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Editorial
. 2024 Mar 14;229(3):625-629.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiad610.

A Call to Action: Urgently Strengthening the Future Physician-Scientist Workforce in Infectious Diseases

Talia H Swartz  1 , Senu Apewokin  2 , Stephen M Carpenter  3 , Rana Chakraborty  4 , Ann M Dennis  5 , Eric Houpt  6 , Neeraj K Surana  7 , Danielle M Zerr  8 , Liise-Anne Pirofski  9
Affiliations
Editorial

A Call to Action: Urgently Strengthening the Future Physician-Scientist Workforce in Infectious Diseases

Talia H Swartz et al. J Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Infectious diseases (ID) research is vital for global public health, typically led by physician-scientists. This Perspective addresses challenges in the ID workforce and suggests solutions. Physician-scientists have made key discoveries that have significantly impacted human health. The importance of ID research in understanding diseases, leading to treatments and vaccines, is emphasized, along with the need to address persistent and new infections, antimicrobial resistance, and threats like HIV and influenza. The paper analyzes the physician-scientist workforce's struggles, including funding, training, and research-practice integration gaps. We suggest increased funding, better training, and mentorship, more collaborative and interdisciplinary research, and improved recognition systems. The article stresses the urgency of supporting physician-scientists in ID, advocating for proactive prevention and preparedness, and calls for immediate action to enhance ID research and care.

Keywords: career; infectious diseases (ID); physician-Scientist; research; workforce.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential conflicts of interest. T. H. S. receives research funds from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Mental Health, the NIAID, and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. T. H. S. also serves as cochair of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Group on Research, Education, and Training (GREAT), chair of the AAMC GREAT MD-PhD section, vice-chair of the IDSA Digital Strategy Advisory Group, and a member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of MD-PhD Programs, the AAMC GREAT MD-PhD Section Communications Committee, and the AAMC GREAT Steering Committee. S. M. C. receives research grants from National Institutes of Health and the American Lung Association. R. C. receives research funds from the John E. Fogarty International Center for Advanced Study in the Health Sciences and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. L. A. P. serves as chair of the IDSA Research Committee and receives research funds from the NIAID. All other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed.

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