South Korea launches award to honor physician-scientists

South Korea is taking a significant step to foster medical innovation by launching the '100 Physician-Scientists Selection Project.' Spearheaded by the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences (KAMS), this initiative aims to recognize and elevate doctors who contribute not only to current patient care but also to the future of medicine through rigorous scientific research.

"The criteria for evaluating good doctors in our country are very limited," stated Han Sang-won, President of KAMS, at a press conference. "Our medical system rewards those who see many patients, granting them social status and economic compensation. However, truly great doctors must evolve into physician-scientists who treat future patients through research, extending beyond the present."

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The criteria for evaluating good doctors in our country are very limited. Our medical system rewards those who see many patients, granting them social status and economic compensation. However, truly great doctors must evolve into physician-scientists who treat future patients through research, extending beyond the present.

KAMS highlights a critical disconnect in the current medical system, where physicians are often overwhelmed by clinical demands, leading to a breakdown in the connection between clinical practice and basic science or engineering. This, Han fears, hinders South Korea's competitiveness in the bio-health industry despite attracting top talent to medical schools.

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Medicine and healthcare are clearly distinct. The development of 'medicine' broadens the foundation of 'healthcare,' which directly treats patients, and its value is returned to the patients. The current structure, where the balance between medicine and healthcare is broken, could eventually shrink the competitiveness of the domestic medical system.

To counter this, KAMS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, is establishing the 'Korea Physician-Scientist Award.' This award will honor one physician-scientist annually with 200 million won (approximately $150,000 USD) for outstanding research that solves clinical challenges or creates medical and industrial value. Additionally, four physician-scientists or basic medical researchers with over 10 years of experience will receive the 'Excellent Physician-Scientist Award' with 100 million won each. This program is designed to run for 20 years, creating a list of 100 leading physician-scientists in Korea.

Notably, the selection process will move beyond traditional quantitative metrics like publication counts and impact factors. Instead, it will emulate the Nobel Committee's approach, emphasizing in-depth discussions and consensus among judges to evaluate the real-world impact on healthcare, future value, and research sustainability. KAMS hopes this will serve as a gateway for Korean researchers to prestigious international awards like the Lasker Award or even the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

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We will strive not only to promote physician-scientist research in Korea but also to accurately inform the international community about the research achievements and significance of Korea's representative physician-scientists, so that winning the Korea Physician-Scientist Award can serve as a stepping stone to prestigious medical awards abroad, such as the U.S. Lasker Award, Canada's Gairdner Award, and ultimately, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.