Building a Successful and Sustainable Academic Career in Gastroenterology

Starting a new job as an academic gastroenterologist can be very exciting and anxiety provoking at the same time. This is particularly true when the junior faculty member is faced with the unique challenges of practicing medicine in today's world while still attempting to maintain work-life balance and avoid professional burnout. In discussions with several junior colleagues in the specialty over the years, it became clear that there is a relative lack of structured guidance in the literature regarding helping them navigate these turbulent waters in their early careers and setting them up for professional success in the long term. Although there is no guaranteed single formula or recipe for academic success, in this review, we attempt to outline in a stepwise fashion the critical components that we believe are important for junior faculty to consider as they embark on this journey. The significance and value of each step from job selection through promotion and mentorship is discussed in detail based on insights gleaned from experience and the published literature. The importance of citizenship, networking, mission and community-based activities, and work-life balance is highlighted as well. The concept of appreciating and enjoying the “journey,” rather than focusing solely on the destination, is emphasized in this paper. We truly believe that these are critical core concepts for junior faculty to grasp that will allow them to derive immense professional gratification in the long run while building successful professional careers along the way.