title: The seven attributes of the academic surgeon: Critical aspects of the archetype and contributions to the surgical community.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  "Academic surgeon" describes a member of a medical school department of surgery, but this term does not fully define the important role of such physician-scientists in advancing surgical science through translational research and innovation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The curriculum vitae and self-descriptive vignettes of the records of achievement of seven surgeons possessing documented records of academic leadership, innovation, and dissemination of knowledge were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out analysis yielded seven attributes of the archetypal academic surgeon: 1) identifies complex clinical problems ignored or thought unsolvable by others, 2) becomes an expert, 3) innovates to advance treatment, 4) observes outcomes to further improve and innovate, 5) disseminates knowledge and expertise, 6) asks important questions to further improve care, and 7) trains the next generation of surgeons and scientists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although alternative pathways to innovation and academic contribution also exist, the academic surgeon typically devotes years of careful observation, analysis, and iterative investigation to identify and solve challenging or unexplored clinical problems, ideally leverages resources available in academic medical centers to support these endeavors.
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: todd.rosengart@bcm.edu.
authors.forename: Todd K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Rosengart
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Meredith C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: LeMaire
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Coselli
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Curley
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Mattox
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sugarbaker
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D005180:Faculty, Medical; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000193:education; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical; D014481:United States
keywords: Academic surgery; Innovation; Leadership; Research