In this episode of the Clinician Researcher Podcast, Dr. Toyosi Onwuemene discusses one of the most underutilized but highly beneficial collaborations in clinical research—the partnership between MD and PhD researchers. Dr. Onwuemene, drawing from her own experiences as a clinical researcher, explains how these collaborations can drive innovation, enhance research quality, and offer unique perspectives that can break through traditional barriers in medical research.

Key Points:

• Complementary Resources and Expertise: MDs bring an abundance of clinical resources—patient access, sample collection, and clinical staff support—while PhDs offer access to research infrastructure, postdoctoral expertise, and dedicated research time. The combination creates a powerful resource pool for advancing research projects.
• Different Perspectives, Greater Synergy: While MDs focus heavily on patient care, PhDs contribute deep methodological and research expertise. Together, they offer diverse viewpoints that can lead to breakthroughs in clinical research by challenging established thinking and creating innovative solutions.
• Peer Mentoring: The MD-PhD partnership fosters a unique peer mentoring dynamic where both sides educate each other. For example, MDs can offer clinical insights, while PhDs can share advanced research methodologies. This type of collaboration creates a judgment-free environment for learning and growth.
• Interdisciplinary Grant Opportunities: Working together opens doors to a wider range of grants, including those from organizations like the NIH and FDA. Dr. Onwuemene shares her personal experience of successfully collaborating on NIH grants and plans to pursue FDA grants as well.
• Encouragement for MDs to Find PhD Collaborators: Dr. Onwuemene urges MDs to actively seek out PhD partners to help diversify and expand their research. This collaboration can lead to new ideas, improved research quality, and ultimately better patient care.

Notable Quote: "You don't get more diverse than the MD-PhD partnership. It's like two eyes coming together to see in a way that one eye can't see alone."

Call to Action: Are you an MD looking to enhance your research? Think about who the PhDs are in your professional network and reach out to collaborate! Together, you can harness the best of both worlds—clinical insight and deep research expertise.

Listener Shout-out: A special mention to Theresa, Dr. Onwuemene's collaborator, for her incredible partnership in their research projects.

Subscribe & Share: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the Clinician Researcher Podcast for more insights on navigating the world of academic research. Share this episode with colleagues who could benefit.

Sponsor/Advertising/Monetization Information:

This episode is sponsored by Coag Coach LLC, a leading provider of coaching resources for clinicians transitioning to become research leaders. Coag Coach LLC is committed to supporting clinicians in their scholarship.

Looking for a coach?

Sign up for a coaching discovery call today: https://www.coagcoach.com/service-page/consultation-call-1

In this episode, Dr. Toyosi Onwuemene shares invaluable insights on crafting a strategic plan for academic success in medicine and research. Reflecting on her own early career experiences, Dr. Onwuemene emphasizes the importance of having a well-thought-out plan, whether you're just starting your academic journey or reassessing your current path. Through six key questions, she guides listeners to self-reflect and align personal values with institutional goals to create a fulfilling and sustainable career.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Who am I and what do I value? Understand your personal values to determine the environments where you'll thrive. Clarifying this early on helps in making intentional career decisions that align with your values.
2. What does this academic institution value? Investigate the institution's value system by reviewing promotion and tenure documents. This allows you to assess whether your goals align with what the institution prioritizes, providing insight into what is required for advancement.
3. How does what I value align with what the institution values? Reflect on whether your personal goals match the institution’s expectations. This alignment—or lack thereof—will guide how you navigate your career trajectory.
4. How have others succeeded here? Learn from others who have succeeded in similar roles by asking them about the paths they took and what it cost them. Understanding their experiences helps set realistic expectations and prepares you for potential challenges.
5. Am I willing to pay the price for success? Consider whether you're prepared to make the sacrifices necessary for your chosen path. Each path in medicine and academia has its own set of challenges, and it's essential to know if you're willing to commit.
6. What would you do differently? Ask mentors and colleagues who have already succeeded about what they would change if they could go back. Their reflections can provide valuable guidance for avoiding common pitfalls.
7. How will I successfully navigate this environment? Now that you have all the tools in hand, how will you successfully navigate the environment?

Final Thoughts:

Strategic planning in academia isn't rigid but rather flexible and adaptive to evolving circumstances. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining an existing plan, these essential questions provide a roadmap for aligning your aspirations with reality.

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Next Episode Teaser: In the next episode, we’ll be discussing the hidden curriculum in academic medicine and how to uncover it to advance your career!

In this episode, Dr. Onwuemene lays out a thoughtful guide for clinicians who are seeking research mentorship but may be struggling. Specifically, she emphasizes the importance of recognizing skills gaps, time commitments, and the need for clear, long-term thinking

Key points discussed

1. Not understanding what is required
2. Minimal research skills
3. Minimal time commitment
4. Short-term thinking
5. Unclear mentoring expectations
6. Narrow focus
7. Divergent interests

Sponsor/Advertising/Monetization Information:

This episode is sponsored by Coag Coach LLC, a leading provider of coaching resources for clinicians transitioning to become research leaders. Coag Coach LLC is committed to supporting clinicians in their scholarship.

Looking for a coach?

Sign up for a coaching discovery call today: https://www.coagcoach.com/service-page/consultation-call-1

In this episode, Dr. Onwuemene shares insights gained from a recent coaching session, discussing seven critical things to understand before entering academic medicine. Drawing from personal experiences, she emphasizes the importance of being prepared and having a realistic understanding of the academic landscape.

Key Takeaways

1. Academic medicine is a business: While patient care is a priority, a critical aspect of the academic environment is financial sustainability.
2. Academic medical centers need to generate revenue: Physicians play a crucial role in generating clinical revenue through patient care and referrals for clinical services procedures, and lab services.
3. The academic business landscape: Declining reimbursements and increasing costs of care drive the pressure to do more with less.
4. Your Role in Revenue Generation: As a physician, you are an integral part of your institution's revenue generation framework.
5. Balancing Clinical and Academic Pursuits: Understand how your aspirations beyond clinical care, such as teaching and research, fit into the revenue generation model.
6. Realistic Expectations for Research: Consider how long it may take to secure grant funding and the impact it has on your financial contributions to the institution.
7. Strategic Planning for a Career in Academic Medicine: Be strategic in your approach to career planning, keeping in mind both your personal goals and the institutional expectations.

By having realistic expectations and understanding the interplay between clinical and academic responsibilities, early career faculty can better navigate their academic paths.

Sponsor/Advertising/Monetization Information:

This episode is sponsored by Coag Coach LLC, a leading provider of coaching resources for clinicians transitioning to become research leaders. Coag Coach LLC is committed to supporting clinicians in their scholarship.

Looking for a coach?

Sign up for a coaching discovery call today: https://www.coagcoach.com/service-page/consultation-call-1

In this episode, Dr. Toyosi Onwuemene discusses the surprising perspectives of early-career faculty on salary. After a recent coaching session in which salary was ranked as the least important factor in choosing an academic position, Dr. Onwuemene dives deep into the reasons why salary plays a critical role in career success and sustainability.

Key Points:

1. Salary Reflects Value: Whether or not you equate salary with your personal value, institutions often do. The pay you receive signals how much your work is valued.
2. Sustainability: Earning enough to meet personal and professional needs, such as childcare or student loan repayments, ensures you’re not distracted from your core academic work.
3. Opportunities for Growth: A higher salary can support your continued professional development, allowing you to attend conferences, invest in training, and pursue career-enhancing opportunities.
4. Flexibility: Financial freedom enables more personal and professional flexibility, from taking vacations to managing unexpected expenses.
5. Compensation for Effort: When your your salary matches the time and effort you put into your academic role, you’re not under-compensated.
6. Equity and Negotiation: Negotiation is an essential skill. Understanding expected salaries for your role allows you to advocate for fair pay, particularly in the face of gender and racial pay disparities.
7. Long-Term Financial Health: Starting with a good salary impacts your long-term financial future, from investments to retirement savings.

Final Thoughts: While salary may not always be top of mind for early-career faculty, it plays a fundamental role in your ability to thrive both personally and professionally. Ensuring you're fairly compensated means you’ll have the resources you need for career sustainability and growth.

Don’t miss out on future episodes! Follow the Clinician Researcher Podcast for more insights on navigating academic medicine and research.

Today we're diving into a critical topic for any clinician wanting to succeed in research—strategy. In this episode, I emphasize how intentionality and strategic planning can help you grow your research skills, break free from spinning in circles, and push forward with your goals.

Key Points Discussed:

1. Developing a Strategic Plan Success in research doesn’t happen by accident—it’s intentional. The first key to strategic growth is to develop a plan.
2. Plan Your Week, Weekly Successful researchers don’t leave things to chance. Each week, take time to plan what you’re going to accomplish.
3. Write Consistently Binge-writing no longer works when you have a full schedule. Learn the power of writing consistently.
4. Accountability Without Judgment You need accountability that is non-judgmental. Create a system where you can track your goals, reflect on what’s working or not, and adjust accordingly.
5. Lean into Peer Mentoring Networks Peers can offer guidance and accountability without the hierarchical pressure of senior mentors. Your peers help you keep the mentoring process informal and supportive.
6. Take Risks Growth in research requires risk. No one grows by staying in their comfort zone.

This episode is packed with strategic insights that will help you grow your research skills—intentionally and with purpose.

Tune in now to get actionable steps that will take your research game to the next level! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with your colleagues who are on their research journey!

Sponsor/Advertising/Monetization Information:

This episode is sponsored by Coag Coach LLC, a leading provider of coaching resources for clinicians transitioning to become research leaders. Coag Coach LLC is committed to supporting clinicians in their scholarship.

Looking for a coach?

Sign up for a coaching discovery call today: https://www.coagcoach.com/service-page/consultation-call-1

Welcome to The Clinician Researcher Podcast! In this episode, we're diving into seven life hacks that will help physician scientists grow their careers. Whether you're just starting or looking to accelerate your progress, these tips are for you.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

1. Leverage Your Mentorship Networks You already have mentors, but are you truly leveraging them? It's not about relying on one person but recognizing that you have a whole network of mentors.
2. Focus on a Niche Narrowing your focus will take you further. By becoming an expert in a specific area, you can build upon each success.
3. Prioritize Grant Writing Early Get started on grant writing as early as possible to secure funding that can protect your time for research. Start with small grants and gradually build up to larger ones.
4. Collaborate Across Disciplines Seek out collaborators with complementary expertise. Working with experts outside your discipline will multiply your impact.
5. Leverage Technology to Streamline Research Use technology effectively. Stay current with technological advancements can save you time and effort.
6. Optimize Your Research Time Find and maximize every small time window. Make sure you're using your time strategically to advance your research goals.
7. Use strategic self-promotion. Don't wait for someone to promote you. You promote yourself. If no one invites you, invite yourself.

Sponsor/Advertising/Monetization Information:

This episode is sponsored by Coag Coach LLC, a leading provider of coaching resources for clinicians transitioning to become research leaders. Coag Coach LLC is committed to supporting clinicians in their scholarship.

Looking for a coach?

Sign up for a coaching discovery call today: https://www.coagcoach.com/service-page/consultation-call-1

In this episode of the Clinician Researcher Podcast, Dr. Onwuemene dives into an insightful conversation on how to maximize the benefits of your career. Building on last week's discussion about what your career can offer—spiritual growth, personal development, social capital, and overall well-being—we now focuses on how to achieve these outcomes.

Key Themes:

1. Your Career as a Vehicle: Think of your career as a vehicle that takes you to various destinations.
2. What Type of Vehicle Are You Driving? Are you on a metaphorical bicycle, motorcycle, or SUV? Understanding the type of "vehicle" you have in your career will help you know what to expect in terms of speed, endurance, and capacity to carry others along the journey.
3. Strategizing for Success: Careers, like vehicles, require maintenance. Are you investing in your career's growth through mentorship, networking, and continuous development?
4. Who Are Your Passengers? Success in your career isn’t a solo journey. Consider the passengers in your vehicle—your collaborators, mentors, students, and supporters. Are they helping you maintain momentum, or are they slowing you down?
5. When to Upgrade: There comes a time when the cost of maintaining your current vehicle (career path) outweighs the benefits. Recognize when it’s time to move on, trade up, or pivot in your career to ensure you're still progressing toward your long-term goals.

Key Takeaways:

• Your career is a vehicle that should take you to multiple destinations—professionally, financially, and personally.
• Assess the current state of your career. Are you driving a "bicycle" or a "luxury car"?
• Be strategic about maintenance. Invest in mentorship and community support to avoid major setbacks.
• Reflect on who’s riding with you in your career journey—mentors, collaborators, and supporters.
• Know when it’s time to upgrade. Don’t stay too long in a career vehicle that’s no longer serving you.

Listener Action Items:

• Take a moment to assess the type of "vehicle" your career is right now.
• Think about the passengers you’re carrying. Are they helping or hindering your progress?
• Consider if it’s time for a "career upgrade" and what that might look like.

Sponsor/Advertising/Monetization Information:

This episode is sponsored by Coag Coach LLC, a leading provider of coaching resources for clinicians transitioning to become research leaders. Coag Coach LLC is committed to supporting clinicians in their scholarship.

Looking for a coach?

Sign up for a coaching discovery call today: https://www.coagcoach.com/service-page/consultation-call-1