Setting the initial goalsGoals and prioritiesPriorities for your academic career should be based upon the institutional and departmental expectations expressed when you were recruited. These should be in alignment with your personal expectations and aspirations. If not, you should immediately strive to correct the situation before problems arise. Your goalsGoals and prioritiesPriorities should guide your plans for the initial activities you intend to pursue. Fortunately, most medical schools now have programs to assist in your career development that can help you define the metrics that will gauge your progress towards the goalsGoals you set and your desired contributions to academic medicine. To facilitate success, you should determine opportunities for further career development and strive to project your long-term career plans including any administrative aspirations that you may have, such as division chief, vice chair, chair, center or institute director, dean or dean’s staff, etc. Your plans will likely change as your career develops and you acquire additional skills and knowledge. Accordingly, you should reassess your prioritiesPriorities periodically, especially if unforeseen challenges and opportunities occur that may alter your plans.