Faculty Home

I I. Medical School Faculty Model - 2002

General
Faculty responsibilities and expectations revolve around four principal duties. Ideally, activity is present in all four areas, recognizing that most careers are somewhat asymmetric, particularly in the clinical and research tracks. Such asymmetry and diversity of careers generally enriches the learning community, clinical skills, and scholarly productivity of the University of Michigan Medical School. These are the four principal faculty duties:
1. Instruction
2. Scholarship/research
3. Clinical contributions
4. Organizational service

The Faculty Tracks

Instructional Track
This is the fundamental university faculty career line, which is governed by the concept and timing of tenure. The entry-level position (assistant professor) is the province of the department and the Medical School according to Regents Bylaw 5.08. These positions are renewed annually at the prerogative of the department and medical school.
Appointments at more senior levels (associate professor and professor) require the approval of the Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs (EVPMA), Provost, President, and Regents. Regents Bylaw 5.09, requires that tenure (usually awarded at the associate professor level) be achieved within 8 years with an appointment in the instructional track at 80% or more of effort. Tenure is indicative of outstanding achievement in one's field. This is evidenced by contributions that substantially impact and improve a field of work and study as widely recognized at a national level. Independent grant funding is typical evidence of professional scholarly stature and quality of work. Peer-reviewed publication of robust quality and quantity is another measure of academic stature and nationally recognized professional competence.
External evaluation must be obtained from at least five unbiased national or international leaders in the relevant academic disciplines. These leaders should have no instructional, collaborative or close personal relationships to the candidate, unless truly unusual circumstances pertain.
Substantial and high quality instructional (medical school teaching and graduate medical education) and organizational contributions (medical school, university, & national peer organizations) are also mandatory expectations for promotion in the instructional track.
Further ascent to the full professorial level requires continued scholarship as well as instructional and organizational efforts roughly equivalent again in quality and quantity to the achievements for the previous step to tenure.

Clinical Track
This track was established in 1986 to create a clinician-educator rank without the contingency of a tenure clock. These individuals have roles that are largely focused on clinical services, with close linkage to instructional activities, generally with medical students and residents. Entry level appointments (clinical instructor and clinical assistant professor) are made by the relevant department and the Office of the Dean. More senior level appointments require the approval of the EVPMA, Provost, and President.
Scholarship, the backbone of any higher educational organization, is expected for ascent in rank. The professional activity of clinical track faculty at the clinical associate professor level must enjoy strong peer group recognition at a wide regional level or beyond, as evidenced by at least five unbiased external evaluative letters. Substantial instructional (medical school and GME) and organizational contributions (medical school, university, & regional) are mandatory expectations for promotion. Promotion or appointment to clinical associate professor requires scholarly engagement as evidenced by contributions with regional or national impact, such as publications, papers, and presentations indicative of professional peer group stature beyond the local community.
Further ascent to the full clinical professorial level requires continued growth in professional and clinical stature at the national level, as judged by unbiased leaders in the relevant field. Instructional, organizational, and scholarly contributions roughly equivalent again in quality and quantity to the achievements for the previous step to tenure are expected for this rank.

Research Track
This was established in 1983 to permit an asymmetric career track focused primarily on original research. Naturally, in a medical school, these individuals also support the other (instructional and clinical) missions, especially instruction at the graduate student and post-doctoral levels. Contributions to professional organizations are expected at our institution as well as at national peer organizations.
Research track faculty also have opportunities for engagement in the clinical missions of the medical school in terms of their translational research, interactions with clinically oriented faculty, medical student counseling, laboratory instruction of residents, service on IRBs and other committees with clinical impact, and community volunteerism.
Entry level appointments (research investigator and assistant research scientist) are appointed by the relevant department and the Office of the Dean. Promotion or appointment to senior associate research scientist (the parallel to the associate professor rank) requires the approval of the EVPMA, Provost, and President. This rank is usually based upon outstanding independent research that substantially impacts that individual's scholarly field as evidenced by independent grant funding as well as unbiased evaluations from nationally known peers of high academic rank and stature. Further elevation to the top academic rank (senior research scientist) requires additional research productivity that substantially affects the field of discipline.