Letter re: A dedicated scholarly research program in an adult and pediatric neurology residency program

Abstract

I applaud Robbins et al.1 for successfully improving scholarly research in their residency program. In general, education on clinical research is inadequate in medical schools and postgraduate clinical programs.2 Flexner3 stressed that original research, and the critical method of research, should play an important role in medical schools. However, clinical research at academic medical centers is under stress.2 The amount of time spent by academic physicians on clinical research has declined over the last several decades due to increasing demands to provide clinical care.2 Another recent publication provided data to this regard from a 2016 survey of US neurologists.4 The survey revealed that academic neurologists spent an average of 16% of their time on research (median 10%).4 These levels fell drastically from reports done in 1984, which found that academic physicians overall spent 41% of their time on research activities.5 I previously offered recommendations to improve clinical research in academic medical centers,2 including training in clinical research methodology and required research by medical students, residents, and clinical fellows. Efforts like those reported by Robbins et al. can improve the situation and affect the overall clinical research environment of a neurology department.