Welcome
Welcome to the Office of Physician-Scientist Career
Development. Physician-scientists are especially well positioned
to bring the fruits of basic biomedical research to the bedside.
In addition, the scientific opportunities potentially ripe for such
translation have never been greater. However, the number of
individuals choosing and pursuing a physician-scientist career
pathway has declined precipitously over the past two to three decades.
This low flow in the physician-scientist pipeline is a major
obstacle to the central mission of academic medicine, i.e., to
improve human health through advancements in knowledge. Many
factors have been discussed as contributing to the problem, for
example debt burden, lack of training opportunities for medical
student research and for “late bloomers” who become interested
in research after residency, perceptions of lifestyle factors
and funding uncertainties, selection biases of medical school
admission committees, and the appeal of readily available
alternative career opportunities. For young physician-scientist
faculty, meaning those with an M.D. or equivalent degree who are
engaged in biomedical research of any type as a major component
of their effort, a challenge occurs in identifying both mentoring
and resources for protected time, to help them succeed in the
competitive environment of biomedical research.
The Office of Physician-Scientist
Career Development is intended to constitute an important part
of the University of Connecticut’s response to this local and
national need. We serve as a central resource in the
School of Medicine for aspiring or active physician-scientists
at every level, from prospective medical students to faculty.
Your suggestions for ways in which we might improve this
website are welcome. Please email comments and questions to
pscdadmin@uchc.edu.
Andrew
Arnold, M.D.
Head, Office of Physician-Scientist Career Development
Murray-Heilig Chair in Molecular Medicine |
