Thriving in Academic Medicine Without Losing Your Mind (Part 2)

Continuing from last week’s blog, we are talking about how to balance your roles as a busy clinician and prolific researcher. This topic is relevant whether you are new to academic medicine or have been doing this for a few years. 

We previously discussed the importance of embracing your dual identity of physician and academician, and building your clinical skills. 

Last Week’s Practical Tips included: 

• Creating a personal mission statement
• Finding role models and coaches
• Expanding your clinical skills with complex patient cases
• Skills training
• Documenting your outcomes. . 

This week, I would like to focus on how to develop your research skills and set goals. 

Cultivate Research Skills Strategically

As physicians, we are all committed to continuous learning, and I recommend that you approach your research education the same way that you approach your clinical education. Whether your residency program provided strong research training or not, the need to develop research skills post-residency is common. 

This may be something as simple as attending institutional (or regional) workshops that focus on research methodology. These courses may also be offered at national conferences or through research focused institutions, so keep an eye out.  One of the best courses I took was a full day seminar on grant writing in the first year of my career. It not only taught me new skills but introduced me to peer faculty whom I could check in with and an expert faculty contact who I still get to collaborate with today. 

You may also decide that you want more in depth and focused learning. This may consist of taking adhoc courses on study design, statistics, or grant writing. Or, you may decide that you want to pursue formal training in a master's or doctoral degree program in areas like clinical research or epidemiology. Many of these have part-time options and can be completed while you are working clinically.

I started my MPH training at the same time I started my first clinical job. I had the benefit of being on campus for many of the courses and built them into my schedule. While it was a lot of work, it was also great to incorporate my clinical research into my class projects so that I got more bang for my buck (and time and energy).  

I have found this training to be invaluable as I have navigated my career and I use that education all the time.  However I want to reiterate that it was a LOT of work and took a lot of juggling and sacrifice by me and my family during that time. Although I do have lovely memories of reading public health articles to my newborn in a very singsongy voice so that I could study and he could fall asleep :) 2 birds, one stone 🤷

I also recommend that you start by identifying mentors in your institution who have a track record of successful research; their guidance can be invaluable in navigating the complexities of academic research (and institutional politics). If you do not have great options locally, look to national leaders and set up a time to talk.

Start small by getting involved in ongoing research projects in your department, which can provide hands-on experience and exposure to various aspects of the research process. As you gain confidence, initiate your own projects, starting with retrospective studies or case series that align with your clinical work. This approach allows you to build your research portfolio while leveraging your clinical expertise. If you are working in a laboratory, see if there are projects that might overlap with collaborators and mentors that you can work on as you get set up. 

It is also useful to familiarize yourself with your institution's research support resources, including statistical consulting services and grant writing assistance. If possible, develop a relationship with your institution's research support office so that you can get assistance when you need support for study design, statistical analysis, or regulatory compliance.

Set Realistic Goals and Reassess Regularly

Set short-term and long-term goals for both your clinical practice and academic pursuits. These should be based on your personal mission statement and vision (see my previous blog Strategic Career Planning in Academic Medicine: Roadmap to Success for more information if you need help with this).

For me, I have benefited a lot from the advice in the book “The 12 Week Year” by Brian Moran. The main concept put forth by this book is to set up your life and work with quarterly (12 week) goals that allow you to more quickly drive your big overarching goals. 

Once you are clear on your mission and vision, creating realistic goals (that still require you to stretch a little) is recommended. 

If you do not have another system in place, using the SMART framework can be a great place to start. This framework recommend that goals be:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Relevant (to your aims and vision)
• Time-bound

[I give examples of SMART goals and discuss this framework more in a previous blog (How to Create Goals you Can Accomplish) also listed below in resources.]

I also recommend that you regularly reassess these goals and adjust as needed. Remember that your career trajectory may not look exactly like your colleagues' – and that's okay. Focus on progress rather than perfection. 

For those of you who are readers, this concept is explained really well in the Dan Sullivan book “The Gap and the Gain.” Basically, you will do best if you measure your progress against where you were previously (the gain) instead of focusing on the differences between where you are compared to others (the gap). Progressing but staying in the gap and are key to maintaining progress and optimizing  job satisfaction.

Practical Tips to Consider:

• Conduct quarterly self-reviews of your progress in both your clinical and academic realms
• Be prepared to adjust your goals based on changing circumstances or opportunities
• Seek feedback from mentors, colleagues, and even patients to inform your goal-setting process
• Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small, to maintain motivation

I hope these points provide you with a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the early years of your career in academic medicine. 

As always,, the path to finding your balance is personal and may require some trial and error. But I encourage you to stay patient with yourself and remain open to adjusting your approach as you grow in your career. With persistence and strategic planning, you can build a fulfilling career that contributes significantly to both patient care and the advancement of medical science.

Links Mentioned

Blog - How to Create Goals you Can Accomplish 

Blog - Strategic Career Planning in Academic Medicine: Roadmap to Success

Blog - Choosing the Right Mentor