June 2021
Volume 62, Issue 8
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2021
Research funding, income, and career satisfaction among clinician-scientists in ophthalmology in the United States
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Alexander Rusakevich
    Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, United States
  • Nicholas Protopsaltis
    University of California at San Diego Department of Ophthalmology at the Shiley Eye Institute, California, United States
  • Rajesh C Rao
    Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
    Ophthalmology, Surgery Service, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
  • Daniel L Chao
    University of California at San Diego Department of Ophthalmology at the Shiley Eye Institute, California, United States
  • Glenn Yiu
    Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Alexander Rusakevich, None; Nicholas Protopsaltis, None; Rajesh Rao, A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute (F), Beatrice & Reymont Paul Foundation (F), Grossman, Greenspon, Dunn, Avers, Boustikakis, Sweiden and Terauchi Research Funds (F), Marek and Maria Spatz Endowment (F), Research to Prevent Blindness (F), The Leonard G. Miller Professorship and Ophthalmic Research Fund at the Kellogg Eye Center (F); Daniel Chao, DTx Pharma (I), Janssen Research and Development (E), RecensMedical (I), Visgenx (I); Glenn Yiu, Allergan (C), Carl Zeiss Meditec (C), Clearside Biomedical (C), Genentech (C), Intergalactic Therapeutics (C), Iridex (C), Regeneron (C), Topcon (C), Verily (C)
  • Footnotes
    Support  None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2021, Vol.62, 2646. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Alexander Rusakevich, Nicholas Protopsaltis, Rajesh C Rao, Daniel L Chao, Glenn Yiu; Research funding, income, and career satisfaction among clinician-scientists in ophthalmology in the United States. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2021;62(8):2646.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose : Characterization of clinician-scientists and identification of success predictors may help to develop grant policies that maintain the viability of this career pathway in ophthalmology. The current survey study analyzed responses from a cohort of clinician-scientists in ophthalmology and identified factors associated with successful research funding, income, and career satisfaction.

Methods : A cross-sectional survey study of clinician-scientists in ophthalmology at U.S. academic institutions conducted between April 17 and May 19, 2019. Collected information include 1) demographic data, 2) amount, type, and source of startup funding, first extramural grant, and first R01-equivalent independent grant, 3) starting and current salaries, and 4) Likert-scale measures of career satisfaction. Multivariate regression analyses were used to evaluate factors associated with time to receiving R01-equivalent independent funding, salary, and career satisfaction measures.

Results : 98 clinician-scientists in ophthalmology were surveyed across different ages (mean 48±11 years), research categories, institutional types, geographic regions, and academic ranks. Median startup funding was $50-99k, and median starting salary was $150-199k. Most investigators (67%) received their first extramural award from the National Eye Institute mostly through K-award mechanisms (82%). The median time to receiving their first independent grant was 8 years, mostly through an R01 award (70%). Greater institutional startup support (P = 0.048) and earlier extramural grant success (P = 0.035) were associated with earlier independent funding. Male gender (P = 0.038) and MD degree (P = 0.039) were associated with higher current salaries, but not starting salaries. Overall career satisfaction increased with career duration (P = 0.003), but not with earlier independent funding (P = 0.533) or higher income (P = 0.403).

Conclusions : Success in research funding by clinician-scientists in ophthalmology may be linked to institutional support and earlier acquisition of extramural grants, but does not impact academic salaries. Nevertheless, career satisfaction among clinician-scientists improves with time, with little impact from research or financial success.

This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.

×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×