PART  III     Building an Academic Medicine Career

Career Development

Know the System. Understand what is required, and what specifically will be expected of you as a junior faculty member. Each department in a medical school is somewhat different, so it is important to find out the ground rules well ahead of an actual appointment.   Contact faculty in the department where you hope to attain a position, make an appointment to meet with the Chief of the Division.  Acquire a copy of the basic faculty contract describing the base salary and requirements for billings and how performance will be measured in the particular department.

Tenure and Promotion.  This criteria is the guide to follow for professional development in academic medicine.  It's a good idea to find out what the priorities are in specific departments for fulfilling the promotion requirements.  What kinds of letters of recommendation, which institutions should be represented, the research threshold that is expected, such as the minimum number of publications and which journals are emphasized.  Meet with the chair of your department, find out who serves on the promotions committee.  Make yourself known, and follow a well researched path toward tenure and promotion.

Letters of Recommendation.  Plan ahead to identify those senior faculty members that you would like to ask for letters of recommendation toward your tenure and promotion.  As with earlier letters for medical school and residency, identify faculty that are well known in your specialty area, with national reputations if possible.  Faculty members writing letters for you should know your work well, supply an updated curriculum vitae to assist them.

How to find and work with a mentor.   Identify the faculty members in your prospective department that work in your area of research interest.  You could perform a library search by name to access their list of publications, and become familiar with the extent and type of their research publications.  Then upon introducing yourself you have an idea about the senior faculty member's research interests, and how your interests coincide.  It may also be possible to ask the department chair for suggestions of faculty members who might be willing to mentor a new faculty member.

Developing Writing Skills.   Several workshops are offered periodically at the HSC and the UNM main campus, on developing skills in writing grant proposals, as well as professional papers.  The Center of Excellence sponsors biannual Medical Writing for Publication and Funding workshops for junior faculty, and offers follow-up editing assistance from UNM professional writing graduate students.  Contact 272-1419 for more information.  The HSC pre-award office, and  UNM Office of Research Services offer proposal development and writing workshops. (See Resources for Faculty Development, page 17)

Developing Research Skills.    Research is one of the central components of an academic medicine career, and the main reason some physicians choose academia for practicing medicine.  Continuing research individually, participating in projects coordinated by another researcher, or collaborating with another researcher, coordinating clinical trials, and making Grand Rounds presentations are solid beginning points.  Present your research at regional and national conferences, and try to publish your research, preferably in a peer reviewed professional journal.  Concentrate your research efforts in one main area in order to develop a reputation.  Continue to work with your faculty mentor, collaborate with your mentor and with peers on research publications. Make sure to move toward first authorship on a peer reviewed journal article.

Use institutional resources to develop your research skills, including the professional writing workshops, work with an editor to improve writing style for publication. 

Contact the HSC library reference librarian 272-2311, the HSC Pre-award office, 272-4678, and the UNM Office of Research Services, 277-2256.  The General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) is a program for junior faculty to help them develop research and presentation skills. Call the Clinical Research Center (UNMH) at 272-2366, for more information.

Release Time.   Upon successful acquisition of extra mural funding, you can reduce the time scheduled for clinical, teaching or administrative duties, devoting that time instead to research and publication efforts.  Research grants, foundation and other federal grants, as well as funding for clinical trials all offer this benefit.

Developing Teaching Skills.   Teaching is another of the central components of an academic medicine career, and could be the main reason some physicians choose academia for practicing medicine.  Teaching opportunities in the clinical arena for medical students and residents are the most common.  Additionally, the Teacher and Education Development Division offers tutor training workshops, as well as a resource library on medical education, evaluation, and student assessment.  

Developing Administrative Skills.  This can be accomplished through accepting administrative tasks associated with delivery of services, accepting a leadership role in the coordination of clinical trials, or the principal investigator role on a research grant.  Also, at an appropriate point, serving on institutional committees and moving into a leadership role will help develop these skills.  At UNM SOM committees integral to undergraduate medical education include the Education Council, the Integrating Group, and CSPE I & II, as well as the Admissions Committee.

Time Management.  As was the case in medical school and residency training you must manage your time well to ensure the opportunity to develop a wide foundation of academic and clinical skills.  Advice about developing your career may seem contradictory due to the individual faculty member's goals and immediate needs.

* Avoid or limit committee assignments.   Tenure track faculty may wish to avoid all committees for the first three years, and devote time to research.  Clinical Educator faculty may find participation on committees helpful in building collaborative relationships.  It may also help build a national reputation to participate in, and hold leadership positions on national committees.

* Establish a set amount of time in clinics.

* Protect your time when unscheduled things come up.

Additional Course Work.  Individual courses that may prove helpful (but not necessary) include statistics, research methodology, professional writing, epidemiology, presentation technologies, and computer classes emphasizing databases, statistical and graphics software programs.  Physicians may also elect training in alternative medicine therapies such as herbal medicine and acupuncture.

Additionally, some find it desirable to complete degree programs, such as MPH or an MBA, to further prepare the physician researchers into careers in industry, health care administration, health policy and other decision-making roles. 

Contact the Hispanic and Native American Center of Excellence
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
(505) 272-1419

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