Research Funding, Income, and Career Satisfaction among Clinician-Scientists in Ophthalmology in the United States.

PURPOSE To characterize clinician-scientists in ophthalmology and identify factors associated with successful research funding, income, and career satisfaction. DESIGN Cross-sectional study METHODS: We conducted a survey of clinician-scientists in ophthalmology at U.S. academic institutions between April 17, 2019 and May 19, 2019. We collected information including 1) demographic data, 2) amount, type, and source of startup funding, first extramural grant, and first R01-equivalent independent grant, 3) starting and current salaries, and 4) Likert-scale measures of career satisfaction were analyzed using multivariate regression. RESULTS 98 clinician-scientists in ophthalmology were surveyed across different ages (mean 48±11 years), research categories, institutional types, geographic regions, and academic ranks. Median startup funding was $50-99k, and median starting salary was $150-199k. Most investigators (67%) received their first extramural award from the National Eye Institute, mostly through K-award mechanisms (82%). The median time to receiving their first independent grant was 8 years, mostly through an R01 award (70%). Greater institutional startup support (P=0.027) and earlier extramural grant success (P=0.022) were associated with earlier independent funding. Male gender (P = 0.001) and MD degree (P=0.008) were associated with higher current salaries, but not starting salaries. Overall career satisfaction increased with career duration (P=0.011), but not with earlier independent funding (P=0.746) or higher income (P=0.300). CONCLUSIONS Success in research funding by clinician-scientists in ophthalmology may be linked to institutional support and earlier acquisition of extramural grants, but does not impact academic salaries. Nevertheless, career satisfaction among clinician-scientists improves with time, which is not necessarily influenced by research or financial success.