Interest

Don't get me wrong. By no means I think by progressing from stage 1 to 4 that I described yesterday one would become a better physician.

In fact, quite the opposite. (At least it is not a "linear" relationship.)

Think. A doctor would remain interested in medical practice when he sees the real world and progresses from stage 1 to 3. Once he moves further and appreciates the similarity between patients, he does research and writes papers but he losses interest in (taking care of) individual subjects.

That's the point: by then, patients become subjects.

That's why I always consider a professor of medicine who publishes widely is usually not a good clinician.

PS. Of course there are exceptions. After all there are schizophrenics within the "normal" population.