Promotions on the Physician Scientist/Basic Science Investigator Track Larry L. Swift, Ph.D. Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology

Topics  Academic Tracks  Basic Scientist/Physician Scientist Investigator Track  Procedures for Promotion  Criteria for Promotion  Q&A Discussion

Faculty Tracks at VU  Basic Science Educator/Clinician Educator  Basic Scientist Investigator/Physician Scientist Investigator (tenure track)  Clinical Practice  Research  Assistant/Associate

Basic Scientist/Physician Scientist Investigator Track  Faculty with major efforts in research or scholarship and teaching and dedicated to creation and dissemination of knowledge based upon original research  Research can be basic investigations of normal biologic processes or diseases, or translational or clinical research  Engaged in graduate biomedical or medical education

Overall Procedure  Promotion is initiated within the department by Chair  Meet with Vice Chair to go over the procedures  Dossier is reviewed by departmental A&P committee  Forwarded to Dean’s office  Reviewed by School of Medicine A&P committee

Overall Procedure  Recommendation is forwarded by Dean to Executive faculty  Forwarded to Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and then to Medical Center Promotion and Tenure Review Committee  Vice Chancellor then forwards the recommendation to the Chancellor, who requests endorsement by the Board of Trust

Supporting Documentation (1)  Chair’s letter  Standardized curriculum vitae  Documentation of teaching effectiveness  Critical references  Up to 5 publications representing your most significant work  Form describing significance and your contribution

Supporting Documentation (2)  Letters of Evaluation – Minimum of 6-8 letters from individuals who are not mentors or close colleagues and who can assess contributions from a national perspective – Unspecified number of letters from previous trainees, to document impact as an educator – All letters received must be submitted – If necessary Chair’s letter can be used to address any issues raised

Departmental A&P Committee  Consists of all tenured full-time faculty within the department  Agnes Fogo serves as chair  Reviews all appointments, reappointments, promotions and mentoring committee reports  Serves in an advisory role to the Chair

School of Medicine A&P Committee  10 committee members (Professor) plus chair  Diverse disciplines  Both tenure and non-tenured faculty  Ex officio: John Penn, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs  Meets bimonthly

Probationary Period to Tenure  Assistant Professors – evaluated and approved for tenure within 9 years of initial appointment  Awarding of tenure usually accompanies promotion to Associate Professor  Appointment renewals for Assistant Professors must include departmental statement affirming faculty member’s progress toward promotion and tenure

Criteria for Appointment to Tenured Rank of Associate Professor 1)Excellence in independent research, scholarship, or creative expression in one’s discipline 2)A high level of effectiveness in teaching 3)Satisfactory performance in the area of service to the institution

1) Research, Scholarship or Creative Expression  Conduct of meritorious, independent and original research in a sustained fashion  Recognition by peers of quality of research as indicated by extramural funding  Attraction and training of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows

1) Research, Scholarship or Creative Expression, cont.  Membership on scientific and professional advisory committees at the national and international levels  Editorial activities and peer review for learned or scientific journal  Performance of patient care related activities in a manner that extends beyond routine management, characteristic of scholarly, creative clinician

2) Effectiveness in Teaching  Teaching takes many form o Lectures, small discussion groups, seminars o Supervision of students and postdoctoral trainees o In the laboratory research setting o In the clinical care setting  To meet tenure standards, candidates must demonstrate high level of effectiveness in at least one of these areas

Guidelines for Evaluation of Teaching  Record of courses taught over the past several years  Documentation of extent of non-classroom teaching, e.g., supervising trainees  Description of contributions made toward teaching goals of department/medical school  Role in developing and planning current and new courses or new approaches

Guidelines for Evaluation of Teaching  Evaluations of effectiveness as a teacher as assessed by students, graduates, house staff and peers  Invited participation in extramural teaching activities at regional, national and international levels (e.g., workshops, symposia, honorary lectures)  Awards and honors specifically recognizing teaching skills

3) Service  Faculty members have obligations in such areas as internal governance, university outreach, and other services to the department, School, University and community  Contributions to professional and learned societies  Affiliations and contributions to non-profits (e.g. AHA, ADA, ACS, etc.)

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