The dual role of academic surgeons as clinicians and researchers - an attempt to square the circle?

Academic research a prerequisite for patient safety in surgery In the past experimental and clinical research efforts in surgery have been considered the “golden key” for understanding the underlying pathomechanisms of surgical diseases, for successful development of surgical techniques, improved patients quality of life and beneficial clinical outcome. Furthermore, scientific findings and evidence based behaviour represented the basis for the management of patients undergoing surgical procedures accompanied with an increased patient’s safety in surgery. However, in our days of “limited time and financial resources”, combining the clinical and research challenges on a necessary high level of quality seems to be more and more challenging, possibly jeopardizing patient’s safety in the future.