Faculty Professionalism
Under the leadership of consecutive School of Medicine Deans and Vice Dean for Faculty Ann Brown, the School of Medicine has strengthened its focus on faculty professionalism as a key component of a positive work climate. Outcomes from the ongoing faculty professionalism initiative include:
- Development of a School of Medicine Statement on Faculty Professionalism
- Creation of a peer-review process for managing instances of disruptive behavior
- Creation of the Excellence in Professionalism Award to reward individuals exemplifying professionalism
- Inclusion of professionalism information and resources at Academic New Faculty Orientation
- Strengthened partnerships with diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders to improve institutional programs and systems
Professionalism in Promotion and Tenure
- Revised APT guidelines to include professionalism in evaluation for promotion and as a requirement for Emeritus status.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is a persistent and pervasive problem in academic medicine and science (Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine - National Academies 2018). In 2018, Duke University President Vincent Price prioritized addressing harassment at Duke and named School of Medicine Vice Dean for Faculty Ann Brown and Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement Abbas Benmamoun as faculty leaders tasked with developing institutional resources and processes to combat this problem. The SoM Office for Faculty partnered with institutional offices across Duke to gather data and produce programs and resources related to combatting harassment.
Accomplishments of this Initiative
- Provost’s survey of Duke faculty and staff to evaluate the prevalence of harassment – August 2018
- SoM Deans’ Forum on Sexual Harassment - October 2018
- Case based discussions with SoM leadership (including Chairs) - 2018-2019
- Bystander & Civility Training retreats for leaders - March 2019
- Expanded bystander intervention and restorative practice trainings for faculty, staff, trainees, and learners held July and August 2019.
- Bystander/Upstander training incorporated into New Faculty Orientation. (2019)
- Office for Institutional Equity rolled out new Discrimination and Harassment Compliance Training to all faculty and staff - April 2019
- Laura Svetkey, MD appointed as the faculty ombuds for the SOM in fall of 2019
- Participation in the National Academy of Science, Medicine and Engineering (NASEM) Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education
- Competed for and participated in AAMC Restorative Justice in Academic Medicine Pilot training Fall 2020. Attended by Vice President for Institutional Equity, Student Ombuds, Vice Dean for Faculty, 2 Vice Chairs for Faculty and the Program Director for Faculty Development.