title: Academics of the future? A survey of final year medical students.
abstract: Objective: The aim of this study was to survey final year medical students at an Australian medical school about their views and experiences regarding academic medicine Methods: A four page questionnaire was developed and administered to each group of final (6th) year medical students upon completion of their psychiatry rotation Results: For 82% clinical teaching would probably or definitely be part of their future careers, while 63% expected that they would undertake formal teaching. Thirty-three percent of students anticipated limited or no involvement in research. While 26% of students expected that they would undertake a higher degree, only 13% were interested in pursuing an academic career Conclusions: The dearth of academics in medicine and in psychiatry in particular is of considerable concern. This study provides some possible avenues for further exploration to address this professional challenge.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Cherrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galletly
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chur-Hansen
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Air
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chapman