Claire Pomeroy

This handy reference will help medical school department chairs and other Academic Health Center (AHC) leaders navigate the important, challenging and complex responsibilities and opportunities of their positions, whether they are new, experienced or future leaders. Medical school department chairs support four distinct missions (education, research, clinical care and public service), which serve multiple constituents, have different measures of success, and sometimes are in direct conflict for resources across the different priorities of their AHC and its component organizations. Having served as medical school department chairs, program and center directors, medical school deans, and AHC chief executives, the authors have seen first-hand the increasing difficulty and complexity of these roles and the inspiring impact these leaders can have on those they serve. This book shares their insights by providing contemporary and comprehensive information to help these leaders navigate the many issues and opportunities they face. While serving as a medical school department chair is challenging on many levels, it is one of the most important roles in AHCs and can be an extremely rewarding leadership position. Timely advice and guidance are keys to success, and this book articulates and answers the most common questions faced by medical school department chairs and other leaders over their careers.

This informative reference will help full-time, part-time, and affiliated medical school faculty navigate the inspiring, evolving, and complex challenges of achieving success in their academic positions. The easy-to-read format poses frequently asked questions and provides answers that convey valuable insights, useful references, and practical advice. Designed for use by faculty at all stages of their career, this handbook addresses issues about selecting a career in academia, starting out in one’s first position, advancing successfully, skill development, transitioning to other positions, and retirement. It provides guidance about the development of the personal and professional skills needed to thrive in these roles, and summarizes advice about creating programs, collaborations, and successful teams. Helpful tips about career planning and successfully advancing in the promotions and tenure process are enumerated. Recognizing that most faculty will have to face challenges at some point in their career, this handbook also outlines useful recommendations for dealing with difficult colleagues, crisis management, and work-personal life balance. Given the rapid evolution of knowledge and organizations in healthcare, science, and medicine, this reference emphasizes the importance of adapting to change and embracing the opportunities for innovation and future impact. Highlighting both the increasing challenges of these roles and the inspiring opportunities available through these careers, the authors provide comprehensive information to help medical school faculty achieve impact in their disciplines, advance their careers, and flourish both personally and professionally.

This handy reference will help medical school department chairs and other Academic Health Center (AHC) leaders navigate the important, challenging and complex responsibilities and opportunities of their positions, whether they are new, experienced or future leaders.