Academic advancement of clinician educators: why is it so difficult?

The role of clinician educators (CEs) in institutions and medical centres continues to be vital without any doubt. Although there has been more than a century since Sir William Osler established the role of the CE and the tradition by encouraging bed-side teaching, there is still a lack of consensus on the attributes that define a 'clinician-educator'. The concept of a superior clinician who is also a dedicated teacher seems to fit the description of a CE but most often seems insufficient to support the CE's academic advancement.