Faculty Factory Best of the Faculty Factory: "Making a Decision to Transition in Academic Medicine"
Jan 2, 2026
Join Jochen Reiser, President of UTMB and innovative physician-scientist, as he discusses how early research shaped his journey. Explore Ludy Shih's intriguing transition from academia to biotech and back, highlighting the teamwork and learning experiences that refocused her mission. Janet Bickel offers insights into late-career transitions, addressing the psychological challenges and the importance of mentorship for a fulfilling next chapter. Together, they navigate the complex paths of academic medicine and the growth through change.
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Research Requirement That Changed A Career
- Jochen Reiser described how a required MD research thesis in Germany led him into a five- to six-year PhD and changed his career trajectory.
- That research enabled a postdoc in New York and set him on a path through residency, fellowship, and leadership roles in the U.S.
Let Your North Star Guide Moves
- Jochen Reiser uses his 'true North star' of research to choose roles but values institutions that balance research, education, clinical care, and innovation.
- He moves on when he feels he cannot make a bigger impact in one of those missions at a given place.
Check If Your Place Still Fits
- Stay true to the passion that brought you into medicine and ask yourself regularly if your current place still fits that mission.
- If the honest answer is no, begin to explore other opportunities rather than settling for dissatisfaction.