Developing a Career in Colorectal Research

Jim Yoo, MD

The emergence of colon and rectal surgery in the academic medical center landscape was due, in no small part, to colleagues who advanced our field through innovative research and investigation. Their efforts have inspired the next generation of colorectal researchers to answer the important questions that will not only improve the quality of care we provide but will also lead our specialty into the future. Developing a successful research career as an academic colorectal surgeon is challenging, whether you are involved in small single-center retrospective studies, run a basic science laboratory, or lead National Institutes of Health–funded multi-institutional randomized clinical trials. In this issue of Clinics of Colon and Rectal Surgery, I have invited peers who are leaders in our Society and in the field of colorectal research. Nancy You, Matt Kalady, Elizabeth Wick, Alessandro Fichera, Greg Kennedy, and Sharon Stein comprise a group that includes some of our most outstanding academic colorectal surgery colleagues today. These authors have graciously contributed their time to share their wisdom, experiences, and advice. Although the components of a successful research career were compartmentalized by chapter, there is natural overlap between chapters and this redundancy was maintained to highlight their importance. Finally, I owe a great deal of gratitude to Dr. Walter Koltun, one of our academic pioneers, who shares his experiences building one of the most academically focused divisions of colon and rectal surgery in the country.

Thank you.