My Continuing Evolution as a Surgeon-Scientist: A Decade after the Jacobson Promising Investigator Award

Defining the "Tipping Point" to Success as a Surgeon-Scientist: An Analysis of Applicants and Awardees of the American College of Surgeons Jacobson Promising Investigator Award

BACKGROUND

Since 2005, the American College of Surgeons has administered the Jacobson Promising Investigator Award (JPIA), which recognizes surgeon-scientists at the "tipping point" of their research careers.

OBJECTIVE

We retrospectively reviewed JPIA applicants to identify factors associated with selection for the award and future research success.

METHODS

Profiles were reviewed for all applicants between 2008 and 2018, at the time of application and as of 2019. Web of Science and NIH Reporter metrics were also reviewed for each applicant.

RESULTS

Eleven of 97 applicants were selected for the JPIA. At the time of application, awardees were more likely to have extramural (NIH K-award) versus intramural (KL2) or other career development award funding (55% vs 33%, P = 0.03) and more publications [median 70 (interquartile range, IQR 55-100) vs 40 (IQR 22-67), P = 0.03]. Post-application, JPIA awardees were more likely to achieve a higher h-Index and m-quotient compared to nonawardees (P < 0.001 for both). All JPIA recipients received new NIH funding post-award, including 82% with R01 funding, compared to 23% of nonselected applicants (P < 0.0001). Over $48 million from NIH was awarded to JPIA recipients since 2008, representing a 147-fold return on investment.

CONCLUSIONS

Selection for the JPIA is associated with previous extramural NIH K award and, on average, 70 peer-reviewed publications at the time of application. Receipt of the JPIA is associated with a high rate of subsequent NIH R01 funding and publication metrics. The JPIA is an excellent indicator of "tipping point" success in academic surgery and demonstrates the huge potential impact of philanthropic support on early career surgeon-investigators.

Factors Affecting Research Productivity of Trauma Surgeons

This study aimed to identify factors that promote and impede research participation and productivity by Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) surgeons. In addition, the study aimed to determine what changes can be implemented by surgical departments to improve this research productivity and granting. A 25-question anonymous research survey tool was offered to EAST surgeons. The questions analyzed factors including demographics, career accomplishments, current institution type, educational/research background, perceived barriers to research, and current research productivity, including grants. Chi-square tests were used to analyze significance at P < 0.05. The overall response rate was 26.2 per cent (445/1699). Most respondents reported not having any protected research time (86.3%), and no research resources were provided by their institution (78.7%). Factors that were significantly associated with greater research productivity included protected research time ( P < 0.0001), having a mentor ( P < 0.001), practicing in a university-affiliated hospital ( P < 0.0001), publication(s) before completing residency training ( P = 0.02), having institutional resources dedicated to research ( P = 0.015), and male gender ( P = 0.003). Age, race, marital status, and additional educational qualifications were not associated with statistically significant differences in research productivity in this study ( P > 0.05). EAST surgeons are more likely to have scholarly productivity if they are supported with protected time, mentors, nonclinical staff dedicated to research, a history of research before completion of residency, and research resources from their institution. Barriers to research productivity include lack of institutional support, lack of protected research time, and increased regulatory policies.

Research methodology: how to maximize your research potential

Scientific education and a clinical background allow orthopaedic surgeons to perform leading research. Several resources, skills and techniques may be developed to maximize their research potential.Surgeon-researchers should develop Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-defined (SMART) goals. It is critical to define a timeline - which can be 1 year, 3 years, 5 years - to re-evaluate goals and to plan and identify potential obstacles.Physician-scientists are a product of training, funding, resources, practice setting, context, environment, and infrastructure. Although orthopaedic surgery has difficulty in recruiting surgeon-scientists, these are essential for the promotion of advances in technologies and treatment, as they have unique abilities to raise questions from the bedside and the operating room.The most critical personal traits necessary to succeed as a surgeon-scientist are persistence, resilience, and passion for research. These traits may be innate or acquired through mentorship and from role models.Mentors can improve mentees' research efficiency and help them to persevere.Clinical researchers and surgeon-scientists should focus their research interests and efforts in their areas of clinical expertise.For surgeon-researchers to succeed they must have passion for research, persistence in working toward a goal, collaboration/teamwork skills, resilience, research training/experience, a track record of publications, clear goals and expectations, and a defined research plan as well as being clinically excellent. A formal research degree is desirable.Having non-clinician scientists in the team brings added expertise and value.Funding and protected research time are important. To provide outstanding clinical care and improve the quality of the care delivered, surgeons must be leaders in innovation and research. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2018;3 DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3.170065.