job prospects for md/phds and physician-scientists
A survey of 837 clinical department chairs conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in 2005 reported that approximately two-thirds of department had junior faculty openings with more than half of those unable to fill their job openings. So good news–the job market for md/phds and physician-scientists is excellent as there is a surplus of job openings for clinicians who also want to do research.
So why is it then that with 110 MD/PhD programs across the country in addition to MDs who decide to pursue research career, that so many of these junior faculty jobs go unfilled? From the standpoint of junior physician-scientists there are two primary reasons:
- the lure of private practice and industry
- finding the right fit
The lure of private practice and industry arising from both monetary and time rewards are constant. However, despite the number of academic job openings, physician-scientists are also faced with the challenge of finding the right fit with regards to research focus, departmental support, protected research time as well as the right balance of clinical and research opportunities/responsibilities.
Check out this “Issues and Perspectives” in Science Careers for several personal experiences of junior faculty physician-scientists around the country.
