TY - JOUR
T1 - Building a Professional Identity and an Academic Career Track in Translational Medicine
AU - van Dijk, Sabine J.
AU - Domenighetti, Andrea A.
AU - Gomez-Ospina, Natalia
AU - Hunter, Patricia
AU - Lindemans, Caroline A.
AU - Melotte, Veerle
AU - van Rossum, Annemarie M.C.
AU - Rosenblum, Norman D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2019 van Dijk, Domenighetti, Gomez-Ospina, Hunter, Lindemans, Melotte, van Rossum and Rosenblum.
PY - 2019/7/3
Y1 - 2019/7/3
N2 - Biomedical scientists aim to contribute to further understanding of disease pathogenesis and to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic tools that relieve disease burden. Yet the majority of biomedical scientists do not develop their academic career or professional identity as “translational scientists,” and are not actively involved in the continuum from scientific concept to development of new strategies that change medical practice. The collaborative nature of translational medicine and the lengthy process of bringing innovative findings from bench to bedside conflict with established pathways of building a career in academia. This collaborative approach also poses a problem for evaluating individual contributions and progress. The traditional evaluation of scientific success measured by the impact and number of publications and grants scientists achieve is inadequate when the product is a team effort that may take decades to complete. Further, where scientists are trained to be independent thinkers and to establish unique scientific niches, translational medicine depends on combining individual insights and strengths for the greater good. Training programs that are specifically geared to prepare scientists for a career in translational medicine are not widespread. In addition, the legal, regulatory, scientific and clinical infrastructure and support required for translational research is often underdeveloped in academic institutions and funding organizations, further discouraging the development and success of translational scientists in the academic setting. In this perspective we discuss challenges and potential solutions that could allow for physicians, physician scientists and basic scientists to develop a professional identity and a fruitful career in translational medicine.
AB - Biomedical scientists aim to contribute to further understanding of disease pathogenesis and to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic tools that relieve disease burden. Yet the majority of biomedical scientists do not develop their academic career or professional identity as “translational scientists,” and are not actively involved in the continuum from scientific concept to development of new strategies that change medical practice. The collaborative nature of translational medicine and the lengthy process of bringing innovative findings from bench to bedside conflict with established pathways of building a career in academia. This collaborative approach also poses a problem for evaluating individual contributions and progress. The traditional evaluation of scientific success measured by the impact and number of publications and grants scientists achieve is inadequate when the product is a team effort that may take decades to complete. Further, where scientists are trained to be independent thinkers and to establish unique scientific niches, translational medicine depends on combining individual insights and strengths for the greater good. Training programs that are specifically geared to prepare scientists for a career in translational medicine are not widespread. In addition, the legal, regulatory, scientific and clinical infrastructure and support required for translational research is often underdeveloped in academic institutions and funding organizations, further discouraging the development and success of translational scientists in the academic setting. In this perspective we discuss challenges and potential solutions that could allow for physicians, physician scientists and basic scientists to develop a professional identity and a fruitful career in translational medicine.
KW - basic scientist
KW - biomedical sciences
KW - career track
KW - physician scientist
KW - translational medicine
KW - translational scientist
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85074900686&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fmed.2019.00151
DO - 10.3389/fmed.2019.00151
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85074900686
SN - 2296-858X
VL - 6
JO - Frontiers in Medicine
JF - Frontiers in Medicine
M1 - 151
ER -