Rigorous evaluation needed to advance coaching in the biomedical workforce

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Sciences
• Career Development
• Professional Coaching

Background:

• Biomedical researchers face career establishment challenges, disproportionately affecting underrepresented groups.
• Coaching, a professional development strategy used in other fields, is underutilized in academic medicine and research.
• Existing career advancement and equity initiatives in science may not fully address these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of professional coaching as an intervention to support biomedical researchers' career advancement.
• To advocate for the rigorous evaluation of coaching programs within the biomedical sciences.
• To propose theoretical frameworks for evaluating coaching effectiveness in this context.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual analysis of coaching principles and their application to scientific careers.
• Discussion of the potential benefits of coaching for individual researchers and the scientific workforce.
• Proposal for using the Kirkpatrick Model and Social Cognitive Career Theory for program evaluation.

Main Results:

• Coaching offers a tailored approach to enhance researcher performance and career progression.
• There is a lack of longitudinal, rigorous evaluations of coaching programs in biomedical research settings.
• Theoretical frameworks can guide the systematic assessment of coaching interventions.

Conclusions:

• Professional coaching holds significant potential to advance biomedical researchers' careers and mitigate workforce inequities.
• Implementing and evaluating coaching programs using established models is crucial for maximizing their impact.
• Effective coaching can contribute to a more equitable and productive scientific enterprise.