The Practice of Medical Education

This is an entry level rank for individuals judged likely to advance their career in Medical Education, who have received their doctoral degree, and exhibit significant creativity and promise for achievement.

Educational activities

  • Effective participation in the development, implementation, administration and/or evaluation of curricular/instructional activities of the medical school or other educational programs within Duke Medicine.
  • Contributions to pedagogy, curriculum development, administration and/or evaluation of academic functions.

Leadership

Service to the institution that contributes to the greater good of the Medical School or other educational programs within Duke Medicine.
Participation in at least one major committee involving curriculum and or assessment.

Scholarship

Not a requirement for this rank, but the participation in national educational forums, presentation at medical education meetings, publishing as a collaborating author or serving as an investigator on an education related grant will be considered significant contributions.
Faculty contributing effort for published studies [on which they are not co-authors] may include such publications in a clearly labeled subsection under Publications in their CV's, if their contributions are formally acknowledged within the publication.

Educational activities

  • Extraordinary contributions to pedagogy, curriculum development, administration and/or evaluation of academic functions.
  • Leadership in educational activities of the Medical School or other educational programs within Duke Medicine. Faculty will be judged on the quality and impact of the material being taught. Special consideration will be given for the development or implementation of innovative instructional programs, faculty development, effective mentoring of junior Faculty, students, GME trainees (residents and fellows) and for local and national recognition through awards.
  • Participation and leadership in continuing professional development education programs at regional and national levels. Invitations to speak at education sessions at regional and national meetings of professional societies. Participation and leadership in specialty societies.
  • Collaboration within the institution with two more educational groups within Duke Medicine which results in improvement or enhancement of teaching and learning.

Leadership

  • Leadership of a Program, Division, or Center.
  • Participation and leadership in regional organizations and committees.
  • Principle Investigator of a major education grant.
  • Development and implementation of an educational program utilized by other areas of Duke Medicine, regional or national entity.

Scholarship

  • Scholarship includes activities that contribute to the development, distribution, or organization of a body of knowledge in the field of medical education such as new educational products, programs, tools, devices, theories, practices or concepts, as evidenced by original publications, reviews, or books.
  • As described earlier, a clearly identified publication subsection of the CV may cite non-authored publications in which the faculty member's contributions are formally acknowledged.
  • Participation in scholarly activities can include original research or publication of original ideas and concepts, including educational research.

The faculty member's scholarly activities can be documented by traditional means, such as original peer reviewed publications, case reports, invited reviews, books, book chapters, and/or important clinical applications of basic science. In addition to traditional journal and book publications, patents, substantive scholarly documents may be considered, e.g., unpublished theses, on-line publications, internal Reports and Reviews (e.g., reviews of Training Programs, scholarly component of a Training Grant application), white papers and other position papers developed for national organizations, Congress, and the State Legislatures. Other documents might include mass publications for general distribution. Creativity as manifested by newer educational products such as web casts, DVDs, and pod casts may be considered scholarly; in particular if the content and or assessment are innovative, and dissemination to others is demonstrated. Grant writing may also be considered as a creative process especially as it allows collaboration, careful stewardship of resources, and novel approaches to medical education issues.

This rank will be reserved for a few individuals with outstanding accomplishments in Medical Education. A Professor of the Practice should have extensive experience and established excellence in developing, implementing or administrating medical educational activities. National acknowledgement of his/her achievements from other specialists in the field is required.

Educational activities

  • Participation and leadership in continuing medical education programs at regional and national levels. Invitations to speak at education sessions at regional and national meetings of professional societies. Participation and leadership in specialty societies. Establishment of national educational programs through professional societies or cooperative groups.
  • Development of new educational products, programs, tools, devices, theories, practices or concepts, as evidenced by original publications, reviews, or books.
  • Development of educational programs driven by local, regional, and national needs.
  • Collaboration within the institution with five or more educational groups within Duke Medicine which results in improvement or enhancement of teaching and learning.

Leadership

  • Leadership of a Program, Division or Center.
  • Principle investigator for more than one major education grant.
  • Participation and leadership in national organizations and committees.
  • Development of innovative interdisciplinary approaches to medical education.
  • Participation in Duke University Health System programs.
  • Development and implementation of an educational program utilized by other areas of Duke Medicine.

Scholarship

  • Participation in scholarly activities can include original research or publication of original ideas and concepts, including educational research, new educational products, programs, tools, devices, or concepts, as evidenced by original publications, reviews, book chapters, or books. Although original research is not a requirement, faculty candidates for this rank are expected to distinguish themselves amongst their peers for their scholarly activities.

The Faculty member's scholarly activities can be documented by traditional means, such as original peer reviewed publications, case reports, invited reviews, books, book chapters, and/or important clinical applications of basic science. In addition to traditional journal and book publications, substantive scholarly documents may be considered, e.g., unpublished theses, on-line publications, internal Reports and Reviews (e.g., reviews of Training Programs, scholarly component of a Training Grant application), white papers and other position papers developed for national organizations, Congress, and the State Legislatures.. Other documents might include mass publications for general distribution. Creativity as manifested by newer educational products such as web casts, DVDs, and pod casts may be considered scholarly; in particular if the content and or assessment are innovative, and dissemination to others is demonstrated. Grant writing may also be considered as a creative process especially as it allows collaboration, careful stewardship of resources, and novel approaches to medical education issues.

General Considerations

Appointments under the guidelines for the Practice of Medical Education are normally used for full-time Faculty who are engaged largely in medical education endeavors (usually > 80%) or who have a significant role in development, instruction, or administration of an education program in the School of Medicine and who do not have a primary appointment in another School of Medicine department as well as for those who have a primary appointment in another department but whose medical education effort represents > 50 of their total effort. The primary criterion for appointment and promotion will be excellence in curricular design, evaluation and assessment, faculty development, administration, multiple strategies of instruction, or scholarly activity, including research involving medical education. Additional factors include mentoring, collaboration, longevity of service, creativity, and impact of contributions to the Medical School and other educational programs of Duke Medicine. Recognition of the quality of their work at regional and national levels along with evidence of dissemination of their work products is valued. Medical education faculty appointments are reviewed annually for reappointment, unless a contract for a longer period has been executed.

Practice of Medical Education appointments are intended to extend the educational capabilities of the Medical School, and other educational programs of Duke Medicine. Fully utilize available resources in a way that is responsive to the educational goals, create and sustain collaboration, provide research opportunities for additional faculty, demonstrate measurable achievements and protect the long-term fiscal stability of the education enterprise. Excellence in medical education as evidenced by academic accomplishment or previous experience is an essential quality and is the primary requirement for initial appointment as Assistant Professor of the Practice of Medical Education. Promotion to higher ranks requires additional service, leadership, and or scholarly contributions. It is recognized that some individuals in an institution may play unique roles that forward the mission of the institution, including success in accreditation of educational programs, and promotion for such individuals may be achieved in this designation. Appointments to the faculty under the rules of the Practice of Medical Education do not accrue time towards tenure.

The following outline includes general guidelines and performance measures for appointment and promotion criteria for the Practice of Medical Education faculty. It is recognized that individual faculty will have different areas of productivity and contribution, so that not all criteria in each performance area may be applicable.

 

Procedures for Appointments and Promotion

For faculty without a primary Medical School department appointment, the Vice Dean for Education will function similar to a Department Chair in this process and is required to meet annually with individual faculty members to review their activities, and to assess research, scholarship and administrative contributions. Faculty evaluations should include objective evaluation of the Faculty member's abilities and contributions, and mentoring designed to prosper career development.

Consideration of any faculty member for promotion may be formally requested at any time by the faculty member or the Vice Dean.

Medical Education Appointment and Promotions Committee (MEAP)

The Appointment and Promotions Committee shall consist of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education and two other current or emeritus members of the School of Medicine Faculty who are/were tenured Professors and who have, or had, significant involvement in the Medical School’s education activities. The additional Committee members and Chair shall be appointed by the Vice Dean. The committee will meet as needed to review and make recommendations to the Vice Dean. The Vice Dean will function similar to a Department Chair in this process.

Appointments

Appointment to the rank of Assistant Professor requires (a) a letter from the Vice Dean outlining the qualifications of the candidate, and the candidate's role in the mission of the Medical School. (b) a copy of the candidate's curriculum vitae in Duke format; and (c) three letters of support, preferably from external evaluators familiar with the candidate's accomplishments and academic potential. The Vice Dean’s letter may be a simple covering letter summarizing the candidate's proposed role, and endorsing (1) a more formal evaluation provided by a search committee or the Medical Education Appointment and Promotion (MEAP) Committee, or (2) a detailed intellectual development statement provided by the candidate.

Appointment or promotion to the rank of Associate Professor or Professor requires further review and written evaluation by the standing MEAP Committee (options discussed below), and a minimum of six letters of support (as described below).

Secondary appointments will be considered for individuals who hold primary appointments within another department but spend > 50% of their time in medical education.

Promotions

Review of the AP Dossier/portfolio.

The Vice Dean’s letter must also specify how the candidate will fulfill the requirements for regular Faculty rank, as contained in the Duke University Faculty Handbook (URL http://www.provost.duke.edu/fhb . See Appendix C, pp. C-9 to C-12). These include:

 

  1. Each candidate for promotion shall be notified by the Vice Dean four months prior to a scheduled MEAP meeting, and invited to submit the following documents:
    • Curriculum vitae in Duke Format.
       
    • A detailed intellectual development from the candidate, summarizing the candidate's professional accomplishments in areas pertinent to promotion (e.g., service, leadership, teaching, mentoring, scholarly activities, administration, etc.), and outlining the candidate's future goals in these and related areas.
       
    • A list of the candidate's most representative scholarly contributions, selected from the curriculum vitae, if scholarship is the candidate's selected area of accomplishment. 
       
    • A roster of six (6) names and addresses of individuals who are qualified to evaluate the professional accomplishments and stature of the candidate. It is preferable that these individuals be external to Duke University and independent of the candidate. However, internal evaluators at Duke may be appropriate, depending upon the candidate's areas of accomplishment. 
       
    • A list of reviewers the candidate may wish not to be used.
       
  2. The MEAP Committee will then review the dossier/portfolio. The MEAP committee may, as necessary or appropriate, seek additional letters of evaluation in order to arrive at its recommendation. The MEAP Committee will forward to the Vice Dean for consideration the complete dossier, any additional letters of evaluation, the AP's own recommendation, the result of their secret ballot, and the names of the Faculty who voted. 
     
  3. The Vice Dean will forward the complete dossier/portfolio along with the Vice Dean’s personal recommendation to the Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs (FAA) in the following instances:

    • in all cases of positive action taken by the MEAP Committee

    • In the case of any negative evaluation by the MEAP Committee, if the Faculty member so chooses

    • Statement of faculty title and the University School, Department, Program, Institute or Center in which the appointment is to be made.

    • Statement of the individual's primary responsibilities in relation to the University's goals, performance of the individual's role principally at the University and full-time status. 
       
    • Instructional component of the individual's work in relation to the degree-granting mechanisms of the University or in relation to those individuals at the University who are undertaking further training/studies beyond graduate degrees.
       
  4. The Vice Dean will notify the candidate and will apprise the candidate of the decision of the MEAP Committee and the recommendation of the Vice Dean before the dossier is forwarded to FAA.
     
  5. The Vice Dean should forward the dossier to FAA within one (1) month of the AP Committee vote.
     
  6. The Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs forwards its recommendation (positive or negative) to the Dean. 
     
  7. If the Dean endorses the promotion recommendation, it will be forwarded to the Medical Center Executive Committee for review and approval. If so approved, the dossier and recommendation will be forwarded to the Provost for consideration. The Board of Trustees exercises final approval for all Faculty appointments, promotion, and changes of status. 
     
  8. A negative decision by the Dean can be appealed to the Chancellor for Health Affairs no later than two weeks after the candidate is so notified in writing.