Feinberg School of Medicine

Faculty Promotion and Tenure Program

May 2014

FSM Faculty Career TracksYour career track determines the criteria by which you are evaluated for reappointment and promotion.

FSM Faculty Affairs Office: http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/faculty-staff/FAO/

Promotion Criteria: http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/faculty-staff/FAO/faculty/promo-tenure.html

Investigator Track (tenure track; 2 pathways)

Scientist Physician-Scientist

Clinician-Educator Track (non-tenure; choose 2 of 4 domains)

Clinical Impact and Recognition Teaching and Education Original Research Health Services Management

Research Track (non-tenure)

FSM Faculty Ranks & Career Tracks

Assistant Professor

Associate Professor Professor

Instructor Assistant Professor

Associate Professor Professor

Research Assistant Professor

Research Associate Professor

Research Professor

Research Track

Investigator Track

Clinician-Educator Track (full-time, part-time, or contributed services)

Regular Faculty Appointments

Faculty-Level Research Appointments

Investigator Track Expectations

Scientist PathwayFor scientists without clinical or service responsibilitiesMost effort directed towards original, independent researchTeach graduate or medical students

Physician-Scientist PathwayPhysicians or other healthcare professionals who devote the

majority of their effort to original, independent researchTypically have limited clinical and/or service responsibilitiesTeach graduate or medical students, residents, and fellows

Clinician-Educator Track Expectations

MDs with significant clinical responsibilitiesPhDs or other professional degrees with significant

clinical responsibilities (e.g., psychologists, physical therapists, etc.)

PhDs who provide expertise important for the education and research missions of the institution but are unlikely to establish an independently-funded research program; likely to serve primarily as a co-investigator on multiple grants (e.g., biostatisticians, bioinformaticists, etc.) and/or have significant teaching responsibilities.

Career Track Procedural Issues

Switching Career Tracks Tenure-eligible Assistant Professors can switch

tracks, but this should be done no less than 3 years prior to the end of their probationary period

Tenure Clock Probationary period for tenure on the Investigator

track is 9 years

Promotion & Tenure for Investigators

Associate Professor (pages 8-9, 11-13) Generally requires at least 6 years in the rank of Assistant

Professor Likelihood of continuing to perform high impact research

• Successful in obtaining external funding to support research• Publish innovative, original research in peer-reviewed journals

(first or last author)• Evidence of significant external recognition

Evidence of excellence in research training and professional education

Continued participation in clinical programs of the medical school (for those on physician scientist path)

Service contributions to the school or University

Promotion & Tenure for Investigators

Professor (pages 8-9, 12-13) Generally at least 5 yrs in rank of associate professor with

record of outstanding performance Continue to maintain a high impact research program

• Continue to obtain external funding• Continue to publish innovative, original research in peer-

reviewed journals (first or last author)• Evidence of highest forms of external recognition

Record of effective research training, mentoring and professional education

Continued participation in clinical programs of the Medical School (for those on physician scientist path)

Scholarly leadership in research and education Service contributions to the school or University

Promotion for Clinician-Educators

Associate Professor (pages 9-10, 13-16) Minimum of six years at the assistant professor level, except

in unusual circumstances Sustained pattern of excellence and impact in two

promotable categories that has resulted in significant regional recognition of achievements

Professor (pages 10, 14-16) Minimum of five years at the associate professor level,

except in unusual circumstances Multiple contributions in two promotable areas with a

substantial impact in the field that have resulted in national/international recognition of achievements

Achievement in Clinician-Educator Domain Areas

What is External Professional Recognition?

Prizes and Awards Elected to scientific or professional societies and organizations Invited to serve as a visiting or endowed professor Selected to plan or lead symposia, conferences, or

professional society programs or workshops Appointed to scientific or medical peer-review bodies (e.g.,

study sections) Appointed to scientific, medical or government advisory or

regulatory bodies Appointed or elected to membership on governing councils or

as an officer of scientific, government or professional organizations

Appointed to editorial boards or as editor Invited to deliver talks at national meetings or other institutions

Promotion and Tenure Timeline

Candidate and department prepare dossier (May-Aug 2014)

Promotion dossier due to FSM Faculty Affairs Office (Sept-Oct 2014)

APT Committee and Deans review candidates (Oct 2014-April 2015)

Provost reviews candidates (May-June 2015), with final decision communicated in early summer

Promotion / tenure decisions take effect September 1

May 2014 Sept 2015

Creating Your Promotion Dossier

Years ahead Begin to identify referees Develop work products consistent with career track

expectations

Ongoing Update CV and document accomplishments Develop portfolio Regularly update NU Faculty Profile

http://fsmweb.northwestern.edu/faculty/

Months ahead Write personal statement

What’s New?

New and Updated Forms Documentation of Teaching (pages 29-30) Critical References (pages 31-32) Candidate Referee List (page 33)

Promotion Dossier Requirements The Documentation of Teaching and Critical References

forms are now required for promotion to Assistant Professor Candidate’s referee list must be rank ordered and indicate

the candidate’s relationship to each referee

Promotion & Tenure Process: Investigators

Promotion Process: Clinician-Educators

Promotion Process: Clinician-Educators

Promotion for Research Faculty

Research Associate Professor (pages 11, 16-17) Typically spend at least 5-6 yrs in rank of Research Assistant Professor Record of outstanding collaborative and/or independent scientific work

Publish in peer-reviewed journals (some as first author) Obtain external research funding as PI or co-I Patents and licenses Coherent body of research accomplishments

External professional recognition Election to membership in scientific societies Awards, invited lectures, and participation in symposia at scientific meetings Leadership role in local or regional scientific meetings

For research faculty engaged in research support (e.g., core directors), the extent to which these activities contribute to research excellence within the medical school shall be considered, especially the establishment of new research support facilities of demonstrated excellence

Promotion for Research Faculty

Research Professor (pages 11, 16-17) In rank as Associate Professor for at least 5 years Record of excellence in independent and original research

Publish innovative, original research in peer-reviewed journals (some as first or senior author) as well as reviews and chapters

Generally have obtained external research funding as PI Patents and licenses

External professional recognition Membership on editorial boards, study sections, and/or advisory groups Named lectureships, awards, or participation in (inter)national symposia, courses, etc. Leadership roles in regional or national professional scientific organizations Membership in prestigious societies, participation in major society committees and programs,

formal awards and major invited lectures

For research faculty engaged in research support, the extent to which these activities contribute to research excellence and the recognition the research faculty member has attained at the regional, national, and international level shall be considered.  Contributions to excellence in research may be evidenced by:

Establishing new research support activities that enhance the research capabilities of NU External letters or letters from NU investigators or administrative officials attesting to the

contributions to advance individual research programs or general research excellence  at NU

Promotion Process: Research Faculty

Feinberg School of Medicine

Thank you!

William L. Lowe, Jr., MD

Vice Dean for Academic Affairs