Clinician and/or Educator Track

Candidates for appointment or promotion in the Clinician and/or Educator Track will be evaluated based on the sum of their academic accomplishments in five major categories of activities: clinical care, education, administrative functions, research/ scholarship and funding. Given the richness of this mix it is not expected that every candidate will demonstrate accomplishments in all of these categories; the relative contribution in each area may differ by candidate, and an absence of experience in some categories will not be a barrier to appointment or promotion as long as the overall contributions constitute a body of significant achievement.

Scholarship is likely to be focused in a candidate's major areas of expertise rather than in basic investigation. While an excellent physician may be a significant generator of clinical revenues, scholarship rather than income-earning ability is of primary concern. Evaluation of a candidate's publication record will extend beyond the first and last authorship positions and will include the candidate's significant contributions as a middle author.

Although all faculty are expected to be competent as teachers, excellence in educational activities may be considered as a primary criterion for promotion in the Clinician and/or Educator Track. Faculty from basic science departments whose primary activity is teaching rather than research will be eligible for appointment in this track.

It is expected that as faculty advance in their academic careers, they will demonstrate increasing service and leadership in administrative and policy-making functions of the institution and the broader scientific and medical communities. Significant participation in and contributions to major institutional committees that are critical to the mission of the school and its affiliated hospitals (such as Institutional Review Board, Admissions Committee, Medical Board) will be given consideration when faculty are under review for promotion. Additionally, outstanding service in a significant administrative role (such as Vice-Chair, Training Program Director) will also be considered.

1. Assistant Professor

Qualifications: Appointment, reappointment and promotion to the rank of Assistant Professor in the Clinician and/or Educator Track may be extended to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in clinical practice and/or education within an academic community, and who possess the ability to integrate teaching and scholarship on an ongoing basis into the practice or learning of medicine and science:

a. Clinical Care – Candidates must show evidence of superior competence in their medical practice. They should be perceived by other physicians in the institution and community as a source of excellent care for patients.

b. Scholarship – Scholarship includes the sustained publication and/or presentation of clinical observations, reviews, analytic studies, textbook chapters, state-of-the-art clinical practice, reviews and/or development of teaching materials, and faculty development. Scholarship can also include the design of programs of excellence in delivery of clinical care, innovative methods of care and integration of teaching into clinical practice. Participation in research, e.g., a significant role in clinical trials, may also be considered. Development of new programs of clinical care and support of such programs by service or research grants will be considered. The development and dissemination of materials such as clinical practice guidelines and care maps at the local level as well as design and participation in quality assurance and improvement of care would be required as a demonstration of ongoing scholarship.

c. Education – Candidates should have integrated time to teach within the practice of medicine or other scholarly activities on a regular and on-going basis. They should be recognized as superior teachers by peers and students as judged by evaluations submitted by trainees. Innovation and development of educational programs and grant support of such programs will also be considered. Candidates at this rank have the opportunity to establish a teaching portfolio that will serve as the foundation for future consideration as an educator in this track.

Appointment and Term: Appointment, reappointment and promotion to the rank of Assistant Professor in the Clinician and/or Educator Track are at the discretion of the Department Chair. The term of appointment is one, two or three years, at the discretion of the Chair.

Reappointment and Non-Reappointment: The Chair will provide notice of reappointment or non-reappointment.

Reappointment may be for one, two or three years, at the discretion of the Chair. Term lengths greater than one year require review and approval by the Office of the Dean. There is no limit on the number of reappointments permitted.

If a decision to reappoint a faculty member is made during a term extension as described in the section on notices of non-reappointment, the reappointment notice must be in writing from the Chair. The reappointment will commence retroactive to the first day following completion of the original term of appointment.

In the event of non-reappointment, the Chair will provide written notice. The timing of notices of non-reappointment to the full-time faculty is determined by the length of the term of appointment and, in some cases, by rank.

Promotion: The Chair may, at any time, recommend the faculty member for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor.

2. Associate Professor

Qualifications: Appointment, reappointment and promotion to the rank of Associate Professor in the Clinician and/or Educator Track may be extended to faculty who have demonstrated excellence in clinical care, scholarship, or teaching. Clinician candidates should be acknowledged leaders in clinical care at the local level, with established regional reputations as excellent clinicians and/or educators. Candidates should be active participants in institutional and departmental committees, making significant contributions at both levels. In addition to meeting the qualifications outlined for more junior levels, faculty at this rank are expected to demonstrate skills and accomplishments in some or all of the following areas:

a. Clinical Care – The candidate must be acknowledged as an excellent clinician in his/her field. An established reputation among physicians both at MSSM and regionally as a resource for truly excellent care can be demonstrated by: awards; invitations to speak on clinical subjects; success in the care of other physicians' patients; general reputation on clinical subjects. An increasing volume of cases should reflect the candidate's expanding referral patterns and broadening catchment area.

b. Scholarship – The candidate should show evidence of successful dissemination of scholarly information at the regional and national levels. Scholarship can be evidenced by mastery of fields of clinical medicine through continued publication and/or presentation of clinical observations, reviews, analytic studies, textbook chapters, state-of-the-art clinical practice, reviews and/or development of teaching materials, and faculty development. Demonstration of scholarship may also include publications and/or presentations resulting from: research; development of highly innovative clinical programs with leadership in those programs; development or introduction of new methods of delivery of care; development of innovative methods of assessing quality and outcomes; development of new techniques, instruments or procedures; a significant role in clinical trials and/or outcome studies; and/or outcome studies; and leadership roles in clinical teaching. For candidates whose scholarly work is in educational research, original contributions that receive national/international recognition and result in publications in the highest quality journals for educators as well as in invited presentations at premiere professional meetings will be used as criteria.

c. Education – The candidate should integrate excellent teaching into the clinical practice of medicine or as a central part of his/her duties in a basic science department. Teaching responsibilities and levels of leadership should parallel the growth in clinical or departmental leadership. The candidate should be seen as an excellent teacher in the programs or courses in which he/she participates, as judged by evaluations submitted by trainees and, if teaching is the primary criterion being used for promotion, by submission of a teaching portfolio. Innovation and development of educational programs and grant support for such programs will also be considered. Teaching and/or clinical awards may be used to demonstrate excellence. Mentoring of students/residents is important. The candidate should be able to demonstrate his/her educational contributions through a formal teaching portfolio or publication of peer-reviewed teaching materials. Significant administrative responsibility for a successful student or resident training program and service on national committees or in organizations involved in education of students, residents or fellows will also be highly valued.

Appointment and Term: Appointment and promotion to the rank of Associate Professor in the Clinician and/or Educator Track are upon recommendation by the Department Chair, with subsequent approval by the Committee on Appointments, Promotions and Tenure. The term of appointment is one, two, three, four or five years, at the discretion of the Chair.

Reappointment and Non-Reappointment: The Chair will provide notice of reappointment or non-reappointment.

Reappointment at this rank is at the discretion of the Chair. , The new term length can be one, two, three, four or five years, at the discretion of the Chair. Terms of appointment greater than one year require review and approval by the Office of the Dean. If approved There is no limit on the number of reappointments permitted.

If a decision to reappoint a faculty member is made during a term extension as described in the section on notices of non-reappointment, the reappointment notice must be in writing from the Chair. The reappointment will commence retroactive to the first day following completion of the original term of appointment.

In the event of non-reappointment, the Chair will provide written notice. The timing of notices of non-reappointment to the full-time faculty is determined by the length of the term of appointment and, in some cases, by rank.

Tenure: Under exceptional circumstances, Associate Professors in the Clinician and/or Educator Track may be considered for tenure. Consideration for tenure requires not only that candidates fulfill all of the requirements for Associate Professor, but also that they demonstrate the ability for continued superior productivity and leadership in their field, as well as demonstrable excellence in the dissemination of knowledge in clinical and educational settings.

The Chair may, at any time, recommend exceptionally qualified faculty for tenure. Tenure requires approval by the Committee on Appointments, Promotions and Tenure.

Promotion: The Chair may, at any time, recommend exceptionally qualified faculty for promotion to the rank of Professor in the Clinician and/or Educator Track.

3. Professor

Qualifications: Appointment, reappointment and promotion to the rank of Professor in the Clinician and/or Educator Track may be extended to individuals who possess a record of outstanding performance as clinicians or teachers and have assumed significant leadership roles in clinical care, teaching and scholarship. Clinicians should be widely recognized at the regional and national levels as important leaders in the organization and delivery of clinical care.

a. Clinical Care – Candidates should be widely perceived as outstanding Master Clinician role models. They should be actively sought after on an institutional, regional, and national level for their clinical expertise. If their scholarship includes a specific area of clinical care, they should be seen as a resource outside the local region for defining quality and standards of practice within that area, and/or by receiving referrals and consultations from a broad patient base. Candidates should be clearly recognized at the institutional level as significant leaders within their specific clinical areas, particularly for creating and nurturing a clinical program known widely for innovation and excellence.

b. Scholarship – Scholarship can be evidenced by continued publication and presentation of clinical observations, reviews, analytic studies, textbook chapters, state-of-the-art clinical practice, reviews and/or development of teaching materials, and faculty development. Editing major textbooks and significant journals can also be evidence of scholarship, as can continued publications and presentations outside the local region to include: clinical summaries; standards of care; new innovative teaching methods; program development; program organization; teaching clinical administration at an outstanding level. A significant role in clinical trials may also be considered. Development of new programs of clinical care and support of such programs by service or research grants will be considered.

c. Education – Candidates must demonstrate that they have integrated outstanding teaching into their practice of medicine at all levels or as a central part of their duties in a basic science department. They should serve as role models and mentors to young faculty who are striving to become master clinicians and/or teachers. Candidates should possess uniformly excellent reputations as teachers throughout the institution and the region, as demonstrated by leadership roles in regional and national activities of professional societies. The development of highly innovative curriculum models or teaching programs that have achieved widespread national or international recognition will also be required. Grant support of such programs will also be considered.

Appointment and Term: Appointment or promotion to the rank of Professor in the Clinician and/or Educator Track is upon recommendation by the Department Chair, with subsequent approval by the Committee on Appointments, Promotions and Tenure. The term of appointment is one, two, three, four or five years, at the discretion of the Chair.

Reappointment and Non-Reappointment: The Chair will provide notice of reappointment or non-reappointment.

Reappointment at this rank is at the discretion of the Chair. The new length can be one, two, three, four or five years,. at the discretion of the Chair. Terms greater than one year in length require the review and approval of the Office of the Dean. There is no limit on the number of reappointments permitted.

If a decision to reappoint a faculty member is made during a term extension as described in the section on notices of non-reappointment, the reappointment notice must be in writing from the Chair. The reappointment will commence retroactive to the first day following completion of the original term of appointment.

In the event of non-reappointment, the Chair will provide written notice. The timing of notices of non-reappointment to the full-time faculty is determined by the length of the term of appointment and, in some cases, by rank.

Tenure: A candidate may be considered for tenure at the time of appointment or promotion to Professor, or at any time during his/her term of appointment at this rank.

Consideration for tenure requires not only that candidates fulfill all of the requirements for Professor, but also that they demonstrate the ability for continued superior productivity and leadership in their field, as well as demonstrable excellence in the dissemination of knowledge in clinical and educational settings.

The recommendation of tenure will be made by the Chair, and requires approval by the Committee on Appointments, Promotions and Tenure.

 

 

Updated May 2013