Academic Advancement As A Clinician

EducatorDonald W. Reynolds Foundation Grantee 2010

Annual Meeting

Daniel Swagerty , MD , MPHProfessor, Departments of Family Medicine and

Internal Medicine Associate Chair for Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care,

Department of Family MedicineAssociate Director for Medical Education,

Landon Center on AgingDirector of Clinical Geriatrics,

University of Kansas School of Medicine

Objectives Understand school of medicine faculty

ranks and academic tracks Identify barriers and strategies for success

in academic promotion for geriatric faculty List crucial issues for geriatric medicine

faculty members in selecting and advancing in tenure-and non-tenure track positions

Define how to manage a productive academic career through mentorship

General Outline of Academic Promotion

Regular fixed cycle with deadlines

Formal hierarchical system

Promotion depends on documentation Criteria usually based on achievements (quality

and quantity) in all or some combination of education, scholarship, service.

Definitions of education, scholarship and service, plus the relative influence of each may vary considerably by school, track, committee or individual.

Ranks and Tracks Rank

Assigned with a title when hired Defined by institution Unmodified or modified (descriptor)

Clinical Research

Track Tenured vs Non-Tenure

Chair Decision Approved by Dean and Vice Chancellor

Rank Instructor Assistant Professor Associate Professor Professor

Track Defines Job Responsibilities

Teaching Scholarship Professional Service Academic Service

Criteria for Promotion and Tenure Specific Professional and Academic Expections

Tenure Track Deadlines

Mandatory Tenure Date - 5 Years Probationary Period – 7 Years

Renewed Annually Expectations for Promotion to Associate Professor

Achieve mid-level productivity in all 4 areas by mandatory tenure date

Dismissal can occur if tenure not acheived within probationary period

Non-Tenure Track No specific time line for promotion Tenure not an issue No consequence of dismissal if

promotion not achieved Expectations for Promotion to Associate

Professor Vary by track

Clinical Scholars Track Full-time faculty Unmodified title Rotating or fixed term (1-3 years) Responsibilities – Patient Care, Teaching and

Scholarship Two Career Pathways

Clinician Educator Clinician Investigator

Clinical Scholars Track - Promotion to Associate Professor

Clinician Educator Mid-career acheivements in professional service,

academic service, and teaching Early-career acheivement in scholarship

Clinician Investigator Mid-career acheivements in professional service,

academic service, and scholarship Early-career acheivement in teaching

Developing a Successful Program of Scholarship  

Scholarship = Intellectual Activity + Peer Validation + Public Dissemination

School guidelines may specify type and quantity of scholarship

Derived from your own strengths, interests and routine activities

Be aggressive and realistic in activity and documentation

Developing a Successful Program of Scholarship Conduct scholarship that counts Seek meaningful peer evaluation and

outcomes of teaching Select meaningful and time-efficient

service commitments Seek colleagues and activities outside

department and school

Developing a Successful Program of Scholarship   Understand the process, regulations and

guidelines Research how these are actually interpreted

and implemented Values of P&T reviewers Seek regular evaluation by departmental

chair/division chief, departmental P&T committee chair, and mentor

Seek written assessment and feedback        

Developing a Successful Program of Scholarship Rules of the Process

The school makes the rules !

If it’s not written down, it wasn’t done.

Deadlines are real !

Strategies for Success

Start Early

Take it Seriously

Get Help

Barriers to a Successful Program of Scholarship

Status of Geriatrics

“ We have a faculty for Geriatrics ? ”

“ We are not worthy. ”

Service Commitments

Highly Active with Low Productivity

Mentorship

A FACULTY MEMBER'S CAREER IS HIS OR HER RESPONSIBILITY

MENTORING IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU BECOME SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING THE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS TO ADVANCE YOUR CAREER.

MERIT, ADVANCEMENT AND/OR PROMOTION ARE ASSESSED ACCORDING TO THE MISSION CRITERIA OF EACH ACADEMIC TRACK IN THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Mentorship – 4 Critical Goals Managing a productive academic career

Support your own academic career needs and goals, while Supporting the department’s and institution’s missions and

goals. Understanding the formal (and informal/implicit) values, policies

and operating procedures in academic medicine, including Criteria for advancement and recognition in your field How the merit and promotion system works

Developing and sustaining a network of professional colleagues within and outside of your department and institution.

Learning where to go for advice, help and training.

Mentoring

Definition - "Mentoring" comes in all forms and varies based on the philosophy of who you ask. The style of mentoring is a personal preference. 

Purpose - Guide junior faculty to be successful academicians and ultimately to be promoted

Types - Informal and Formal

Mentoring - Informal Project/problem Oriented

“On the Fly” Address a concern, problem, "how-to" solution Discuss immediate needs

Get answers Solve problems

Assists with reaching project goals Promotion is supported through project assistance

Mentoring – Formal Career Oriented

Formalized relationship with a senior colleague Regularly scheduled meetings

Frequency deemed helpful by both parties

Overall and Ongoing Career Assessment Determine if daily activities support career goals Assess progress regarding promotion  

Teaching Scholarship Professional Service Academic Service

Conclusions : Developing a Successful Academic Career Know the system Start early Ask the right people Mentorship – Formal and Informal

Conclusions : Developing a Successful Academic Career Document everything Communicate uniqueness and

value Work hard but also work smart Beware of paranoia, myths, and

verbal promises or reassurances