Barriers to Clinical Academic Surgical Training and Career Development in the United Kingdom: A Review from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Advanced Surgical Technology Incubator (ASTI) Group

Clinical academics play a vital role in advancing medical research, knowledge and treatments within the National Health System (NHS), but this career's sustainability is at risk due to barriers to accessing and pursuing research opportunities throughout a surgeon's training and career. Despite the diversification of surgical training with integrated opportunities, challenges such as limited training opportunities, lack of protected research time, and financial constraints persist. This paper from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Advanced Surgical Technology Incubator (ASTI) group highlights these issues, addressing the competitiveness of academic pathways, workload balance, mentorship importance, and the need for standardised assessments. It highlights the need for greater accountability from healthcare employers and academic institutions. Additionally, the paper focuses on increasing diversity and inclusion in clinical academia, addressing systemic discrimination, and changing the NHS culture. This paper calls for collective efforts from the medical profession, government, and institutions to address these issues.