New England Network on Faculty Affairs MID-CAREER FACULTY DEVELOPMENT Emelia J. Benjamin, MD, ScM Spring Conference 2013 Boston University School of Medicine

What is mid-career? No universally agreed upon definition Some possible definitions include: o Between 10 and 30 years in academia o 7+ years Assistant Professors and Associate Professors o Between 40 and 60 years old o Time after tenure is achieved and before preparations for retirement begin Definition is less important than state of mind

What are the characteristics of mid-career faculty? Most productive and influential years of career when most scholarly achievement occur and leadership roles are assumed (Baldwin, 2008). Most apt to feel low morale, disengagement and isolation (Bland, 1997). Early career supports are gone but attainment of full professor feels distant.

Why does mid-career faculty development matter? Mid-career faculty often have unclear goals and vague performance expectations. Lack of clarity and motivation can have disastrous consequences (Baldwin, 2008). Faculty development programs increase faculty retention and decrease burnout in academic medicine (Ries et al., 2005; Zwack et al., 2013) Mid-career faculty development minimizes the number of individuals who emerge from their mid- career crisis feeling despair, trapped, and defeated.

Goals for today’s conference Learn how different institutions are addressing mid- career faculty development Brainstorm new ideas Consider future collaborations