A Practitioners Guide to a Successful Academic Career in Teaching, Service, and Scholarship Maureen Knell, Pharm.D., BCPS Associate Clinical Professor Division of Pharmacy Practice and Administration University of Missouri – Kansas City Saint Lukes Multi-specialty Clinic ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting 2008

Objectives 1.Discuss strategies for creating teamwork in the health care environment that enhance academic productivity 2.Describe the challenges associated with meeting obligations to both a school of pharmacy and a health care institution 3.Identify ways to incorporate patient care and institutional projects into a plan for personal academic success.

Confessions from an accidental academician on surviving and enjoying the adventure

Adventure: daring and exciting experience calling for enterprise and enthusiasm --- Oxford American Dictionary

Mentor: someone whose hindsight can become your foresight ---unknown

How did I get here? Never thought Id be a professor of pharmacy Clinical track position Developed new practice site in ambulatory care – Internal Medicine – Anticoagulation Clinic – Chronic Pain Clinic

Clinical Faculty Definition varies from institution UMKC Workload Guidelines – Pharmacy Practice Division – 50% teaching – 20% research/scholarly activity – Service 10-15% – Pharmacy practice (direct patient care) – 10-15% – Areas overlap/flexibility!

Academia - The Adventure (First steps to launching into a practice/education-based academic career) Approach as a long-term commitment Make sure its the right fit

Getting the lay of the land Do you have what it takes? Do you know what it takes? Is it the right environment? – Practice/institution – School of Pharmacy

Do you have what it takes?

Characteristics of the Academic Adventurer Desire and attitude Strong work ethic – Pay your dues, but dont be abused Continually looking for good ideas (can be simple!) Interest in self improvement/continual learning Developing practice expertise

Characteristics of the Academic Adventurer Good organization/ time management skills Goal oriented – professional goals – personal goals Commitment to involvement – Students – School – Institution – Professional organizations

Characteristics of the Academic Adventurer Adaptability Ambassador Diplomat Visionary Negotiator

Do you know what it takes?

What is success Professional Advancement (promotion/tenure) – Clearly defined Altruistic/humanitarian – Patient – Students – Service Personal

All good adventures follow a plan (framework) for success Teaching/education Teaching/education Practice Practice Scholarly Activity Scholarly Activity Service Service

Is it the right environment? Does the practice/institution provide and support the foundation for your academic success? Does the school of pharmacy provide and support the foundation for your academic success?

Teaching, Practice, Scholarly Activity, Service… Cohesive understanding between institution and the school of pharmacy – Day to day responsibilities/roles – Short-term and long term professional goals – Agreed upon outcomes Flexibility to meet changing needs/interests

LUGGAGE, SUPPLIES and NECESSITIES Logistics – Orientation, policies, procedures, personnel, resources Mentor(s) Faculty mentoring program Team members (collaborators)

LUGGAGE, SUPPLIES and NECESSITIES Support the development of expertise – Certifications (practice) – Education (workshops) – Networking (institution, school, profession) Support engagement and involvement – Students – Profession – Institution – Service

Keys to a successful adventure

Keys to success Find all kinds of mentors in all areas – Try to identify them in advance – Look beyond your division/school – Be proactive – Observe (what balance works for them?) – Collaborate Find and/or help develop good team members – Support academic pursuits – Learn together – Collaborate

Keys to success Teaching/Education – Dedicate time to improving – Innovate to enhance learning – Apply to didactic and experiential teaching – Measure changes/outcomes

Keys to success Practice – Find your champion(s) – Work to develop an integrated team – Plan your services based on: Student learning opportunities Your interest/expertise Reality of time Needs of the institution/practice Quality of the service

Key to success Practice – Clearly define your role – Start small and build – Collect baseline data/information of the practice before you start – Provide value and show others your value – Measure changes/outcomes

Keys to success Scholarly activity – Analyze outcomes of what you do (teaching/practice/service) (find a mentor to help with analysis) – Present results --- posters, publications Work ahead of results

Keys to success Scholarly activity – Target priorities for publication – Let some of your ideas go Collaborate / pass them on to others Shelve for future – Document your work Use promotion portfolio as a record (master copy) Update annually (or more frequently) Ideally, thin out for promotion

Keys to success Service – Make it meaningful, when possible – Networking opportunities – Opportunities for student and professional organization engagement – Hone leadership and organizational skills

Keys to success Work Smarter, Not Harder Integrate teaching and practice (even service) and scholarly activity – Teach what you practice – Document/measure/analyze what you do through scholarly activity – Have a scholarship plan before you begin a project Use students/residents! – Takes extra time, but provides more manpower – Makes student work meaningful – Opportunities for you to be the mentor

Keys to success Professional balance – Say no or negotiate – How does an opportunity fit with your professional goals/objectives and life? – Once at critical mass trade, dont add jobs/responsibilities – Re-evaluate if on track with promotion, other measures of success annually – Seek annual feedback from the institution/team

Keys to success Work-life balance

Biggest Challenges! Serving two masters Promotion (tenure) Youre the bad guy/gal (student perspective) Job never ends! (time management) Work-life balance

Its not just a job… Find your rewards!

My Top 10 Reasons 10. I have a Chair and Dean, but Im my own boss 9. There is never a dull moment 8. Students keep work challenging 7. I enjoy being a mentor 6. We have developed a quality, collaborative, direct patient care practice

My Top 10 Reasons 5. I have developed strong and respectful relationships with our healthcare team 4. Overall, I have time management flexibility 3. I love hearing You changed my life 2. It fits my work-life balance 1. Its a challenging and fulfilling combination!

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. ---Winston Churchill

Regardless of the pharmacy career path you chose be sure you… enjoy the adventure and the rewards!

Resources and Acknowledgements 1.Draugalis JR, Dipiro JT, Zeolla MM, Schwinghammer TL. A carerr in academic pharmacy: opportunities, challenges and rewards. Am J Pharm Ed 2006; 70 (1). Article Acknowledgements: Stephanie Schauner, Tatum Mead, John Knell (graphics).