Here to stay: Clinician investigator training in a changing environment

Abstract

Clinician investigators (CI) are a growing sector within the research community. Given the emphasis on patient-oriented research, the need for more physicians with the aptitude to conduct translational research has never been greater. Despite this, there is limited literature on the current Canadian CI training programs. e Clinician Investigator Trainee Association of Canada (CITAC) has a signi-cant interest in ensuring the training of clinician instigators, at both the undergraduate and residency levels, remains adept at meeting the challenges of today's health care system. In the August issue of Clinical Investigative Medicine, Appleton et al. published the -rst document reporting on the data collected by CITAC on the basic demographics of Canadian CI trainees [3]. e authors captured census data from each CI training program. is collaborative and national effort is a -rst and crucial step in understanding the strengths and potential pitfalls of Canadian CI training programs. e data presented will be used as a reference resource to improve training programs and facilitate future research. © 2013 CIM.