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Background: There is a global concern that physician-researchers are 'a dying breed'. Recent studies of clinical career choices of Australian medical students and doctors have signalled the rising age of medical graduates, generational shifts in work-life attitudes and increased proportion of female graduates. There are scant data regarding Australian physician-researchers., Aims: To develop and utilise a questionnaire determining respondent characteristics and 'push' and 'pull' factors for medical graduates to incorporate research into their careers., Methods: We developed and administered an 88-item online survey, including quantitative and qualitative questions, to medical students, faculty and alumni of Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, asking about their medical career, research experience and interest and reasons for doing or not doing medical research. Responses to all 74 quantitative questions are reported here., Results: Data from 427 respondents (44% female; mean ± standard deviation age 38 ± 13 years; 56% completed or undertaking a PhD) were analysed. Attractions of research included a desire to improve human health, intellectual stimulation and career diversity. Barriers included low funding rates, job insecurity and low salaries. Although few were prepared to undertake or recommend full-time research, 71% would recommend part-time research. Respondents perceived a smaller-than-actual gap between clinical and research salaries, and if comparable (75-100% of a clinician's) salaries were available, 89% would like to spend 21-60% of their work time undertaking research., Conclusion: Many Australian medical students and doctors are interested in research, especially part time. Perceived obstacles include job insecurity, low funding rates and salary. Respondents underestimated clinical and research salary differences., (© 2019 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.)

Background: Concerns have been expressed 'that the physician-researcher is a dying breed'. As yet there are few Australian data., Aims: To compare over time: (i) research progress of Sydney Medical School (SMS) medical practitioner - PhD awardees; (ii) National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) project grant success rates for physician-researchers; and (iii) compare current NHMRC, NSW University and NSW Public Hospital pay scales for physician-researchers., Methods: We evaluated 303 medical practitioners awarded a University of Sydney/SMS PhD in 1989-2012 and their publications. We assessed 1990-2014 NHMRC grants to physicians and non-physicians (nationally) and compared physician salaries from NHMRC, the University of Sydney and NSW public hospitals., Results: SMS PhD completions by clinicians increased ≈2.4-fold since 1989, with a recent decline, whilst non-medical PhD awardees rose 10-fold. The median time of PhD award after medical degree completion was stable at 13 years. A lower percentage of the more recent physician-researchers had completed specialty training at PhD award (34% in 2011-2012 vs 71% in 1989-1990, P = 0.017). Publication rates were stable, but low. Although NHMRC funding increased >10-fold since 1990, national project grant success rates declined (35% in 1990, 17% in 2013 and 15% in 2014, P < 0.0001), with physician-led funded grants declining from 29% in 1989 to 21% in 2013, P = 0.002. Current NHMRC and University salaries are less than comparable-stage public hospital salaries., Conclusion: Since 1989, more medical graduates are completing SMS PhDs, although more often prior to completing clinical Fellowships, and many have ongoing, albeit low, research activity. Nationally NHMRC project grant success rates have declined significantly, as has the proportion of funded physician-led projects. Medical practitioner salaries from NHMRC and from Universities are less than in public hospitals. The Australian physician-researcher is at-risk. Knowledge and actions are needed to protect our medical research capacity., (© 2016 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.)

Background: Given the concerns that physician-researchers are 'at risk', and ≈50% of Australian medical students are female, the evaluation of female physician-researchers is important., Aims: To compare over time (i) research-related metrics of male and female physician-researchers from Sydney Medical School; and (ii) National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project grant leadership by gender., Methods: The Sydney Medical School (SMS) PhD award lists from 1989 to 2012 were cross-referenced with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency database, and registered medical practitioners were searched for in the Scopus database for publications and H-indexes. The gender of medical-practitioner Chief Investigator A (CIA) in Australia on funded NHMRC Project grants in 1990 to 2014 was also compared., Results: Of the medical practitioners awarded University of Sydney PhD, females increased from 14 to 55% in 1989-1990 and 2009-2010 and decreased to 38% in 2011-2012 (overall increase, P = 0.047). PhD award timings relative to MBBS and clinical fellowship completions were similar for both genders (P > 0.05). Post-PhD, as many women as men publish and have similar H-indexes, but women publish fewer papers (0.7 vs 1.0 publications per year, P = 0.028). On medical practitioner-led, funded NHMRC project grants between 1999 and 2014, female CIA increased from 7.5 to 19.5%, P < 0.0001. For the 17% of project grant applications funded to commence in 2014, 21% were medical practitioner-led, of whom 19.5% were female., Conclusions: Since 1989, more female medical practitioners are completing SMS PhD at similar times in their careers to males. However, relative to their male peers, they publish less. Fewer female than male medical practitioner-researchers hold NHMRC Project Grant CIA status nationally, although the rates are increasing. In addressing physician-researcher workforce issues, including retention, attention should be given to factors impacting females., (© 2016 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.)