Science discovery in clinician-economist collaboration: legacy and future challenges.
BACKGROUND
2002 Carl Taube Lecture at the NIMH Mental Health Economics Meeting.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the contribution and process of clinician/economist collaboration.


METHODS
Personal scientific autobiography, using relationships with three economists as case examples.


RESULTS
In joint efforts by clinicians and economists, clinicians bring an interest in case examples and in responding to unmet need, while economists bring structured analysis methods and respect for a societal perspective. Through mutual respect and discovery, both clinicians and economists can define unmet need in clinical and economic terms and help develop models and programs to improve clinical care, while maintaining a societal evaluation perspective. Key to scientific discovery is the principle that the emotions generated by data, such as hope and despair, need to be acknowledged and utilized rather than avoided or buried, provided that such feelings are used in a balanced manner in research. According to the author, collaboration helps maintain such a balance.


CONCLUSIONS
Collaboration requires and builds trust, and improves the depth of research by combining different personal and disciplinary perspectives and strengths. Young investigators should be encouraged to explore collaboration and to consider their feelings in response to health and economic data as an important scientific and creative resource.
Wells
Kenneth B
KB
UCLA-NPI Health Services Research Center, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. kwells@ucla.edu
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004470:Economics, Medical; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States