Do Doctors Who Are Researchers Provide Cutting-Edge Care?

A neuro-oncologist explains how doctors who do scientific research can provide patients with innovative therapies.

David D. Tran, MD, PhD, a neuro-oncologist with Keck Medicine of USC who specializes in the medical treatment of brain and spinal cord tumors, explains how his research work benefits his patients.  

Physician-scientists who treat patients and do research are exposed to the newest developments and technologies in their field. They also have a deep understanding of the biology of complex diseases at the molecular and cellular levels. Because of this, they can assess scientific evidence in a very critical manner. They are also able to leverage a patient’s genomic and personal characteristics to design more advanced treatments. 

It’s a two-way street: I take what I’ve learned from treating patients into the research lab, and what I learn in the lab informs how I care for my patients. My work with patients keeps me aware of the limitations of our treatments and our understanding of the disease process. And then in the lab, my colleagues and I are better able to design experiments that are geared toward answering the questions that are raised when treating patients in clinic.  

If a physician is also a scientist, it’s more likely that their patients will receive more innovative treatment. Physician-scientists like to think outside the box, and because we have a very deep understanding of the mechanisms of disease, we are able to deliver personalized medicine in a more evidence-based, scientific way. 

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