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Career Development

Angela Wang
Staff Physician
Medicine
Scripps Clinic
La Jolla, CA

Introduction

Physicians-in-training must trod a long and arduous path with little more than anecdotal guidance. In particular, there is a lack of information regarding the sheer breadth of career choices available to pulmonary/critical care medicine (PCCM)/sleep physicians. This review focuses on useful sites for academic and clinical PCCM/sleep physicians either in training and or in the early stages of their career.

Last Update: April 2010

Search

Searches were initiated using various search word combinations for sites on career development pertinent to pulmonary medicine, both academic and clinical. The top 100 hits for each result were reviewed, as were the websites of professional organizations that were deemed potentially pertinent. Many of the sites discussed below were found through simple detective work, having been referred through links obtained through various professional organizations or word of mouth. The ATS site is not reviewed in great detail Instead, this review concentrates on those sites with which people are likely to be less familiar. The following search terms were used:

Career ± development ± medicine (academic medicine)

Leadership ± medicine (healthcare) (pulmonary medicine)

Best Websites

Science Careers

Science Careers was originally developed as the careers component of the journal Science and focused on providing career information and job listings. The site has undergone a major redesign since 2008. The site now features a career magazine with subtopics that include Issues and Perspectives, Career Advice, Life and Career, etc. The Tools and Tips Section has Resources including a Career Basics Booklet last updated in 2009. There are two online communities with active forums: CTSci Net (Clinical and Translational Science Network) http://community.sciencecareers.org/ctscinet/ MySciNet(http://community.sciencecareers.org/myscinet/. One can also access Grantsnet, the most comprehensive resource of funding for research and training in the sciences (http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/funding).

  1. Authority: Sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Rating: 5

  2. Currency: In addition to new articles being published weekly or more often, there are also blogs and forums that answer questions and publish more recent links that the writers encounter. Rating: 5

  3. Accuracy: New articles are published weekly or more often. Rating: 5

  4. Navigation & Readability: There is a lot of stuff here. Take your time and explore. Rating: 4

  5. Utility: The information is freely available. Rating: 5

Summary: Science Careers continues to offer comprehensive and current information on career development in the sciences. But it is not just for scientists. Its wide-ranging articles cover the gamut from career basics to continual professional development.****1/2

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Much like the NIH itself, this site is complex, overwhelming but impressive. From the NIH homepage, most of you will want to head to the GRANTS - OER (Office of Extramural Research) homepage which covers all things (policy, forms, electronic submission) related to NIH grants (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm). Other must-see pages: The NIH-Wide Initiatives includes New and Early Stage Investigators (ESI)(http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm). This provides important information regarding recent and significant changes in NIH New Investigator policies. ESI are those “who have had less than 10 years of research or research training experience after the completion of their terminal research degree or medical residency.” The Award Information and Data site is now the Research Portfolio Online Report Tool(RePORT)(http://report.nih.gov/award_mapping.aspx). Have fun with the numbers. For example, you can look up age data on NIH principal investigators (PI). The average age of new MD-investigators was 43.4 in 2004. The percentage of new investigators fell between 1998 and 2006 from 12.3% to 8.7%. The trend appears to have reversed in 2007, back up to 9.8%. The “Training at NIH” link, http://www.nih.gov/Training.htm, is directly accessible from the homepage and features information about intramural and extramural training opportunities. The section for New Investigators includes links to resources within and outside the NIH. NIAID, in particular has very helpful tools including "How to Write a Grant Application" for the NIH Grant cycle. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/cycle/default.htm

  1. Authority: For the NIH, by the NIH, of the NIH. Rating: 5

  2. Currency: Although some of the review articles are now a few years old, the information remains pertinent. There are a few outdated links to outside organizations. All of the practical information, especially with regards to timelines and eligibility criteria is updated regularly. Rating: 4

  3. Accuracy: Presumably this site has the most accurate information regarding NIH funding mechanisms. Rating: 5

  4. Navigation & Readability: There is a huge amount of information here. Finding your way around can be time consuming, but if you are at all interested in obtaining NIH funding, you must take the time to become familiar with this site. Rating: 3

  5. Utility: This site should be readily accessible to anyone. Rating: 5

Summary: This is the only comprehensive and most up-to-date source of information related to NIH funding mechanisms.****1/2

Center for Scientific Review (CRS)

This is the heart of the NIH grant application process. The CSR is the clearinghouse for all grant applications submitted to the NIH. The CSR organizes the peer review committees (aka study sections), and links to the CSR Study Section Roster Indices are provided. The CSR has a number of helpful links that help the applicant to better understand and navigate the applications process. In addition to a video presentation of a mock review session (http://www.drg.nih.gov/Video/Video.asp), there is a special section containing “Resources for Applicants” (http://cms.csr.nih.gov/ResourcesforApplicants/).

  1. Authority: Sponsored by the NIH. Rating: 5

  2. Currency: This site has extremely useful information for those of you seeking to understand the peer review process. Rating: 5

  3. Accuracy: N/A Rating: 5

  4. Navigation & Readability: The site has been redesigned within the past year and is clearly organized. Rating: 5

  5. Utility: The information is freely available Rating: 5

Summary: Unique information shedding light on the peer review process.****

Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects (CRISP)

This is an invaluable source of information for anyone looking for potential collaborations or trying to figure out the relative research health of particular institution or division or geographic location. It is a searchable database of federally funded biomedical research projects maintained by the Office of Extramural Research.

  1. Authority: Sponsored by the NIH. Rating: 5

  2. Currency: Updated every year. Rating: 5

  3. Accuracy: N/A Rating: 5

  4. Navigation & Readability: The search engine is very easy to use. Rating: 5

  5. Utility: The information is freely available. Rating: 5

Summary: This site is well worth a look for anyone curious about where federal biomedical research dollars are going*****

Chronicle of Higher Education

This is an online daily newsletter dedicated to covering all aspects of academic life. Although this site is largely geared toward university/college faculty and administrators, it provides a stimulating and comprehensive overview of academic life. The wide-ranging readership permits a broad range of discussion on various topics including leaving academe, mid-career issues and administrative tracks.

  1. Authority: Independent, award-winning journalism. Rating: 5

  2. Currency: The material is updated monthly via contributions to various columns and forums. The newsletter is updated daily. Rating: 5

  3. Accuracy: N/A Rating: 5

  4. Navigation & Readability: N/A Rating: 4

  5. Utility: Although geared towards academics, many of the topics are useful and thought-provoking for all professionals. Although a subscription is required to access many of the special sections (e.g., careers), I was able to access the site through my university server. Rating: 4

Summary: N/A****1/2

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

The Group on Faculty Affairs, http://www.aamc.org/members/facultyaffairs/, offers salary survey reports and recommended reading lists (free) and requires member log-in. There are other publications for sale including the Handbook of Academic Medicine: How Medical School and Teaching Hospitals Work. Other useful sections: faculty vitae, focused on professional development and leadership, http://www.aamc.org/members/facultydev/facultyvitae/start.htm Women in Medicine, http://www.aamc.org/members/wim/start.htm. See Women in US Academic Medicine Statistics, http://www.aamc.org/data/aib/start.htm, Improving the Environment for Women in Academic Medicine, http://www.aamc.org/members/wim/wimguide/start.htm. Analysis in Brief, http://www.aamc.org/data/aib/, has extremely helpful data regarding workforce and professional development issues, including faculty job satisfaction and retention.

  1. Authority: Sponsored by the AAMC. Rating: 5

  2. Currency: N/A Rating: 5

  3. Accuracy: N/A Rating: 5

  4. Navigation & Readability: N/A Rating: 4

  5. Utility: Some of the information is freely available. Rating: 4

Summary: This site is highly recommended for its timely data regarding trends in faculty and professional development.****1/2

The American Physiological Society (APS)

This is a great site and well worth taking some time to explore. The site offers unique resources for elementary school students/educators to the established investigator. The “trainee” link on the left takes you to the APS Trainee Information Center (http://www.the-aps.org/trainees/index.htm) that includes a Skills section, Topic of the Month and Trainee Symposium. The latter includes PowerPoint presentations from previous symposia held at the annual Experimental Biology meetings dating back to 2006. For new and established investigators, there is a “Meet a Colleague” link that features various career paths and provides a human interest perspective on various investigators and how they came to their particular career. In addition, there is a mentoring forum with highly useful discussions on practical issues such as starting a lab.

  1. Authority: Founded in 1887, the APS is a nonprofit organization “devoted to fostering education, scientific research, and dissemination of information in the physiological sciences.” Rating: 5

  2. Currency: The material appears to be updated on a regular basis and the content reviewed appeared current. However, clear documentation of the dates of the material is not always provided. Rating: 4

  3. Accuracy: Although the given information appears accurate and the organization has done a better job of identifying authorship, often websites are provided without information as to how they were chosen. While many of the sites are clearly well-established professional organizations, some are not and it is not known whether any vetting process was involved. A disclaimer at the bottom states that APS does not endorse or assume responsibility for the information posted on these websites. Rating: 4

  4. Navigation & Readability: N/A Rating: 4

  5. Utility: As mentioned, this site provides unique services. Rating: 4

Summary: The career advice provided is broadly applicable to anyone thinking about a scientific career in research or education.****1/2

Association of Women Surgeons (AWS)

Why a site for surgeons? This site provides a unique and well-organized source of information for anyone contemplating private practice and academic career choices in medicine. For instance, this is one of the few sites that discuss academic life within the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. There are also articles that compare academic to group to solo practice.

  1. Authority: AWS members were recruited to write chapters specific to their area(s) of expertise including surgical specialty, practice type (e.g. academic, government, hospital-based, health maintenance organization or private practice), aspects of career development (e.g., job negotiation, promotion, mentorship, research) and relevant organizations (e.g., Association for Academic Surgery, Society for University Surgeons). Other members edited the chapters. Rating: 5

  2. Currency: The career development articles are a few years old but remain timely. Rating: 3

  3. Accuracy: N/A Rating: 5

  4. Navigation & Readability: The site has undergone a major redesign within the past year. Rating: 4

  5. Utility: N/A Rating: 4

Summary: This site is not for women only. AWS covers a broad range of career development topics important for both professional and personal development.****

Mom MD

This is an Oprah-style site, with blogs and forums discussing personal, social and professional aspects of being a female physician. The site has undergone a major redesign in the past year and the homepage is now clearly divided into sections for medical students and physicians. This site is unique given its freewheeling discussions that are primarily directed towards physicians in early stages of their training but are broadly applicable to any woman, not necessarily a mother, in medicine.

  1. Authority: This is a public site, which bills itself as an online community for women in medicine. Founded in 1999 by Sethina Edwards, MomMD is a privately held, for-profit company. Rating: 3

  2. Currency: The information presented is current, clearly dated or updated on a regular basis. Rating: 5

  3. Accuracy: There are moderators who presumably monitor content for inappropriate or offensive comments. It appears that anyone can volunteer to be a monitor, but it is not clear who the moderators are or how they are chosen. Rating: 2

  4. Navigation & Readability: The site is cluttered with ads, but advertising is banned in the forums. Rating: 3

  5. Utility: One can browse and read all the public forums without registering. However, all forums require that you register (free) and log in if you want to post messages. Rating: 4

Summary: This is fun to check out. These are real people sharing real problems. The site provides a personal side of medicine and life that rarely gets shared.****

Other Important Sites

  • American Thoracic Society (ATS)
    http://www.thoracic.org
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
    http://www.hhmi.org

    This is a well-built and organized site with unique offerings for the physician-scientist in training. In particular, there are free downloadable PDF files on lab management "Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty" and mentoring "Entering Mentoring" as well as a video featuring 11 HHMI investigators giving highly personalized views on what it takes to be successful in science. (http://www.hhmi.org/becoming/). Have a particular research interest or query? You can also search their database for scientists and by research topic.

  • American College of Physicians (ACP)
    http://www.acponline.org

    Summary: This well-laid-out site contains useful information for physicians seeking to learn more about various practice and career options, although much of the content appears limited to members. The site provides an overview of various types of practices, including clinician-teacher tracks. Importantly, it covers business and financial aspects of medicine that are typically ignored in most training programs, including sections on debt management, buying a home and practice management benefits. It also has a Physician Compensation and Benefits Worksheet.

  • American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)
    http://www.ascb.org

    Women in Cell Biology (WICB) is a standing committee of the ASCB in 1992. They have long been leaders in offering career resources for women and men during all career stages. The WICB blog does not have an RSS feed but is well written and interesting.

  • Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering
    http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11741.html

    This landmark study was published in the Fall, 2006 by the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering and Institute of Medicine. At the very least, read the synopsis provided at the front of every chapter. The PDF copy is free.

  • Giving and Getting Career Advice: A Guide for Junior and Senior Faculty
    http://www.umich.edu/~advproj/career%20advising.pdf

    A comprehensive and invaluable guide for junior faculty seeking to develop interactive relationships with senior colleagues beyond the usual "one-on-one" interactions one associates with mentoring. The guide correctly and importantly points out the multiple areas in which junior faculty must excel and discusses the different means through which junior faculty can obtain help and advice, including specific questions that need to be addressed. The guide also gives tips for senior faculty, department chairs and directors, although as is often the case, the people who need the most guidance are also probably the least likely to read this.

  • Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM)
    http://www.drexelmed.edu/elam

    ELAM offers a Resource List on Leadership, Higher Education, Academic Healthcare and Women’s Issues (PDF). This is a comprehensive listing of resources, online and published, pertaining to leadership in medicine, professional development and women’s issues.

  • Women in Science and Engineering Leadership Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison
    http://http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/library.php

    Not for women only. Excellent online access maintained through RefShare

  • University of Pittsburgh Survival Skills and Ethics Program
    http://http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Survival-Skills-and-Ethics-Program/251994596827?ref=mf

    New Facebook page—worth keeping an eye on!

Disclaimer

The author has no personal or financial interest in any of the websites discussed above.