Enhancing the clinical research pipeline: Training approaches for a new century

There is growing concern that the numbers of physician-scientists bring tra ined in U.S. academic health centers will not be sufficient to continue the rate of current progress in biomedical research. The authors believe that the needs of current trainees and junior faculty must be addressed immediat ely, and that programs to train the next generation of patient-oriented res earchers must be established without delay. The authors describe a two-pron ged approach to this looming crisis. First is a description of innovative e ducational programs implemented at one academic health center from the K-12 level through the medical-school curriculum. Second, programs are discusse d that have been developed to facilitate the recruitment, training, and ret ention of physician-scientists in the early parts of their professional car eers. Four models of training "translational" investigators are presented, along with case studies of how these models have been implemented in real-l ife productive and professionally satisfying collaborations within one acad emic health center. The authors conclude by stating that to be prepared for the effects of future knowledge on human disease and preventive health, ac ademic health centers must enhance training opportunities for physician-sci entists.