To appraise the current landscape of the physician-scientist pipeline for pediatric rheumatology and discuss future perspectives and implications for research in the field.
Approach:
Methods: A narrative review was conducted using PubMed searches with specific medical subject heading terms related to physician-scientists and their training in rheumatology.
Key Findings:
Pediatric rheumatology has one of the lowest numbers of physicians per 100,000 children compared to other pediatric subspecialties.
As of June 2023, there were 508 board-certified pediatric rheumatologists ≤70 years of age, with only 15% spending a majority of their time in research.
The median age of board-certified pediatric rheumatologists is 45 years, with one-third planning to retire between ages 65 to 69, indicating a projected decline in the workforce by 2040.
Of these, 88% had a faculty appointment at an academic institution, and 49% primarily worked at a medical school or university.
Interpretation:
The small proportion of physician-scientists in pediatric rheumatology poses challenges for maintaining a vibrant workforce critical for advancing research and clinical care.
Limitations:
The review is limited to articles published up to December 2023 and may not encompass all relevant literature.
The focus is primarily on the North American context, which may not reflect global trends.
Conclusion:
Maintaining a pipeline for the entry, training, and growth of physician-scientists in pediatric rheumatology is essential for continued advancements in the field.
