Coaching the Next Generation of Physician Scientists with Dr. Toyosi Onwuemene

The Prosperous Doc

Physicians go to school to become physicians, right? Well, most of the time that’s true. Sometimes physicians go through all their many years of med school, residency, and fellowship to find that they’re actually more interested in research. Dr. Toyosi Onwuemene is one such physician, choosing to become a clinician researcher. And she thinks there’s room for more doctors like her.

“It's very obvious that there's a deficit now that I've done a little bit more research. As clinicians, because you're so immersed in patient care, you're reading the literature, you're interpreting the literature, there's a sense that you're aware of what research is needed, ” Dr. Onwuemene says in regards to moving from a clinician to a researcher. “You can interpret the research, but the gap we have is not recognized [is] how much really needs to come together to be able to be successful as a researcher.”

In this episode of the Prosperous Doc®, host Shane Tenny, CFP® welcomes Dr. Onwuemene to discuss her path to becoming a clinician scientist. Dr. Onwuemene views research as an exciting growth opportunity that feeds her curiosity to answer questions to help people improve their health.

Recognizing there is a lack of mentors available to help guide clinicians to become clinician scientists, Dr. Onwuemene offers coaching to professionals in the field. She fills the gap for individuals who feel they lack the necessary training or mentoring to succeed in their research. Her ideal coaching client is someone who is early in their career and wants to move research forward but has the opportunity and the ability to lead their own experience.

And if it’s not early in their career, it’s not too late. But sooner is better. “From the beginning, start with what you care about,” she says.

💡 Featured Guest 💡

Name: Dr. Toyosi Onwuemene

What she does: Toyosi Onwuemene, M.D. M.S. is an Associate Professor of Medicine-Hematology at Duke University School of Medicine and a coach, consultant, and speaker. She helps academic clinicians build research programs so that they can thrive in their careers while making a lasting impact. She also hosts two podcasts — Heme Consults for Women of Color in Hematology and Clinician Researcher.

Website: https://www.coagcoach.com/

Words of wisdom: “The work we do matters and being able to care for not just the person in front of us but generations beyond them is so powerful, and it's so impactful.”

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

💰 On the Money 💰

Top takeaways from this episode

• Research can take years to yield actionable results. Academic clinicians need to not only conduct research but also navigate manuscript writing, publication processes, and grant applications. Institutions need to provide protected time and resources for clinician training in research methodologies to allow clinicians to build their skills.
• Pursuing research can provide both excitement and personal growth opportunities. Despite having to navigate institutional support challenges, Dr. Onwuemene sees opportunity for clinical research to deliver growth and development. It’s a chance to answer impactful questions that can help a lot of people.
• Bring people to earlier diagnosis. Research gives the opportunity to diagnose patients earlier. It starts with identifying barriers and forming hypotheses, leading to the accumulation of knowledge and more inquiries from practitioners.
• It takes time to figure out what you want, but the earlier the better. Physicians are encouraged to identify their career aspirations early on and align their training accordingly to prevent challenges later. When pursuing faculty positions, you can negotiate including research aligned with your interests and push for protected time, funding, and mentoring.

⚡ Prosperous Insights ⚡

[03:04] Clinician scientists bridge the gap: Dr. Onwuemene discusses how clinician scientists address the unanswered questions in the clinical space. They form research questions to ultimately improve patient outcomes.

[04:48] The gap between clinicians and scientists: According to Dr. Onwuemene, extensive training and qualifications are required to succeed as a research scientist even after completing their clinical training. Notably, more practical experience is needed to move from being a clinician to a PhD researcher.

[07:33] Access to mentors: Having a mentor is a huge benefit for academic clinicians, despite only 20% of clinicians having one. Because of this, on-the-job training becomes very important to building skills and learning how to conduct research.

[11:22] Bringing people to the table: Dr. Onwuemene reviews one of her recent projects that focuses on a rare, hard-to-diagnose blood clotting disorder. Her research has given her the opportunity to find ways to treat more people sooner, which is really impactful.

[15:49] Be strategic with the resources you do have: Through her coaching work, Dr. Onwuemene helps other clinicians find different ways to pursue a transition into research when traditional mentors might not be available.

[17:48] Scientists are communicators: Dr. Onwuemene underscores the importance of scientists having strong communication skills to communicate with the scientific community, with funders, and with the public.

[18:44] Moving research forward: The typical profile of someone who comes to Dr. Onwuemene for coaching is a clinician who is early in their career or has been practicing for a few years and wants to move research forward.

[24:38] Building revenue and value opportunities: Dr. Onwuemene reviews the different ways a clinician can drive revenue to their institution. She also reviews how her coaching practice can help clinicians create value opportunities through their work for their institution, particularly when they are not able to bring in a lot of funding.

[28:65] Mentor shout out: Dr. Onwuemene recognizes Dr. Betty Pace, Physician Scientist at Augusta University for her work in mentoring clinician scientists and the inspiring research programs she has sponsored over the years.

💵 Financial Wellness Tip 💵

Have you found that your income is near its peak potential, yet you’re still not sure where the money is going or what to do with the surplus? Do you have cash piling up in your checking account because you don’t have the time to figure out where else to direct it? Are finances a source of confusion or even conflict in your marriage?

• Check out our free budgeting guide for mid-career doctors!

Disclaimer: Prosperous Doc podcast by Spaugh Dameron Tenny highlights real-life stories from doctors and dentists to encourage and inspire listeners through discussions of professional successes and failures in addition to personal stories and financial wellness advice. Spaugh Dameron Tenny is a comprehensive financial planning firm serving doctors and dentists in Charlotte, NC. To find out more about Spaugh Dameron Tenny, visit our website at www.sdtplanning.com. You can also connect with our host, Shane Tenny, CFP at [e-mail] or on Twitter.

Compliance code: CRN202702-5845268