How many physicians are "academics" ?

[Livestrong51085]

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I worked in a large surgeons office with many, many surgeons, and all of them seemed to be "assistant/associate/full professor of surgery", yet they definitely still had thriving surgical practices.

I guess my question is...what is required to become an assistant/associate/full professor of "insert specialty here" ?

I can't see that I really see myself doing a lot of research or wanting to publish tons of papers. I do see myself enjoying teaching, but I'm pretty sure that's not enough.

Not that I care if I have the title of that at all, but I am wondering, how many physicians pursue the academic track in general, and is one looked down upon if he/she doesn't take this route?

Are there tons of physicians out there who just practice medicine and never publish a single paper or teach in their life?

What kinds of differences exist between the non-academic vs academic world of medicine?

Sorry if this seems like I'm rambling. Any insights are 👍

 

[Morsetlis]

How does 40 papers over 14 years sound?

That's radiation oncology.

 

[the duck]

I worked in a large surgeons office with many, many surgeons, and all of them seemed to be "assistant/associate/full professor of surgery", yet they definitely still had thriving surgical practices.

I guess my question is...what is required to become an assistant/associate/full professor of "insert specialty here" ?

I can't see that I really see myself doing a lot of research or wanting to publish tons of papers. I do see myself enjoying teaching, but I'm pretty sure that's not enough.

Not that I care if I have the title of that at all, but I am wondering, how many physicians pursue the academic track in general, and is one looked down upon if he/she doesn't take this route? No, one is not looked down upon if one is not in academia

Are there tons of physicians out there who just practice medicine and never publish a single paper or teach in their life?
The majority of docs don't go into academia, if everyone was doing research, no one could treat patients.
What kinds of differences exist between the non-academic vs academic world of medicine? non-academics make way more, academics gets more prestige

Sorry if this seems like I'm rambling. Any insights are 👍

.

 

[DrBowtie]

I worked in a large surgeons office with many, many surgeons, and all of them seemed to be "assistant/associate/full professor of surgery", yet they definitely still had thriving surgical practices.

I guess my question is...what is required to become an assistant/associate/full professor of "insert specialty here" ?

I can't see that I really see myself doing a lot of research or wanting to publish tons of papers. I do see myself enjoying teaching, but I'm pretty sure that's not enough.

Not that I care if I have the title of that at all, but I am wondering, how many physicians pursue the academic track in general, and is one looked down upon if he/she doesn't take this route?

Are there tons of physicians out there who just practice medicine and never publish a single paper or teach in their life?

What kinds of differences exist between the non-academic vs academic world of medicine?

Sorry if this seems like I'm rambling. Any insights are 👍

Most doctors are not academics. Although it sounds like your office might be one associated with an academic hospital, or those titles are old and they have since moved to the private practice realm.

The other thing to consider is that many doctors in cities with medical schools can become assistant faculty or clinical instructors very easily and accept students to rotate with them. It pretty much just takes desire to teach, board certification and a clean license. Full and Associates are usually the career academics.

Some specialties lend themselves to private practice more than others. FP is more private oriented vs. Trauma surg where most of the big level one trauma centers have medical schools attached.

 

[Livestrong51085]

Yeah, I worked at Jefferson, which has a medical school (obviously). We always had students rotating through, but I honestly cannot conceive of how ANY of them had any time to do any research, since they were always so busy, but they still had the title of associate, so who knows? Maybe they are just superhuman.

Glad to know that it's not seen as some sort of "requirement". I really can't see myself going that route, although I would like to teach.

 

[Rickybobby]

I worked in a large surgeons office with many, many surgeons, and all of them seemed to be "assistant/associate/full professor of surgery", yet they definitely still had thriving surgical practices.

I guess my question is...what is required to become an assistant/associate/full professor of "insert specialty here" ?

I can't see that I really see myself doing a lot of research or wanting to publish tons of papers. I do see myself enjoying teaching, but I'm pretty sure that's not enough.

Not that I care if I have the title of that at all, but I am wondering, how many physicians pursue the academic track in general, and is one looked down upon if he/she doesn't take this route?

Are there tons of physicians out there who just practice medicine and never publish a single paper or teach in their life?

What kinds of differences exist between the non-academic vs academic world of medicine?

Sorry if this seems like I'm rambling. Any insights are 👍

An affiliation with a local teaching hospital could simply be a result of becoming a chief resident. I know, those who are residents will scoff at the last statement. It isn't exactly easy to become a chief resident and many times it is simply achieved by ****ting on someone in your class. Anyway, I have no idea "how many physician pursue an academic tract" for that matter, there really is no "academic tract." However, there are medical schools who generally produce physicians who pursue research.

Throughout the course of medical training many, many ideas occur in the minds of young physicians. Those who have correct ideas (Don't read into this, correct just means they happen to be right) may go on to pursue these ideas in the form of research. The lucky ones, or the ones in the right place and the intelligence to know they are in the right place, progress with research and are able to publish insights that further medical knowledge. As in any other profession, the person with the correct insight will publish there success. A caveat, incorrect science also furthers medical knowledge but generally in an indirect way.

"is one looked down upon if they don't take this route." First of all there is no "route." Second of all, the perception of being looked down upon is in the eye of the beholder. I guarantee you the patience that benefits from your insight will not care if someone in the medical profession "looks down on you."

 

[WNT Signaling]

but I honestly cannot conceive of how ANY of them had any time to do any research, since they were always so busy, but they still had the title of associate, so who knows?

It varies from university to university: some institutions require ALL faculty to pursue research, whether it be basic or clinical, while other universities just require faculty to do research and/or teaching

 

[LizzyM]

Let's start by pointing out that there are teaching hospitals (affiliated with medical schools) and non-teaching hospitals (unaffiliated). Let's also point out that to treat patients in a hospital, a physician must have "privileges" at that hospital. Now some (perhaps all) teaching hospitals require that any physician granted privileges at the hospital also be eligible/qualified for an appointment at the affiliated medical school. This is a academic title (clinical assistant/associate professor of ---) that does not carry a salary; these physicians are expected to support themselves by providing clinical services. In providing clinical services in a teaching hospital, they will on occasion be expected to supervise or instruct trainees: fellows, residents, interns, students at "the bedside". They may also be appointed (asked to volunteer) to provide other service to the medical school such as serving on the adcom or other committee, leading a PBL group, or teaching a clinical skill in a small group. This is how many doctors "give back" and volunteer their time. (See why we like to see applicants who are willing volunteers?)

Counting all the physicians in all the affilated hospitals, I would guess that the ranks of "academic physicians" is quite large. If you were to count only those who draw a salary from a medical school, I would say that the proportion is quite small (infintessimal in some specialties where private practice is much better renumerated than academic practice).