The Association of Professors of Medicine (APM) released the report, "Recommendations for Revitalizing the Nation's Physician-Scientist Workforce," a product of the first phase of the APM Physician-Scientist Initiative. The report outlines four major recommendations that aim to address the shrinking and aging physician-scientist workforce as well as the varying expectations of current physicians-in-training. If implemented, the recommendations would support efforts to ensure the future robustness of medical researchers and medical care.
The four recommendations are a subset of 30 recommendations that were proposed and prioritized by participants in a fall 2007 conference—leaders in academic, medical, and research communities; representatives from the various governing bodies that influence, fund, and regulate biomedical research and academia; respected experts on issues facing the physician-scientist workforce; and young physician-scientists. The four major recommendations are:
- Attention and resources should be directed at repairing the “leaking” physician-scientist pipeline.
- Major changes should be made to the contemporary approach to mentoring physician-scientists.
- Institutions should proactively promote the advancement and minimize the attrition of women in physician-scientist careers.
- The physician-scientist workforce should be strengthened by earlier and more coordinated efforts to identify and prepare successful future investigators with a more enduring commitment to research careers.
Under the leadership of APM Physician-Scientist Initiative Principal Investigator Andrew I. Schafer, MD, APM is currently planning phase two of the initiative to encourage medical schools, teaching hospitals, universities, and federal and private organizations that fund research to implement the recommendations. Next steps will include convening leaders in institutions and clinical departments to coordinate an action plan that will expand, revitalize, and diversify the physician-scientist workforce.
For more information about the report or the APM Physician-Scientist Initiative, please contact APM at policy@im.org.
Funding for this conference was made possible (in part) by 1R13HL090327-01 from the National Institutes of Health. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the US government.