Clinicians Focused on Clinical Service

Academic promotion has traditionally been less of a priority for clinical faculty members than their colleagues in other academic roles. The expectations for promotion on clinical tracks vary among institutions and are often poorly defined. Excellence in clinical service is always expected, but the significance of educational, research, and other activities differs across medical schools. Involvement in nonclinical academic activities may be expected, even if not included in the position description or requirements for promotion of clinical faculty members. Appropriate scholarship demonstrates expertise and enhances promotion applications. Examples include well-designed and conducted quality improvement projects, clinical reviews, and other forms of the scholarship of application arising from clinical practice. Clinicians should have academic development plans that include academic promotion and ensure these are regularly reviewed and updated. They should have access to mentors, advisors, resources, and opportunities to develop their careers and achieve promotion. Professional organizations can provide resources, networks of extramural colleagues, and opportunities to participate in and disseminate scholarship. Promotion requires documented excellence in clinical service, reputation for expertise outside the institution, and leadership within the institution and/or specialty. Clinical applicants must ensure that reviewers understand the terminology and metrics used to document the quantity and quality of their achievements and appreciate the full impact of their work on colleagues, the institution, and beyond. The role of clinical services in supporting all missions of the institution should be stressed.