SMPA Annual Report 2005

SMPA Annual Report 2005

Dear Colleagues, dear guests

The SMPA has seen a year of ongoing growth. The third year of existence was characterized by persistent enthusiasm of the board members. Several new projects have been realized and the most important ones, I would briefly like to summarize.

The SMPA aims to strengthen the role of physician scientists in clinical and translational research. The SMPA sees room for improvements and adaptations of the clinical education period as well as the creation of new job opportunities in the so far rather service oriented university hospitals.
One particular limitation for an efficient career as a clinical scientist are the regulations for obtaining clinical specialization titles by the FMH. Compared to the US, the clinical residency period here lasts up to twice as long. The SMPA has now asked the FMH to recognize a research period of at least of one year for any specialization title and that for an MD-PhD absolvent, two years should become recognized. This motion is now in evaluation by all the Fachgesellschaften of the FMH, and we have recently been informed, that at least one year of the MD-PhD period should become recognized for any FMH-Facharzttitel.

With the same aim, we also intensified our contacts to the VSAO/ASMAC, the Swiss society of Assistenz- und Oberaerzte. First in the setting of a Presidential meeting in Mai, later in a meeting of the VSAO Zentralvorstand in September, we outlined the actual Swiss situation of MD-PhDs and physician-scientists and sensitized the VSAO for the need of shorter specialization periods and for the creation of more clinical research positions at university hospitals. The VSAO agreed to support our activities, particularly our position paper towards the FMH.

In the VSAO journal 10/05 furthermore, the SMPA has been presented in an article titled „Den Bogen spannen zwischen Wissenschaft und Praxis“, written by the SMPA member Yara Banz.

As a particular „side project“, the article „Is it a SIN to have a SIN?“ has been published by the SMPA board in July 05 as an E-letter in the Science magazine. Lukas Jeker’s remarkable idea of a personal worldwide “Scientist identification number” was vividly discussed in the SMPA board and the project was successfully completed by this publication.

Already in my last annual report, I have reported on the aims of the SMPA position paper on the planned reform of the national Swiss MD-PhD program. The harmonisation of the national MD-PhD program has now been completed and the SMPA is very glad to learn, that all main issues of it’s Stellungnahme paper have been integrated into the new guidelines. Particularly, the importance of a complete PhD curriculum, leading to a true PhD title has been recognized

A central task for the SMPA board remains the organization of the annual meeting. The actual General Assembly has been organized mainly by Lukas Jeker. He has not only initiated the idea of a biotechnology day, but also successfully attracted sufficient founding by sponsors, prominent speakers and finally, a new record number of participants. After the marvelous GA 04 in Lausanne on science politics, another highlight has been made ready. I would like to thank Lukas Jeker for his dedication to this mission and congratulate him for the result.

I would like to express my thanks further to all colleagues who actively supported the growth, the political activities and contributed to the organization of the annual meeting of the SMPA during the past year. Particularly, I would like to thank Luc Otten, Sebastien Viatte and Yara Banz for their creative inputs as well as their continuous and always reliable support; thanks also go to David Andel for the maintenance of the SMPA webpage.
Dear colleagues, the SMPA has, after a steep start, reached now an adequate cruising altitude. I’m looking forward to exploring new areas with the actual, experienced crew – and I’m curious, where the journey may lead us in the next years.

David Winkler
Basel, 22.10.05