Align your interests

The specialty of cardiology encompasses a wide range of diseases and an ever-increasing number of technologically advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Thus, most academic cardiologists combine research with clinical care and teaching, in varying proportions. The first step towards a successful academic career is to align your clinical care responsibilities and associated educational efforts to match your research interests. Alignment of interests leads to research questions stimulated by clinical observations.1 Conversely, your patients will benefit from your in-depth knowledge of their cardiac condition. In addition, integration of research and clinical insights in your teaching will add value for students and trainees and ensure that you are up-to-date on all aspects of your area of expertise. As your career progresses, links between your three ‘pillars’ of clinical, teaching and research will buttress and support each other. Failure to align your interests might still allow many small accomplishments, but limit your ability to make a more lasting positive impact (figure 1).