Dear CSCI Members,

I am honoured to serve as president for the Canadian Society for Clinical Investigation (CSCI).

Clinician-scientists play a crucial role in the Canadian Health care system. We are best positioned to translate clinical and fundamental research into clinical practice that directly benefits human health. CSCI is the only national body representing Canadian physician-scientists for over 70 years. We provide a solid and unified voice to support clinician-scientist training programs and agencies such as CIHR to support funding priorities for healthcare research. We aim to foster an environment that will facilitate and advance healthcare research in Canada.

CSCI plays a significant role in mentoring and training the next generation of physician-scientists. In collaboration with the Clinician Investigator Trainee Association of Canada (CITAC), CSCI hosts the annual Young Investigators Forum. This forum brings together trainees and faculty to develop a program that provides opportunities for trainees in the clinical investigator program (CIP) or MD PhD program to learn essential skills for a successful career in research. The meeting also honors peers’ outstanding research achievements who are invited to present keynote lectures. The Joe Doupe Prize is awarded to the best young investigator (less than 5 years into clinical practice), and the Distinguished Scientist award is presented to more senior scientists. The terms of reference for these awards and the deadlines for submitting nominations are available on our website. In 2023 and 2024, CSCI/CITAC merged with the International Conference on Academic Medicine (ICAM). However, trainees and members of CSCI expressed a preference for a smaller venue focused exclusively for clinician-scientists, believing it would encourage networking among trainees and improve faculty attendance, fostering a strong sense of community highly valued by trainees. Our presence is essential in providing help with workshops, valuable feedback in poster sessions, and serving as positive role models during critical times in their training.

Our flagship journal, Clinical and Investigative Medicine (CIM) was established in 1978 as the official journal of CSCI. It is a platform for leading experts and emerging researchers to publish original work in the field of Clinical Investigation. Our journal welcomes submissions of peer-reviewed research, critical reviews, and comments on important trends to an international audience. CSCI members will benefit from a 50% reduction in page charges for accepted manuscripts. We extend our gratitude to Dr. Bob Bortolussi for his outstanding commitment and years of service as editor in chief (EIC). As Dr. Bortolussi retires, we are excited about the transition to a new EIC in 2025 and our partnership with University of Toronto Press (UTP), which will provide a stable platform, global reach, and scholarly journal publishing expertise for CIM. We anticipate continued growth with UTP in the years to come.

I am excited to continue with our society’s mission and to advocate for the future of clinician scientists. I look forward to working with you towards this common goal.

Signature

Nathalie Johnson, MD, FRCPC, PhD – CSCI President 2023/2024