Why physician scientist

A physician-scientist may specialize in a certain area of study, from futuristic electroceutical studies to more common interests, such as:. A physician-scientist will generally identify potential areas of research themselves, within their chosen discipline.

As an example, if they specialize in diabetes research, they may identify a possible new treatment option, and request funding to test it.

The most common way to do this is through clinical trials, which can be overseen by a trained physician-scientist, sometimes in conjunction with a fully qualified physician. In a clinical trial, there are generally two groups of participants—one who is given the experimental treatment, and one who receives a placebo, with neither group knowing who received which.

One of the major benefits of physician-scientists is their ability to discuss both scientific and medical notions fluently, enabling them to communicate with and understand both sides effectively. While some organizations, such as The Markey Trust, have launched multiple programs to provide cross-training benefits for scientists and medical professionals, a trained physician-scientist already has the advantage of being capable in both fields.

Being able to understand principles of both science and medicine, and to communicate these effectively, may allow physician-scientists to complete research more independently. Physician-scientists play an instrumental role in guiding major policy decisions, both within the medical system and the wider political arena.

If new research shows that some treatments are outdated or less effective than new treatments, or that recovery time for some procedures is longer than previously thought, these findings may influence hospital management when dictating patient-care guidelines.

Physician-scientists may also be consulted in matters of public health. Additionally, in situations where an unfamiliar disease or condition is spreading, as seen recently with Covid, government officials will generally consult with medical professionals for information on how to keep the public safe; the information that these medical leaders offer may well have been discovered by physician-scientists. Physician-scientists are not limited to niche experiments and research; some may take on a teaching role, and impart knowledge to science or medical students.

Rosie Kaplan, my fellowship research mentor, is similarly an example of someone who embodies the physician-scientist role, seeing patients in her clinical trials at the NIH while running a very successful lab with research that is directly translated into clinical trials. It has been amazing to care for patients as this technology comes into the forefront. As an example, I have patients for whom we have been able to choose targeted kinase inhibitors based on the discovery of known activating mutations on their genetic screen.

As an immunologist, I am very interested to apply this technology to the development of individualized immunotherapies. My wife and I have two young children, so for us the abundance of family-friendly activities has been fantastic. We regularly take our kids to the aquarium, zoo, science center, playgrounds, and to the numerous farms just north of the city, which have lots of fun activities for the kids all year round. Skip Navigation. Now more than ever, I've started to feel the tension between the intense commitment required to follow my physician-scientist dreams and my fear that doing so will seriously encroach on my physical, emotional and interpersonal well-being.

For the first time, I'm doubting my preparedness for the path ahead. In my last conversation with my apartment's maintenance staff, they explained that the light in my room is probably jammed shut, which means that the only option left for changing the bulb is to break it open. There's something appealing about the brute-force approach to any problem, but I'm not sure that an equally simple solution exists for the flickering confidence I've started to feel about the future.

Stanford Medicine Unplugged is a forum for students to chronicle their experiences in medical school. The student-penned entries appear on Scope once a week during the academic year; the entire blog series can be found in the Stanford Medicine Unplugged category. He likes microglia, snowmobiles, pop music written for teenage girls, and going on terrible first dates. Follow him on Twitter at timothykeyes. Advanced features of this website require that you enable JavaScript in your browser.

Such homes may be formal programs, networks, or other communities that support the training and development of individuals pursuing physician-scientist careers. The AAMC Committee will focus on constructive, systemic solutions for medical schools and teaching hospitals to ensure needed support.

In all its deliberations, the Committee embraces the variety of physician-scientist careers, from laboratory-based investigation to research in clinics, health systems, and communities, as well as the multiple training pathways, from integrated dual-degree programs to accumulated, distinct educational experiences, through which individuals attain these careers.

New section Content Background. New section Research Physician-Scientists.