Sixty clinician-scientists from multiple institutions receiving National Institutes of Health (NIH) career development awards between 2006-2009 were interviewed. Their answers, published in Academic Medicine, generated the following recurring themes:
- They felt unprepared for leadership roles.
- There was a reluctance to accept or a lack of intention to attain leadership positions.
- Professional networks influence leadership access and decision-making.
- Impact-related benefits and downsides of leadership.
- The particular challenges faced by clinician-scientists from underrepresented groups in pursuing leadership positions.
“These results emphasize a need for formal leadership training in academic medicine,” explained James W. Albers Distinguished University Professor Eva Feldman, M.D., Ph.D. “Mentorship and sponsorship are crucial for attaining and succeeding in these leadership roles. The study suggests that current leaders should actively plan for their successors and help develop faculty members for leadership positions. Expanding leadership development programs is necessary to ensure everyone has equal opportunities to become leaders.”
This work was supported by grant 5R01GM139842-03 from the National Institutes of Health.
Paper cited: Greene AK, Szczygiel LA, Thomas JD, Jones RD, Cutter CM, Feldman EL, Kerr EA, Paradis KC, Settles IH, Singer K, Spector ND, Stewart AJ, Telem D, Ubel PA, Jagsi R. Leadership Experiences and Perceptions of Mid-Career to Senior Clinician-Scientists: A Qualitative Exploration. Acad Med. 2024 Jun 4. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005777. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38838195.