Academic Triple Threat: Incorporating Education and Research into a Busy CRS Career

The “triple threat” surgeon—one who excels as a clinician, researcher, and educator—has long represented the ultimate achievement in academic medicine. This model has guided generations of surgeons aspiring to excellence. The importance of leadership skills has also been recognized, leading to the modern concept of the “quadruple threat.” Over the last decades, many challenges have threatened the existence of this model, including increasing competition for limited funding, declining reimbursement, and increasing administrative burdens. While some view the “triple threat” unachievable or unsustainable in the current environment, others use this as an opportunity to adapt the model to contemporary practice. This review examines the historical origins of the triple threat surgeon, the current challenges to this model and the steps necessary to ensure its success.