Rethinking the Physician–Scientist Pathway

Physician–scientists have the potential to generate fundamental as well as translational breakthroughs. But many trainees who intend to pursue a hybrid career in research and patient care ultimately leave one or the other behind. In this Invited Commentary, the authors draw from their experience as early-career physician–scientists to frame physician–scientist training as having 2 phases: first, learning to think like a physician–scientist; second, learning to act like a physician–scientist. These phases roughly correspond to (1) clinical training (from medical school through residency or fellowship) that incorporates research exposure, and (2) a structured period of graduated research independence once the physician–scientist has become clinically autonomous. There are many effective ways to pursue each phase; what matters most is flexibility in the first phase and sustained support in the second. Accordingly, the authors suggest many potential reforms, including at the levels of the National Institutes of Health, private funders, as well as universities and research hospitals. The authors argue that rethinking physician–scientist training to support individualized paths to an independent hybrid career can help recruit and retain physician–scientists for years to come.