"Academic" positions and requirements/expectations vary greatly, and there may be positions in some specialties and at some locations where teaching and quality patient care are sufficient to maintain a rewarding career. But if you are talking about a position at a med school or the main teaching hospital of that school, some involvement in research is probably a good idea and may be a job requirement. But remember that "research" isn't necessarily basic science or bench research. It could involve therapeutics, clinical trials, outcome studies, epidemiology, etc. Not doing research may not keep your salary low, but may make it difficult to get promoted or to get tenure. One of the goals of most fellowships is to help prepare you for an academic career by giving you the skills that you will need to get started and hopefully be successful.I realize that pediatric oncology is an academic specialty. It is my desire to enter academics, but more so for the teaching aspect. Is it typical for academic pediatric specialist (oncology, cardiology) to NOT perform research? Or is research a requirement at most institutions? If I do not research will my already low salary get even lower?
