Feinberg School of Medicine

Faculty Promotion and Tenure Program

June 2015

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/fao/

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

Investigator Track (tenure track; appointed on 1 of 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

Team Scientist Track (non-tenure; choose 1 of 2 domains) Original Research Teaching and Education

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

Assistant Professor

Associate Professor Professor

Team Scientist Track

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.)Faculty in this track select two of the following four domain

areas to specialize in: Clinical Education Research Health Services Management

Team Scientist Track Expectations

New! Team scientist career track implemented in 2015 Non-clinical faculty whose activity is focused in one of the following

two domains: research or education All faculty in this track contribute to the education and service

missions of the school

Research Domain Typically engage in team science on multiple research teams Play a key role to obtain, sustain, and implement programmatic

research and elevate the success of research teams Typically contribute as co-investigator, but potentially as a PI

Education Domain Recognized as outstanding educator Contribute to course development, degree program leadership,

and other innovative educational products

Career Track Procedural IssuesSwitching 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

Other track changes must occur before applying for promotion (i.e., by Sept. 1, 2015, if applying this year for a promotion effective Sept. 1, 2016)

Tenure Clock Probationary period for tenure on the Investigator track is 9

years

Domain Changes NTE Clinician-Educators may change domains, but must

do so by Sept. 1, before applying for promotion; after the promotion application is received, the domains are locked

Promotion & Tenure for Investigators

Associate Professor (pages 9-10, 14-16) 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 10-11, 14-16) 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 11, 16-19) 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 12, 16-19) 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

Promotion for Team Scientists

Associate Professor (pages 12-13, 19-21) Minimum of six years at the assistant professor level, except

in unusual circumstances Sustained pattern of excellence and impact in their primary

domain that has resulted in significant regional recognition of achievements

Professor (pages 13, 19-21) Minimum of five years at the associate professor level,

except in unusual circumstances Multiple contributions in their primary domain with a

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

Achievement in Team Scientist 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 (June-Fall 2015)

Promotion dossier due to FSM Faculty Affairs Office (Sept/Nov 2015)

APT Committee and Deans review candidates (Oct 2015-April 2016)

Provost reviews candidates (May-June 2016), with final decision communicated in early summer

Promotion / tenure decisions take effect September 1, 2016

May 2015 Sept 2016

Creating Your Promotion Dossier

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

expectations

Ongoing Update CV and document accomplishments

New! – Document teaching within your faculty profile Develop portfolio Regularly update FSM Faculty Profile

http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/faculty-profiles/index.html

Months ahead Write personal statement

Ongoing Documentation of TeachingNew! Maintain an ongoing record of your teaching activity in your Feinberg Faculty Profile.

Ongoing Documentation of Teaching

Record teaching activity in data entry forms

Ongoing Documentation of Teaching

View a detailed report of your teaching activity…

…or view a cumulative summary report.

Promotion & Tenure Process: Investigators

Promotion Process: Clinician-Educators & Team Scientists

Promotion Process: Clinician-Educators & Team Scientists

Promotion for Research Faculty

Research Associate Professor (pages 13-14, 21-22) 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 13-14, 21-22) 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 Invited lectures, 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