Abstract
Physicians have played vital roles in advancing medical knowledge, and their impact on human health has been substantial. For instance, eradication of smallpox began with the pioneering work
of Edward Jenner; Albert Sabin and Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine and improved the lives of millions of children; isolation of surfactant by John Clements led to improved outcomes in preterm infants; Mike Brown and Joe Goldstein’s work on cholesterol metabolism led to unbelievable reductions in coronary artery disease; and the work of Don Thomas and others made it possible for those with failing organs to recover. In fact, more than 50% of the Nobel prizes in physiology and medicine have been awarded to physicians engaged in science.
Physician-scientists represent less than 2% of physicians, and both practice medicine and are engaged in scientific research. As physician-scientists, we are not only drawn to medicine and the
clinical challenges of our patients, we are also drawn to the opportunities that our patients’ medical problems bring to science.For a physician-scientist, going back and forth between medicine and science is natural and almost necessary. Although the future of physician-scientists (1, 2) and especially those from
underrepresented minorities (3) is a subject of debate, concern, and reform (4), our work in medicine and science remains exciting, personally rewarding, and meaningful to society.
of Edward Jenner; Albert Sabin and Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine and improved the lives of millions of children; isolation of surfactant by John Clements led to improved outcomes in preterm infants; Mike Brown and Joe Goldstein’s work on cholesterol metabolism led to unbelievable reductions in coronary artery disease; and the work of Don Thomas and others made it possible for those with failing organs to recover. In fact, more than 50% of the Nobel prizes in physiology and medicine have been awarded to physicians engaged in science.
Physician-scientists represent less than 2% of physicians, and both practice medicine and are engaged in scientific research. As physician-scientists, we are not only drawn to medicine and the
clinical challenges of our patients, we are also drawn to the opportunities that our patients’ medical problems bring to science.For a physician-scientist, going back and forth between medicine and science is natural and almost necessary. Although the future of physician-scientists (1, 2) and especially those from
underrepresented minorities (3) is a subject of debate, concern, and reform (4), our work in medicine and science remains exciting, personally rewarding, and meaningful to society.