Seed corn. Impact of managed care on medical education and research

[Research and surgery]

From the Second World War onwards an amazing development in science and clinical & surgery practice has taken place: antibiotics, blood storage, cardiac surgery, organ and tissue transplant, complete joint replacement, total intravenous nutrition or minimally invasive surgery. Paradoxically, during the last two decades of the XXth century, social popularity of doctors has decreased at the same time of some important changes: increases in costs of medical attention, trials against medical mistakes, some doubts on the real role of Academic Public Hospitals and rising in the importance of alternative medicine. Increasing complexity of biomedical research in the continuous changing age of molecular biology has promoted an increasing scepticism regarding clinics and surgeons are able to keep on contributing to medical advances. The study of the contemporaneous History of Medicine demonstrates that some of the more significant achievements have been accomplished by surgeons. Undoubtedly Science and Clinics must get adapted to these times of change and persist in generating important findings. Current Clinical and surgical practice is completely determined by yesterdays' scientific research; tomorrow won't be different.

[Overview of the history of thyroid surgery]

Thyroid gland surgery passed through history from the suggestions for prohibition, during middle of XIX century due to unacceptable mortality even for medieval condition, to highest vel of surgical laser, as W. Halsted sad. First thyroidectomy was done by Albucasis (El Zahrawi) in 925 a.d. and after him by Roger from Salerno. While Pierre-Joseph Dusalt in 1791 has done first operation on thyroid gland than can fulfill todays criteria, Teodor Billroth gave scientific grounds of thyroid surgery. Genius attitude and surgical talent of Theodor Kocher raised thyroid surgery o scientific level, brought surgical skills on the top of surgical art pyramid, and brought him personally to the Nobel Prize in 1909. Every important contribution to development of thyroid surgery gave its giants: Johann von Mikulic, William Halsted, Charles Mayo, George W. Crile and Rank Lahey. Thomas P. Dunhill, F.A. Coller, A.M. Boydena and many others did important contribution, too. Development of thyroid srugery was constant to nowadays, with tendention for multidisciplinary approach in specialized centres. Thyroid surgery in Serbia followed this world trends, in spite of treat problems in the area during history.

Improving the Surgeon's participation in research: is It a problem of training or priority?

BACKGROUND

Although numerous important contributions have originated from basic science research performed by surgeons, it seems that such dedicated work is becoming increasingly difficult to accomplish. What are the reasons for this change and what improvements can be made? This study aims to characterize the basic research training and careers of senior academic surgeons to assess and devise strategies for sustaining productive and quality surgical research.

METHODS

A 25-item survey was sent to 850 senior-level members of academic societies, including the Association of Academic Surgeons, Society of University Surgeons, and American Surgical Association. It addressed each surgeon's clinical and research training and career, as well as opinions concerning surgical research.

RESULTS

Three hundred seventy-seven (44%) surveys were received. Mean age was 64 years, and 73% were full professors. Seventy-two percent of respondents performed basic science research during training, and for 71% of this group, research was a significant reason for choosing a clinical specialty. Ninety-one percent performed research in the same specialty area during and after training. Of those who performed research during training, a full 99% continued to perform research on completion of training. However, 38% stopped performing basic research by age 39. Seventeen and twenty-three percent stopped basic research between 40 and 49 and between 50 and 59 years of age, respectively. The most common factors causing them to stop were increased clinical load (40%) and increased administrative duties (38%). For respondents who had stopped research prior to age 40, 73% cited increased clinical load as the primary reason. Eighty-five percent felt a dedicated research period should be included in surgery training.

CONCLUSIONS

Most respondents had participated in basic research during training, and continued similar research after training. However, an overwhelming clinical practice at the junior faculty level seemed to hinder research. We conclude: (1) the majority consensus is that research training is integral to the development of academic surgeons; (2) such research training opportunities appear adequate; however, (3) faculty performing research, particularly at the junior level, need to be better protected from other academic duties, such as clinical practice and administration. The challenge to the leadership of academic surgery will be to enhance such research productivity in the context of increasing academic demands.