Confessions of an American clinical anatomist

The American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA) is a diverse group that includes practicing clinicians, some of whom work outside the academic realm, and other clinicians and basic scientists whose primary responsibility is to patient care, publication, and teaching. This essay pointedly examines why our professional activities often do not lend themselves to the personal and professional realizations for promotion, tenure, and prestige enjoyed by most research-oriented colleagues. Thus the issue of how we can thrive as a distinct group of academic professionals warrants sincere dialogue. Most of the scholarship contributed over the past 2 years to Clinical Anatomy has come from investigators outside the AACA, and only 11% of the AACA membership have published in Clinical Anatomy during this time. A self-examination and analyses of the issues that may bear on these findings are discussed in the hope that they may prompt introspection and encourage development of individual and association strategies that promote increased membership support of the AACA and its journal.