The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Feb 2020
Time to develop more clinician-educators in allergy and immunology.
Clinician-educators in the field of allergy and immunology (A/I) in the United States teach and assess trainees (medical students, residents, and fellows), provide professional development to primary care physicians and advance practice providers, and are essential in developing a pipeline of academic A/I specialists. According to data from Doximity and the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States appears to be facing a shortage of clinician-educators and academic allergists in A/I. Without adequate numbers of A/I specialists focused on medical education, institutions will find it difficult to train fellows and introduce the field of A/I to medical students and residents. ⋯ It is also essential that systems-level support be provided for clinician-educators, given the increasing business pressures in medicine. Academic institutions, national organizations, and professional societies can provide resources, including structured programs in medical education, protected time, and grants. This article outlines strategies for individuals, institutions, and professional organizations that will promote the development of the next generation of A/I clinician-educators.