ADVANCE-UP

The ADVANCE-UP (Academic DeVelopment, Advocacy, Networking, Coaching and Education for Underrepresented Populations​) program aims to provide unique enrichment activities designed to focus on experiences underrepresented racial and ethnic faculty (UREF) encounter in academic medical centers. ADVANCE-UP ultimately seeks to create a network of scholars that will enhance the sense of community among underrepresented faculty, foster timely promotion, and increase representation in leadership positions. 

Apply now for the 2025 program!

Applications are due November 12

Logo and 2 cohort photos

This 10-month program includes a combination of half-day and 1-2-hour sessions. Content focuses on personal career development planning, skill building, peer mentoring and communication skills needed to navigate academic medicine. Sessions will include but are not limited to:    

  • Being UREF in an academic environment
  • Meeting your leaders
  • Negotiation
  • Difficult conversations
  • Career planning
  • Career advisory panel
  • Empowering success
  • Coaching
  • Peer mentoring with program scholars 

Program Schedule

The ADVANCE-UP faculty development program is for School of Medicine early career faculty from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds including Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. It is expected that most applicants will be medical instructors, assistant professors or recently (1-2 years) promoted associate professors. 

Application and Selection Process

Participants will be competitively selected. The application is online and requests the following information:

  1. Basic demographic information
  2. NIH Biosketch or CV
  3. Short essay describing what you hope to accomplish or gain by participation in the ADVANCE-UP program (<300 words)
  4. Letter of support/recommendation from the applicant’s department chair or division chief, including assurance of protected time to  attend all sessions and a tuition payment of $1500 to be paid by the department/division 
  5. Applicant commitment to attend all core program meetings (click here for dates)

Apply now! Applications are due November 12

Participation in the year-long program costs $1,500. Payment can be made via departmental fund code transfer (tuition cannot be paid with sponsored codes). This one-time payment will be used to cover all program expenses speaker fees, facility costs, and program evaluation.

Who will pay the $1500 tuition cost?

We encourage applications to speak to their department chair, division chief or center/institute leader to cover tuition. 

When will tuition be due?

The full program fee will be requested following successful acceptance into the program and prior to the start of the program sessions.  

What if I am concerned about the cost of tuition?

If the cost of tuition is a concern please contact Kevin Thomas, MD, kevin.thomas@duke.edu.

Contact facdev@duke.edu or 919-613-5209