Rescuing the physician-scientist workforce: the time for action is now

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Physician-Scientist Workforce Development

Background:

• The 2014 NIH Physician-Scientist Workforce (PSW) Working Group report highlighted critical issues facing physician-scientists.
• Trends include high attrition rates among junior investigators and an aging workforce, threatening future research capacity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose actionable strategies to address the declining physician-scientist workforce.
• To advocate for immediate implementation of solutions by the academic community.

Main Methods:

• Applying successful MD-PhD training models to postgraduate education.
• Implementing strategies to shorten the time to independence for early-career researchers.
• Focusing on increasing diversity and numbers within training programs.
• Establishing dedicated Physician-Scientist Career Development offices.

Main Results:

• The proposed actions aim to mitigate attrition and improve the pipeline of physician-scientists.
• These strategies are designed to foster a more robust, diverse, and sustainable workforce.
• Implementation can be initiated by the academic community in partnership with the NIH and professional organizations.

Conclusions:

• Urgent, proactive measures are needed to support and grow the physician-scientist workforce.
• The academic community can lead these changes by adopting proposed strategies.
• Collaboration between institutions, the NIH, and professional organizations is key to success.