themselves to meaningful research that can be combined with clinical satisfaction. Our neurotologists, head and neck surgeons, rhinologists, laryngologists, pediatric otolaryngologists, and plastic and reconstructive surgeons have made substantial contributions to their subspecialty fields. These contributions have come neither easily nor without a price.

For many physician–scientists, the “payoff” for their time and investment comes with attainment of the signature honor of investigator independence, the NIH R01 award. However, that measure of success is not easily or equitably reached by every physician–scientist. In a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dickler et al. performed a comprehensive analysis that documented the experience of first-time investigators with a medical degree over a 40-year period.2 Their objective was to ascertain the perseverance and comparative success of physician–scientists for independent investigator NIH awards (i.e., R01 awards). They determined that the annual number of first-time investigators with an MD only who applied for NIH R01 grants remained stable over four decades. The first-time applicants with an MD degree only were less successful than those holding PhD or combined MD/PhD degrees by a statistically significant measure. Perhaps more disconcerting was the fact that successful first-time MD grantees were consistently less likely to obtain a subsequent R01 grant. This well-executed study concluded that physician–investigators consistently experienced higher rates of attrition and failure in spite of the original success obtaining an R01. One additional point made was that physicians proposing nonclinical research were more successful than those who submitted clinical projects.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 | Single Page

Filed Under: Everyday Ethics, Practice Management Issue: November 2007

You Might Also Like:

  • The Medical Home Gains Momentum: Could a team-based model work for otolaryngology?
  • So You Want to Be a Surgeon-Scientist?
  • Is It Time to Reevaluate Your Physician Compensation Model?
  • Is the Fee-for-Service Physician Payment Model Doomed?

The Triological SocietyENTtoday is a publication of The Triological Society.

The Laryngoscope
Ensure you have all the latest research at your fingertips; Subscribe to The Laryngoscope today!

Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Open access journal in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery is currently accepting submissions.

Classifieds

View the classified ads »

TRIO Best Practices

View the TRIO Best Practices »

Top Articles for Residents

  • Do Training Programs Give Otolaryngology Residents the Necessary Tools to Do Productive Research?
  • Why More MDs, Medical Residents Are Choosing to Pursue Additional Academic Degrees
  • What Physicians Need to Know about Investing Before Hiring a Financial Advisor
  • Tips to Help You Regain Your Sense of Self
  • Should USMLE Step 1 Change from Numeric Score to Pass/Fail?
  • Popular this Week
  • Most Popular
  • Most Recent
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • Vertigo in the Elderly: What Does It Mean?
    • Experts Delve into Treatment Options for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
    • Weaning Patients Off of PPIs
    • Some Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Resists PPI Treatment
    • Vertigo in the Elderly: What Does It Mean?
    • New Developments in the Management of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
    • Some Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Resists PPI Treatment
    • Eustachian Tuboplasty: A Potential New Option for Chronic Tube Dysfunction and Patulous Disease
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • Did You Receive COVID-19 Relief? Here Are Reporting Considerations for 2021
    • Otolaryngology Experts Share Best Practices in Five Areas
    • How Climate Change May Be Affecting Sleep Patterns for Adults and Children
    • Laryngologists Discuss Tough Tracheostomy Choices During COVID-19 Era
    • Head and Neck Cancer: Experts Discuss How to Improve Surgery Quality and Value

Polls

Did you receive funding from the CARES Act or Paycheck Protection Program?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Visit: The Triological Society • The Laryngoscope • Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

Wiley
© 2021 The Triological Society. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN 1559-4939

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies: Find out more.