The need to promote careers that combine research and clinical care

Realistic descriptions of careers that successfully combine medical research and patient care should be given to students early in medical school. The students need to be told the various ways to prepare for such careers and should see a number of role models who exemplify these combined careers and who can convey the excitement, challenges, and satisfaction in these careers. Opportunities for research training in M.D.-Ph.D. programs, the medical student program offered jointly by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the NIH postresidency physician-scientist programs are discussed.