Family Practice and Community Health Clinical Scholar Statemnt, Office of Education, Academic Health Center at the University of Minnesota

Approved 9/1/05

DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PRACTICE & COMMUNITY HEALTH

DEPARTMENT STATEMENT

CLINICAL SCHOLAR TRACK CRITERIA

 

I. Mission Statement

The mission of the Medical School is to conduct high quality programs of research, education, and service through which the college contributes significantly to the provision of excellent health care for the people of Minnesota.

The mission of the Department of Family Practice and Community Health is to enhance the health of people and communities through preeminence in family medicine scholarship, family physician education, and the provision of innovative health services.

The criteria, standards, and procedures are applied without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, handicap, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

II. Criteria for Admission to Clinical Scholar Track

Clinical Scholar Track faculty should possess a doctoral degree (MD, PhD, or equivalent), and should show evidence of competence in scholarship, teaching, applied medical science, and service, with the following standards specific to the department.

 

A. Scholarship, as evidenced by:

Because family practice is a broad discipline that encompasses many other primary care and specialty fields, family practice Clinical Scholars may publish in a wide variety of journals that represent any of these disciplines. Examples of peer-reviewed journals that are of high quality and appropriate for publication by Clinical Scholars include (this list is not comprehensive):

A small minority of publications could be in non-peer-reviewed journals, such as Minnesota Medicine.

And/or

2. Development of teaching materials, including new curriculum offerings, educational programs, textbooks, syllabi, computer programs, or videotapes that significantly improve the method or quality of instruction in the hospital or medical school setting.

 

Clinical Scholars faculty should be recognized by peers and students as excellent clinical teachers, and should spend significant time in teaching. There should be documentation of competence and growth in the candidate's communication skills, including effective communication in teaching students. The following are educational activities in which competence and accomplishments in teaching can be demonstrated:

1. Teaching of undergraduates, medical students, residents, fellows, physicians in practice, and the general public. Teaching may occur in a variety of educational settings and formats, including: didactic presentations, lectures, seminars, conferences, tutorials, laboratories, advising of students, case discussions, clinic precepting, and hospital rounds.

 

C. Applied Medical Science

Clinical Scholar faculty members are expected to spend significant time in clinical care; however, excellence in clinical care cannot substitute for the primary criteria of scholarship and education. Participation, competence, and excellence can be demonstrated by, but are not necessarily limited to:

D. Service

Service, though not a primary criterion for promotion, will be taken into account in making decisions on promotion. Performance of service, however exemplary, cannot substitute for the primary criteria of scholarship and education. Excellence in service can be demonstrated, but is not limited to:

III. Promotion

The Department of Family Practice and Community Health accepts and subscribes to the statement on criteria and standards for promotion of faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School with the following standards specific to the department.

Individuals being proposed to the rank of Assistant Professor should provide evidence of a commitment to scholarship, education, and applied medical sciences, as described in section II. Documentation of skill in teaching and research must be present in the curriculum vitae. Physicians must be able to demonstrate excellence in the practice of their specialty.

 

B. Associate Professor

The standards and criteria for appointment or promotion to the rank of Associate Professor in the Clinical Scholar Track are those stated by the University of Minnesota Medical School. Faculty are expected to support and foster all aspects of the academic mission of the Department of Family Practice and Community Health, including scholarship, education, applied medical science, and service, with a significant portion of their time spent in clinical practice, as described above. While it is understood that faculty on the Clinical Scholar track will spend their time in a mix of scholarship, education, and applied medical science, a faculty member may have a particular emphasis or distinction in either scholarship, or education. However, scholarship is necessary for promotion. Specific criteria for consideration to the Associate Professor rank may include, but are not limited to:

Scholarship may be demonstrated through one or more of the following activities:

a. Publications of clinical observations, reviews, or analytic studies in peer-reviewed journals that are recognized as authoritative and that influence the practice of medicine or educational practice.

Candidates will provide a list of the leading peer-reviewed journals in their area, and the department's P&T committee will review the list.

And/or

b. Continued development of teaching materials and/or clinical aids, including new curricular offerings, educational programs, textbooks, book chapters, syllabi, clinical monographs, clinical guidelines, computer programs, or videotapes that make a unique contribution to quality and methods of teaching through the medical school and outside the local community. If the primary scholarly product is teaching materials or methods, it is recommended that documentation include a description of major activities, peer and student reviews of these activities, and other educational outcomes. Copies of the most significant teaching materials (e.g., written curriculum or course syllabus) should be provided.

And/or

 

For the evidence(s) of scholarship cited by the candidate (a, b, and/or c above), it should be documented that these scholarly innovations have been disseminated to other academics and/or clinicians through regional or national presentations and publications (approximately 8-12 or more relatively recent publications are expected, several of which are first-authored, with the absolute number of publications depending on such factors as authorship, impact of articles and journals, consistency of publication record, etc.).

 

Continued exceptional and high-quality contributions to the teaching of students at any level (e.g., medical students, residents, fellows, postgraduate students, or CME). Examples of contributions in education include:

Assessment of effectiveness in teaching is based upon:

c.     Written statements by the Head of the Department, academic peers, and others familiar with the candidate's performance in teaching.

e. Invitations to teach at other hospitals, other medical schools, programs of professional societies, or continuing medical education courses.

f.      Accumulation of above forms of evidence on teaching competence and excellence over a sustained period of time.

 

The candidate must continue to demonstrate an excellent reputation inside and outside the Twin Cities area as an authority. This can be manifested by:

a. Patient referrals.

b. Invited visiting lectureships.

The candidate should provide excellent service to the local and regional or national professional community, as demonstrated by:

  

C. Professor

The standards and criteria for appointment or promotion to the rank of Professor in the Clinical Scholar Track are those stated by the University of Minnesota Medical School. The criteria for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor will continue to be applicable for promotion to Professor. Therefore, the candidate is expected to support and foster all aspects of the academic mission of the department, including scholarship, education, applied medical science, and service, with a significant portion of their time spent in clinical practice. Scholarship is necessary for promotion. The candidate for Professor will also present evidence of additional academic, scientific, scholarly, and professional achievements, such as:

1.      Scholarship, as demonstrated by one or more of the following activities:

a. Publication in peer-reviewed journals of analytic clinical studies, comprehensive clinical reviews, or textbooks and chapters that are recognized as exerting a major influence on the practice of medicine nationally; may serve as editor to textbooks or journals.

And/or

b. Continued development of original teaching materials, such as new curriculum offerings, educational programs, textbooks, syllabi, computer programs, or videotapes that make a unique contribution to quality and methods of teaching, and are widely used not only locally but also nationally and/or internationally. If the primary scholarly product is teaching materials or methods, documentation of these activities and copies of the most significant teaching materials (e.g., written curriculum or course syllabus) should be provided.

And/or

 

c. Development of patented products and technology, new technology.

For the evidence(s) of scholarship cited by the candidate (a, b, and/or c above), it should be documented that these scholarly innovations have been disseminated to other academics and/or clinicians through national and/or international presentations and publications (approximately 18-25 or more publications are expected, many of which are first-authored, with the absolute number of publications depending on such factors as authorship, impact of articles and journals, consistency of publication record, etc.).

 

The candidate should be recognized as being among the very best teachers for medical students, residents, specialty fellows, or CME attendees. Impact of outstanding teaching should be apparent locally and nationally and/or internationally, as demonstrated by invitations to teach in specialty societies or CME courses, or at other academic institutions.

 

The candidate should also demonstrate excellence in mentoring, as evidenced by having mentored fellows or junior faculty through successful academic careers.

 

The candidate should continue to make substantial contributions to patient care that are recognized inside and outside the Twin Cities. Recognition of the candidate's clinical expertise can be demonstrated by indicators listed under “Associate Professor”.

The candidate should be acknowledged as a leader in his/her clinical specialty as demonstrated by:

To be eligible for promotion to Professor on the Clinical Scholars track, it is important that the candidate demonstrate consistent, sustained scholarly productivity. Therefore, as a general guideline, it is expected that an approximately 6-10 years or more will have elapsed between the candidate's promotion from Associate Professor to Professor.

IV. Procedures

In considering proposals for tenure and/or promotion in rank, the Medical School and its departments comply with the procedures described in the document “Procedures for Reviewing Performances of Probationary Faculty,” distributed annually by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. These procedures are provided for by Sections 16.3, 7.4, and 7.61 of the Regulations Concerning Faculty Tenure.

The Medical School issues annually to each department, for distribution and information to faculty members, a set of instructions, memoranda, and other documents, giving detailed information on the procedures to be followed in the preparation and consideration of each proposal for tenure and/or promotion in rank. The pertinent documents are identified as exhibits enclosed with a cover memorandum from the Dean.

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