Young doctors shunning research careers, finds UK study
The British Medical Association (BMA) has raised concerns about the lack of medical students choosing an academic career. '[T]he recruitment of doctors to academic posts is at an all time low,' states the BMA report, which is based on a study of junior doctors who began their careers in 1995. Only around one quarter of the doctors questioned had ever considered a career in academic medicine. The main perceived deterrents were named as financial disincentives, the culture of academia, the lack of clear direction or career structure, an absence of advice or support, a perceived de-skilling and reduced clinical responsibility. 'It is sad and worrying that so few doctors see academic careers as a realistic or appealing option,' said chairman of the BMA's medical academic staff committee, Professor Michael Rees. 'The NHS [National Health Service] needs high calibre researchers to be able to develop the best possible treatments. And with medical school intake on the increase, the need for qualified medical lecturers and professors to teach students is increasingly important.' The BMA's key recommendations include exposing medical students to research and academia as a career and offering incentives such as funding at the beginning of an academic career. The BMA also proposes increasing flexible working arrangements in academia, and providing better support for doctors interested in academia, including funding, mentoring, and improved training pathways.
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