Amendments to the ALF agreement spotlight the high average age of medical researchers. Olle Larkö looks at ways of convincing more young doctors to become researchers.
Ensuring renewal poses a major challenge to clinical research. The problem may escalate to a crisis within the next few years as baby boom clinicians retire without there being enough qualified candidates to replace them. Not only that, but a significant percentage of ALF appropriations will be based on the results of our clinical research. Unless we can convince more young clinicians to become researchers, those appropriations are likely to shrink as time goes on. The intensity of the discussion at our recent General Academy Meeting revealed the seriousness with which we all view that danger.
Often there are very few applicants for a particular clinical research appointment— sometimes only one or two. Doctors who receive PhDs are an average of ten years older than many other professionals. Most associate professors at Sahlgrenska Academy are approaching retirement age—only a small percentage are younger than 55. A report by Christina Jern at Medi-sam and others noted the trend five years ago, and we have no reason to believe that there has been any kind of improvement since then. More than 60% of our researchers with some kind of combination appointment will be retiring within ten years, even assuming that they work until the age of 67.
Sahlgrenska University Hospital sees eye to eye with us about the problem.
It goes without saying that we aren’t the only institution that finds itself in this quandary. Sahlgrenska University Hospital sees eye to eye with us about the problem. What we obviously need is a strategy for identifying joint solutions. Nor are we sitting around twiddling our thumbs. We are training young doctors to become teachers and researchers in basic medical disciplines, we have an accelerated medical program for PhDs, and Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Sahlgrenska Academy are focusing on recruiting young researchers as part of the ALF system.
My sense is that doctors need more information about the advantages and rewards of a career in research. Inspiring role models, clear career paths through third-cycle training, associate professorships and combination appointments should make research an attractive option for medical students. One of the missing rungs on the career ladder is being addressed now that Medi-sam is accepting applications from new associate professors for two advanced research appointments. A number of similar recruitment efforts are planned for the future.
Inspiring role models, clear career paths through third-cycle training, associate professorships and combination appointments should make research an attractive option for medical students.
Wage competition is a big part of the problem and our options for dealing with it are limited. A doctor with a PhD earns only a few hundred dollars more after several years of third-cycle training, whereas those who work privately may well be making twice as much. Obviously young doctors are tempted to take that route. There is no way we can match those kinds of salaries. Clinical researchers in other countries often have the opportunity to accept private assignments on the side, which significantly improves their earning potential. We might want to consider a similar approach.
Olle Larkö
