Tenure and Promotion at Medical Schools Lois J. Geist, M.D. Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs & Faculty Development Carver College of Medicine University of Iowa

Promotion and Tenure Glossary When do I start worrying about this? How do I decide who should write letters for me? How many papers/grants do I need? What goes into the process? Who makes the decision? Can I stop the clock? What happens if I do not get promoted?

Promotion and Tenure Glossary –Probationary period – time from hire to tenure –Tenure clock – length of the probationary period May vary for MD vs. PhD scientists –Annual review – meeting with department head yearly to review trajectory –Dossier - compilation of work that determines your fate –Annotate my CV? – tell people your role in the work –Promotion committees

When to start? When you start! –Spend a small amount of time once a month reviewing your CV and keeping it up to date –Learn to say no to things that are not going to help you –Find a mentor Improves satisfaction Helps to learn the ropes –Learn the rules – find them, read them, and talk to others Attend seminars if offered

What counts? Teaching – we are all “professors” –Need to teach and need to do it well Training students – PhD students post comp? –Progressive course responsibility over time –PhDs in clinical departments Service –Internal Committees; citizenship –External Journal reviewer; grant reviewer

What counts? Scholarship –Publications in good to excellent journals, work done after you have arrived at your institution Avoid reviews, case series, book chapters Some places have a minimum number required –Grant funding – your offer letter may have set expectations for % salary offset –Collaborative vs. independent research –Focus and trajectory

Recommenders These should be people who know you – scientifically Generally avoid postdoctoral mentors, graduate school mentors, other training mentors, next door neighbors, college roommate Want people to give an unbiased but accurate view of your work, leaders in the field at prestigious institutions Most want 4-8 letters – check with your school

The Process Every school is a little different, so you need to learn your institution –Usually happens at the beginning of the last year of your appointment (September) –You submit a CV, publications, personal statement regarding missions, teaching examples –Submit a list of external reviewers –Update your CV as things come along (new paper, new grant, new award, etc.)

Where does it all go? Reviewed first by a committee at the departmental level –Peers above you in rank –Recommendation made to the chair Goes to a collegiate committee –Make up is different everywhere – can be department heads, senior faculty, executive committee Then to Provost/Chancellor/President Final stop – whoever runs the institution

Can I stop the clock? Varies by institution – know your policies –Issues that may arise New child in the home Change in mentor Personal illness Family illness Institutional impediments –No space –Too much teaching –Promises not kept –Natural disasters

What if I am not promoted? Know what the ramifications are: –Do you only get one shot? Time it well –Terminal year, leave the institution –Change tracks –may be easier for MDs than PhDs –Leave faculty, stay as scientist Need to know why –There is usually an appeals process –You should get access to all redacted reports so you can address concerns

Know where to get help Senior leader/promotion committee member Mentor Department head Office of Faculty Affairs Provost Someone who just (successfully) went through the process