Teacher or Researcher: Who Comes First in Medical Academia?

The field of medical academia presents a unique challenge in the professional development of individuals, as it requires balancing two distinct roles: that of a teacher and that of a researcher. This dilemma arises from the inherent tension between the educational responsibilities of imparting knowledge and the scholarly pursuits of generating new knowledge. In this commentary, we seek to explore the question of whether teachers or researchers should take precedence in the medical academic setting.