All physicians are scientists; not all scientists are physicians

DEAR DR. ROACH: My college kid went to a march for science. What does it mean to be a scientist? I thought she wanted to be a physician. Are physicians scientists? -- P.C.

ANSWER: Scientists are committed to making observations and finding ways to measure what they see, formulating a hypothesis and finding a way to test their ideas. Physicians do that. Further, the definition of “scientist” includes someone learned in science, and so a physician absolutely is a scientist. Traditionally trained physicians learn the basics of physics and chemistry, biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, and later, anatomy and physiology. This leads to a basis for understanding health and disease, and allows us to be ready to understand clinical medicine.

Although there are exceptions, most physicians are not investigators, who are creators of science for the sake of increasing knowledge. Practicing physicians use science to help others, and hopefully teach it to the next generation in some fashion. Many physicians also will publish unusual or instructive cases in the medical literature.

Advances in medical knowledge come largely from the investigators, less so from the practitioners. We need both in our society if medicine is to advance.

I hear a lot about the art of medicine, and I agree that there are practitioners who are very skilled in dealing with people and who have creative ways of approaching clinical problems. However, the physician-as-artist cannot exist without being a physician-as-scientist first, in my opinion.

I would congratulate your daughter on her desire to consider a career in science, including medicine.