Academic Medicine

[OneDayDoctor]

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I did some reading but am still a bit confused by what is meant by academic medicine. I would prefer to not sound completely clueless in interviews. Is it more of a role involving clinical teaching of med students, or is the teaching component classroom-based lectures? This would have a large bearing on how inclined I would be toward the field. Thanks!

 

[LizzyM]

Academic medicine has been described as a three legged stool:clinical services (patient care), teaching, research.

The teaching can take several different forms. It is unusual for a physician faculty member to be responsible for all the lectures in an entire course, but a physician may be the course director for a course or a segment of a course. For example, in a school that uses an organ system approach, there might be one physician who directs the section and makes the arrangement (with administrative support) for other faculty in that division to give individual lectures. Faculty can also be tapped to be small group leaders in problem based learning (PBL) or to teach physical exam and interview skills and/or to teach small groups at "the bedside", to moderate case discussions of patients being cared for by the team, or to supervise students providing services to patients.

 

[OneDayDoctor]

Academic medicine has been described as a three legged stool:clinical services (patient care), teaching, research.

The teaching can take several different forms. It is unusual for a physician faculty member to be responsible for all the lectures in an entire course, but a physician may be the course director for a course or a segment of a course. For example, in a school that uses an organ system approach, there might be one physician who directs the section and makes the arrangement (with administrative support) for other faculty in that division to give individual lectures. Faculty can also be tapped to be small group leaders in problem based learning (PBL) or to teach physical exam and interview skills and/or to teach small groups at "the bedside", to moderate case discussions of patients being cared for by the team, or to supervise students providing services to patients.

That was extraordinarily helpful! Best answer I've seen. Thank you!

 

[IlDestriero]

Most physician faculty positions involve clinical teaching of medical students residents and fellows. Heavy involvement in classroom lectures of medical students is the exception and not the norm. The Clinical work/teaching/research breakdown is extremely variable, from school to school and department to department. For example, I have zero research requirements in my academic track, while other departments, even divisions within my department, have no clinical track faculty.
If you have specific questions, just ask.

 

[Goro]

At our school, and at other DO schools, the research component or "scholarly activity" for the clinical faculty loops in "clinical activity". Thus seeing patients and preceptoring students fulfills that role. My clinical collagues are always encouraged to publish, even if only case reports or short reviews.

Most physician faculty positions involve clinical teaching of medical students residents and fellows. Heavy involvement in classroom lectures of medical students is the exception and not the norm. The Clinical work/teaching/research breakdown is extremely variable, from school to school and department to department. For example, I have zero research requirements in my academic track, while other departments, even divisions within my department, have no clinical track faculty.
If you have specific questions, just ask.

 

[Catalystik]

If you're in an academic setting long enough, you might move into additional managerial duties, eg: chair committees, coordinate med student rotations, become a residency Program Director, become head of your specialty's department, or become a Dean.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Keep in mind that wages will be lower in academic medicine.

 

[OneDayDoctor]

Thank you to all adcoms/faculty who replied! This really cleared a lot of things up for me, and I feel I can confidently answer a question on this now.

Hawk- Yes, I did read that. Fortunately, the allure of teaching>compensation!

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Thank you to all adcoms/faculty who replied! This really cleared a lot of things up for me, and I feel I can confidently answer a question on this now.

Hawk- Yes, I did read that. Fortunately, the allure of teaching>compensation!

Very noble.

 

[IlDestriero]

Keep in mind that wages will be lower in academic medicine.

Not necessarily. It's not always that straightforward. Though it's true that the average academic income is less than the average PP income. And why settle for average?

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

I'm pretty sure this podcast is free. Good discussion of academic vs community, but this is EM specific. Basics should be similar in other fields

http://academiclifeinem.com/academics-vs-community-practice/