About 58% of physician-scientists are considering leaving academic medicine in the next two years, and 44% are looking at moving abroad, according to a New Haven, Conn.-based Yale School of Medicine survey.
The study, published in the preparing server medRxiv, surveyed 175 early-career physician-scientists at 110 academic centers.
“Early-career physician-scientists face substantial structural and financial challenges, with limited institutional support, high rates of burnout and widespread intent to leave academia,” the study authors wrote. “These findings underscore an urgent need for sustained investment, targeted retention strategies, and policy reforms to stabilize and strengthen the physician-scientist workforce in the United States.”
Here are six survey findings.
1. About 82% of participants said there was over a 50% probability that they will leave academic medicine within five years. The most cited reasons were funding challenges (72%), low compensation (42.3%), feeling unhappy or stressed (40.6%), and burnout (37.7%).
2. Additionally, nearly half of respondents said they are considering moving outside the U.S. for better academic working conditions and 10.4% have already been contacted by institutions in other countries.
3. The greatest work difficulties reported were balancing clinical, research and educational responsibilities (72.5%), balancing work and family (48.0%), limited funding (48.0%) and low compensation (34.3%).
4. A total of 51.8% of physician-scientists said their outlook on academic medicine was very or somewhat pessimistic.
5. Among respondents, 74% said they dedicate at least 50% of their time to research. In total, 25.7% are pursuing mainly basic science, 30.3% are pursuing translational research and 25.1% are pursuing clinical research.
6. Physician-scientists said their greatest concerns for the future research were health disparities (76%), vaccines (70.3%), and diversity, equity and inclusion (62.9%).
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