#Careers
#Careers
01.05.2026
Physician-scientists in Brazil: A vital career path still faces structural barriers
A study highlights direct benefits for patients but reveals structural barriers that hinder the development of this career path in the country
“We need to recognize the physician-scientist as a strategic figure, with transition grants and genuine integration between universities and hospitals,” says Beatriz Barreto-Duarte, a physician and researcher at Fiocruz | Image: Unsplash
In the fields of healthcare and scientific research, there are professionals who combine the expertise of both areas: physician-scientists. Professionals who pursue both careers can make a variety of contributions to society.
However, those who choose to follow this path in Brazil often face numerous challenges, making this journey quite arduous.
A study published in the journal PLOS Global Public Health in 2025 shows how these professionals can offer various benefits by using scientific evidence to improve patient care.
In an interview with Science Arena, one of the study’s authors, physician and researcher Beatriz Barreto-Duarte, from the Clinical and Translational Research Laboratory at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) in Bahia, said that “physician-scientists play a strategic role in transforming observations from daily clinical practice into research questions capable of guiding more effective public policies.”
Amid her dual career, Barreto-Duarte also faces challenges in carrying out her work sustainably.
In fact, for women, these difficulties can be even greater. Research published in PLOS Global Public Health indicates that women are affected both by a lack of supportive policies and by the challenges of balancing work and motherhood.
The lack of protected time
Beatriz Barreto-Duarte told Science Arena about the challenges she faces as a professional balancing two careers. When discussing the personal and institutional demands of maintaining activities in both fields—clinical practice and research—she cited the lack of dedicated downtime as one of the biggest obstacles.
The absence of this time, which should be dedicated to rest and recovery, leads to high levels of exhaustion among professionals.
She explained that in Brazil, a doctor’s schedule ends up being consumed by patient care.
As a result, there is no adequate time for research, which ends up encroaching on essential downtime, such as evenings and weekends.
Lack of incentives
When discussing the challenges of balancing the demands of both careers, Barreto-Duarte highlighted the lack of infrastructure and institutional incentives for these professionals. “We still treat the physician-researcher as an exception, not as an essential part of the healthcare system,” she said.
“The physician-scientist needs a formal career path, dedicated downtime, and continuous funding, as is already the case in other countries. Today, we depend on short-term and uncertain grants,” she added.
“High-quality science requires consistency. We need to recognize the physician-scientist as a strategic figure, with transition grants and genuine integration between universities, hospitals, and the Unified Health System (SUS).”
Furthermore, according to the physician, investing in the training of physician-scientists is crucial for developing a more intelligent and responsive healthcare system.To read the full article on the challenges facing physician-scientists, see the interview in this Science Arena article.
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