Surgeon-Scientists Going Extinct: Last Call for Action or Too Late?

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Surgical innovation
• Academic medicine

Background:

• Surgeon-scientists, who balance patient care with research, are crucial for medical advancement.
• A significant decline in the number and impact of surgeon-scientists is observed globally.
• Existing strategies to reverse this trend have largely been ineffective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define the role and identify root causes for the decline of surgeon-scientists.
• To propose actionable solutions to counteract this decline and support surgeon-scientists.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review on surgeon-scientists was conducted.
• A global online survey of 141 early-career academic surgeons was performed.
• Gap analysis identified barriers to implementing proposed countermeasures, leading to a rescue package.

Main Results:

• Surgeon-scientists require protected training and demonstrated excellence in both clinical practice and research, emphasizing innovation.
• Key factors contributing to the decline include hospital profit motives, suboptimal selection criteria, and diminished appreciation for academic missions.
• Streamlining the surgeon-scientist pathway and valuing their commitment to innovation are essential.

Conclusions:

• The future of surgeon-scientists is at a critical juncture, demanding a societal shift towards prioritizing innovation over profit.
• Successful interventions require collaboration between hospitals, universities, and political bodies.
• Failure to adapt risks the permanent loss of these vital professionals.