Is Australia’s clinician scientist capacity appropriate for addressing the next pandemic?
Diann S. Eley
A E , Shaun P. O’Leary B C , Adrienne Young D and Peter Buttrum B D
A The University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, Office of Medical Education, 288 Herston Road, Brisbane, Qld 4006, Australia. Email: d.eley@uq.edu.au
B The University of Queensland, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia. Email: s.oleary@uq.edu.au
C The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Physiotherapy Department, Brisbane, Qld 4006, Australia.
D The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Allied Health Professions, Brisbane, Qld 4029, Australia. Email: adrienne.young@health.qld.gov.au; peter.buttrum@health.qld.gov.au
E Corresponding author. Email: d.eley@uq.edu.au
Australian Health Review 45(3) 308-310 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH20192
Submitted: 28 July 2020 Accepted: 13 October 2020 Published: 8 December 2020
Journal Compilation © AHHA 2021 Open Access CC BY
Abstract
Australia’s clinical research communities responded quickly to COVID-19. Similarly, research funding to address the pandemic was appropriately fast-tracked and knowledge promptly disseminated. This swift and purposeful research response is encouraging and reflects thorough and meticulous training of the academic workforce; in particular the clinician scientist. Clinician scientists have formal clinical and research qualifications (primarily PhD), and are at the forefront of translating knowledge into health care. Yet in reality, advances in medical research are not rapid. Scientific discovery results from the long-term accumulation of knowledge. The drivers of this knowledge are often PhD students who provide new lines of clinical inquiry coupled with the advanced training of early- and mid-career researchers who sustain discovery through a clinician scientist workforce. A crucial point during these COVID-19 times is that this initial investment in training must be nurtured and maintained. Without this investment, the loss of a future generation of potential discoveries and a vibrant scientific workforce to safeguard us from future global health threats is at risk. This risk includes the modest gains achieved by increasing female and minority representation in STEM and the clinician scientist workforce. COVID-19 has presented serious concerns to Australia’s health and economy. This perspective is central to these concerns and urges investment in the continuity of training and maintaining a sustainable clinician scientist workforce sufficient to address current and future pandemics, alongside continuing discoveries to improve the health of Australians.
Keywords: clinician scientist workforce, COVID-19, early to mid-career researcher, health services research, implementation science, MD–PhD, research training, translational medical research.
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