1. Top 10 Strategies for Success as a Clinician Educator Mario M. Zeolla, PharmD, BCPS Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice Albany College of Pharmacy Albany, NY

2. What is a “Clinician Educator”? Term adopted by Medical Colleges in the late ’70’s and early ’80’s.Term adopted by Medical Colleges in the late ’70’s and early ’80’s. Colleges experienced difficulty retaining faculty; demand for faculty grewColleges experienced difficulty retaining faculty; demand for faculty grew “Clinician Educator” tracks were developed“Clinician Educator” tracks were developed –Non-tenure positions –Funding through practice income Parris et al. J Med Educ 1984; 59: 465-70.

3. Clinician Educators in Pharmacy Non-tenure track or “Clinical Faculty” appointmentNon-tenure track or “Clinical Faculty” appointment –approx. 95% of pharmacy schools/college have non- tenure positions Provide clinical pharmacy services; experiential & didactic educationProvide clinical pharmacy services; experiential & didactic education – ex. Eckerd Patient CARE Center Eckerd Patient CARE CenterEckerd Patient CARE Center May be fully-funded by the College or shared (50/50) positionsMay be fully-funded by the College or shared (50/50) positions Thanks to Erin McSherry, Jennifer Patton and Arlene Flynn from AACP.

4. How is a “Success” defined? Merriam WebsterMerriam WebsterSuccess: “degree or measure of succeeding. b : favorable or desired outcome; also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence” “degree or measure of succeeding. b : favorable or desired outcome; also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence” Merriam Webster Online Dictionary. http://12.129.203.36/cgi-in/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=success&x=19&y=7 http://12.129.203.36/cgi-in/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=success&x=19&y=7 Accessed November 4, 2004.

5. “Success” as an Academician WealthWealth –A relative term Very good salary/benefitsVery good salary/benefits Opportunities to supplement income via consulting workOpportunities to supplement income via consulting work Non-monetary WealthNon-monetary Wealth FavorFavor –Promotion and/or Tenure EminenceEminence –Awards –National recognition as an expert in the field

6. How I Define Success: http://www.mosbysdrugconsult.com/WOW/facesPermission.html Today at work I felt: Ideal Career = % DAYS “NO HURT” > % DAYS FOR ALL OTHERS COMBINED FOR ALL OTHERS COMBINED

7. Strategy #10 Mentorship is the KEYMentorship is the KEY –many schools have a formal mentoring/ “buddy” system –choose a mentor with similar background and interests –multiple mentors can be advantageous –discuss career goals/aspirations early and often –be receptive to mentorship

8. Strategy #9 Know where you are & where you’d like to goKnow where you are & where you’d like to go –learn about your institution policies/procedures/personnelpolicies/procedures/personnel promotion and tenure criteriapromotion and tenure criteria –get to know your colleagues –set your goals early and reexamine them short-term and long-termshort-term and long-term –understand your roles and responsibilities

9. TeachingTeaching –Didactic large lectureslarge lectures small group/labssmall group/labs –Experiential clerkship students at clinical practice siteclerkship students at clinical practice site residency preceptingresidency precepting Service –College committee work student advising –Site clinical services –Profession pharmacy organizations legislative advocacy Scholarship –original research –manuscript/journal reviewer –review articles/textbooks Roles and Responsibilities

10. Tenure Track Non-Tenure Track Scholarship ServiceTeaching TeachingService Scholarship

11. Promotion/Tenure Criteria Tenure TrackTenure Track –Evidence of excellence in teaching, service and scholarship emphasis on scholarship and original research publicationsemphasis on scholarship and original research publications Non-Tenure TrackNon-Tenure Track –Emphasis on teaching and service evidence of excellence in scholarship can be considered as wellevidence of excellence in scholarship can be considered as well definition of “scholarship” may varydefinition of “scholarship” may vary

12. Strategy #8 Establish a quality practice site, but be realisticEstablish a quality practice site, but be realistic –key features of a successful site: adequate learning environmentadequate learning environment –resources learning experience integrate education and practicelearning experience integrate education and practice practice activities/services seen as valuable by patients and site personnel alikepractice activities/services seen as valuable by patients and site personnel alike –services allow for some degree of flexibility Littlefield LC et al. AJPE 2004; 68(Suppl): Article S8.

13. Avoiding the Need for a Clone Keep everyone informed of your roles and responsibilitiesKeep everyone informed of your roles and responsibilities –shared faculty (50/50) positions are common ensure clearly defined responsibilities up frontensure clearly defined responsibilities up front –50% + 50% ≠ 200% –educate all parties about activities/responsibilities “Faculty forum” at ACP PP department meetings“Faculty forum” at ACP PP department meetings regular meetings with practice site personnelregular meetings with practice site personnel

14. Strategy #7 Become the “local expert” in any area of interestBecome the “local expert” in any area of interest –Generalist = “jack of all trades, master of none” –Find your passion and pursue it a topic you loved as a student/residenta topic you loved as a student/resident an area relevant to your everyday practicean area relevant to your everyday practice a topic you teach in the classrooma topic you teach in the classroom –Opportunities for scholarship in your “area of interest” reviewer for peer-reviewed journals, newslettersreviewer for peer-reviewed journals, newsletters publications (case reports, letters, review articles)publications (case reports, letters, review articles) original researchoriginal research

15. Strategy #6 Never stop learningNever stop learning –Numerous professional development opportunities –Seek out teaching workshops / conferences –AACP Annual and Interim Meetings (www.aacp.org) –specialty conferences: IDEA conference (www.idea.ksu.edu) –Staying current is a must –Journal Watch, Medscape.com, PNN Pharmacotherapy Line –Additional training/certifications –BCPS, CGP, CDM, CACP –APhA Certificate Programs

16. Strategy #5 Take advantage of “extracurricular” opportunitiesTake advantage of “extracurricular” opportunities –Review institution’s consulting policy ACP = 20% of time for consulting activities ACP = 20% of time for consulting activities –Opportunities for financial gain and professional development consulting opportunitiesconsulting opportunities industry-sponsored speaking engagementsindustry-sponsored speaking engagements The Six O’Clock NewsThe Six O’Clock News

17. Strategy #4 Practice saying two letters… N OPractice saying two letters… N O –“Lack of Time” causes stress and burn out –determining your “plate size” can take time err on the low side initiallyerr on the low side initially –time management is essential establish a systemestablish a system –evaluate the “risk/benefit” ratio of everything you do Jackson RA et al. Am J Pharm Educ 1993; 57: 9-17.

18. Strategy #3 Serve your students & the professionServe your students & the profession –Student organization/activities Be a faculty advisor to your favorite student groupBe a faculty advisor to your favorite student group –APhA, ASHP, ASCP, NCPA student chapters –Professional Fraternities –Clubs/Intramural activities –Local, state and national pharmacy organizations serve on committees; run for officeserve on committees; run for office advocate for the professionadvocate for the profession opportunity for networking with colleaguesopportunity for networking with colleagues

19. Strategy #2 CollaborateCollaborate –Albany College of Pharmacy Community Pharmacy Practice Group (CPPG) three faculty members and one residentthree faculty members and one resident collaborate on practice-based research projects, clinical practice development, teaching activities, professional/College servicecollaborate on practice-based research projects, clinical practice development, teaching activities, professional/College service also provides a “support group”also provides a “support group” –Joint teaching activities shared clerkship activities (ex. journal club, case presentations)shared clerkship activities (ex. journal club, case presentations) clerkship orientation session/preceptor trainingclerkship orientation session/preceptor training

20. Collaborative Scholarly Activity Benefits of collaborationBenefits of collaboration –On the job training work with tenured/tenure-track colleagues to develop research and writing skillswork with tenured/tenure-track colleagues to develop research and writing skills –Many hands make light work reduce workload/time burdenreduce workload/time burden improve the quality of your workimprove the quality of your work –increase the sample size of original research projects –Collegiality

21. Strategy #1 Reap the rewards of the positionReap the rewards of the position –Unparalleled variety and flexibility –Direct impact on the lives of students, patients, and on the profession –Opportunities for advancement

22. Conclusions Clinician Educator positions offer a unique opportunity to experience the best of both worldsClinician Educator positions offer a unique opportunity to experience the best of both worlds Success as a clinician educator can be defined many waysSuccess as a clinician educator can be defined many ways Strategies for success should be implemented from the startStrategies for success should be implemented from the start

23. Eckerd Patient CARE Center – Loudonville, NY Eckerd Patient CARE Center – Loudonville, NY