Strategies for Success in Academia : Perspectives of a Department Chair Charles T. Taylor, Pharm.D., BCPS Associate Dean for Professional Education and.

Strategies for Strategies for Success in AcademiaSuccess in Academia: : Perspectives of a Department Perspectives of a Department ChairChair

Charles T. Taylor, Pharm.D., BCPSCharles T. Taylor, Pharm.D., BCPSAssociate Dean for Professional Education and Clinical Associate Dean for Professional Education and Clinical AffairsAffairsDirector of Pharmacy Practice, Director of Pharmacy Practice, St. Louis College of PharmacySt. Louis College of [email protected]@stlcop.edu

OutlineOutline

Describe types of academic Describe types of academic appointmentsappointments

Discuss critical factors to consider Discuss critical factors to consider when seeking a career in academic when seeking a career in academic pharmacypharmacy

Identify strategies for success as an Identify strategies for success as an active member of the academyactive member of the academy

Growth in Growth in Pharmacy Practice FacultyPharmacy Practice Faculty

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Percent Faculty

1996 2006

2006-07 AACP Profile of Pharmacy Faculty2006-07 AACP COF/COD Task Force on Faculty Workforce Report

Growth Expected to Growth Expected to ContinueContinue Faculty demand Faculty demand

projected to increase projected to increase by 20% during the by 20% during the next 10-yearsnext 10-years

Related to Related to retirements, larger retirements, larger class sizes, new class sizes, new pharmacy schools pharmacy schools and branch campusesand branch campuses

3800

4000

4200

4400

4600

4800

5000

2010 2012 2014

FT baseline New faculty Retirement

2006-07 AACP COF/COD Task Force on Faculty Workforce Report

Vacant Pharmacy Practice Vacant Pharmacy Practice Positions in 2006Positions in 2006

427 vacancies427 vacancies 41% open > 1 year41% open > 1 year 60% existing 60% existing

positionspositions

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Percent VacantPositions

Pceutics Pcology Pharmacy Practice

2006-07 AACP Profile of Pharmacy Faculty2006-07 AACP COF/COD Task Force on Faculty Workforce Report

Factors Related to RetentionFactors Related to Retention

Survey of pharmacy faculty Survey of pharmacy faculty (2005)(2005)– 885 respondents (23%)885 respondents (23%)– 57% pharmacy practice faculty57% pharmacy practice faculty– 39% assistant professors39% assistant professors– 65% first job in academia65% first job in academia

Conklin MH, Desselle SP. Am J Pharm Educ 2007; 71(4): article 62

Conklin MH, Desselle SP. Am J Pharm Educ 2007; 71(4): article 62

Reasons to StayReasons to Stay– AutonomyAutonomy– GeographyGeography– Fringe benefitsFringe benefits– FamilyFamily– Job securityJob security

Reasons to LeaveReasons to Leave– New challengeNew challenge– Excessive Excessive

workloadworkload– Poor salaryPoor salary– Relationship with Relationship with

administrationadministration– Organizational Organizational

supportsupport

Factors Related to Retention Factors Related to Retention (cont.)(cont.)

Key PointKey Point

Seek evidence that…Seek evidence that…– Workloads are individualized, balanced Workloads are individualized, balanced – Salaries and benefits are competitiveSalaries and benefits are competitive– Advancement is supportedAdvancement is supported

Being a college faculty member Being a college faculty member

is a spectrum of is a spectrum of broad broad

responsibilitiesresponsibilities requiring many requiring many

different skill setsdifferent skill sets

Tenure TrackTenure Track

Workload ExpectationsWorkload Expectations– Original researchOriginal research– Campus-based teachingCampus-based teaching– Service within the CollegeService within the College

TenureTenure– Formal secure position that doesn’t require contract Formal secure position that doesn’t require contract

renewalsrenewals

PromotionPromotionAssistant ProfessorAssistant Professor Associate Associate ProfessorProfessor

Non-tenure TrackNon-tenure Track

Workload ExpectationsWorkload Expectations– Site-based instruction (e.g. APEs, IPEs)Site-based instruction (e.g. APEs, IPEs)– Scholarship focused on teaching and practiceScholarship focused on teaching and practice– Patient care responsibilitiesPatient care responsibilities

ContractsContracts– Yearly or multi-year contractsYearly or multi-year contracts

PromotionPromotionClinicalClinical Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Associate Associate

ProfessorProfessor

Pharmacy, the Base Pharmacy, the Base ProfessionProfession

Content expertiseContent expertise Practice / clinical skillsPractice / clinical skills Research techniquesResearch techniques

Doctor of PharmacyDoctor of Pharmacy

PGY1 ResidencyPGY1 Residency

PGY2 ResidencyPGY2 Residency

CertificationCertification

Academia, the Meta-Academia, the Meta-ProfessionProfession

TeachingTeaching Scholarly activitiesScholarly activities ServiceService AdministrationAdministration

Conflict managementConflict managementTeam buildingTeam buildingTechnical writingTechnical writingInstructional design/deliveryInstructional design/delivery… … and many moreand many more

Areas for Faculty Mentoring

Types of TeachingTypes of Teaching

LecturerLecturer FacilitatorFacilitator Case writerCase writer Test writerTest writer AssessorAssessor PreceptorPreceptor

Scope of Scope of involvement involvement influenced by type influenced by type of academic of academic appointmentappointment

Typically linked to Typically linked to areas of expertise areas of expertise (base profession)(base profession)

Types of ScholarshipTypes of Scholarship

PublicationsPublications Podium Podium

presentationspresentations Poster Poster

presentationspresentations GrantsGrants ContractsContracts

Influenced by Influenced by college mission– college mission– research intensive research intensive versus teaching versus teaching intensiveintensive

All colleges expect All colleges expect faculty to contribute faculty to contribute to the scientific and to the scientific and professional professional literatureliterature

Types of ServiceTypes of Service

UniversityUniversity College of College of

PharmacyPharmacy Practice sitePractice site ProfessionProfession CommunityCommunity

Fosters professional Fosters professional identity so be involved identity so be involved (but at the right time!)(but at the right time!)

Watch for the Syndrome of Watch for the Syndrome of WorkaholismWorkaholism

Do you know Do you know what is expected of you?what is expected of you?

Key PointsKey Points

ASKASK questions to gain clarity! questions to gain clarity! Who funds the position?Who funds the position? Review promotion and tenure criteriaReview promotion and tenure criteria Assess new faculty workload allocationAssess new faculty workload allocation Evaluate opportunities to meet your Evaluate opportunities to meet your

goalsgoals My philosophy…My philosophy…

There is a There is a mutual needmutual need in academia. in academia.

Colleges need ideas, energy, and talent; Colleges need ideas, energy, and talent;

Faculty need careers, support, and Faculty need careers, support, and

opportunities.opportunities.

Faculty AdvocatesFaculty Advocates

Formal faculty development programs Formal faculty development programs (11%)(11%)

Informal development programs Informal development programs (< (< 50%)50%)

Formal faculty mentoring programs Formal faculty mentoring programs (18%)(18%)

MacKinnon GE. Am J Pharm Educ 2003; 67(1): 49-71.Zeind CS, et al. Am J Pharm Educ 2005; 69(5): 1-13.

““We Care” ApproachWe Care” Approach

Facilitate a good Facilitate a good “fit” between the “fit” between the faculty and the faculty and the CollegeCollege

ActionsActions– Conduct internal programs Conduct internal programs

(Faculty Academy)(Faculty Academy)– Support registration for Support registration for

external programsexternal programs– Organize social eventsOrganize social events– Assign mentorsAssign mentors– Schedule meetings with ChairSchedule meetings with Chair– Visit clinical sites of peersVisit clinical sites of peers– Recognize achievementsRecognize achievements– Stress and conflict Stress and conflict

managementmanagement– RetreatsRetreats

Do opportunities exist for Do opportunities exist for growth?growth?

Key PointsKey Points

Do your homework – NO surprisesDo your homework – NO surprises Find mentors and be a spongeFind mentors and be a sponge Protect your time during the first Protect your time during the first

yearyear It’sIt’s YOUR YOUR journey – create a plan! journey – create a plan! My philosophy…My philosophy…

Colleges are Colleges are coalitionscoalitions of diverse faculty of diverse faculty

with competing interests but scarce with competing interests but scarce

resources. resources.

Choices are made through Choices are made through healthyhealthy conflict, conflict,

bargaining, and negotiation.bargaining, and negotiation.

““Functional” TeamsFunctional” Teams

Provide an Provide an environment to environment to align interests so align interests so action plans can be action plans can be implementedimplemented

ActionsActions– Build base of understanding Build base of understanding

and support at sites before and support at sites before faculty arrivefaculty arrive

– Meet jointly with key Meet jointly with key decision makers at site and decision makers at site and the faculty memberthe faculty member

– Remove the faculty member Remove the faculty member from feeling caught in the from feeling caught in the “middle”“middle”

– Discuss support systemsDiscuss support systems

Do supportive, trusting Do supportive, trusting relationships exist?relationships exist?

Key PointsKey Points

Determine your agenda for the Determine your agenda for the futurefuture

Build relationships with leadersBuild relationships with leaders Deal openly with differencesDeal openly with differences My philosophy…My philosophy…

What is What is most importantmost important is not what is not what

happens… but what it happens… but what it MEANSMEANS. .

We interpret experiences We interpret experiences

differentlydifferently

““Pictures paint a thousand Pictures paint a thousand words”words”

ActionsActions– White coat ceremonyWhite coat ceremony– Office furnishings Office furnishings – Bulletin boards Bulletin boards

showcasing showcasing faculty/student faculty/student achievements achievements

– Dress codes Dress codes – Monthly birthday Monthly birthday

celebrationscelebrations– Health Fairs Health Fairs – Poster Day Poster Day – Football tailgatesFootball tailgates– NewslettersNewsletters

Do you share similar Do you share similar values?values?

Continually Re-Assess and Re-Align….Continually Re-Assess and Re-Align….

Expectations

CultureRelationships

Personal Growth

BALANCE!!