Supporting the Physician-Scientist in Clinical Practice in Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Physician-scientists who work as researchers while practicing as clinicians continue to play a critical role in the conduct of disease-oriented research in infectious diseases. While we have made progress in the coordination of their early clinical and scientific training, we have been less attentive to the exigencies of a hybrid job description along the entire continuum of their academic medical careers. This article considers strategies to support the clinical activities of physician-scientists, honoring our shared commitment to excellent patient care. The approaches described may not be universally applicable. Instead, they are meant to highlight the issues and contribute to an ongoing dialogue in our rapidly evolving field.