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Article
Evaluating the career impact of faculty development using matched controls
Family Medicine
  • Jeffery A. Morzinski, Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Deborah Simpson, Advocate Aurora Health
  • Karen Marcdante, Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Linda A. Meurer, Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Mary Ann Gilligan, Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Tess Chandler, Medical College of Wisconsin
Publication Date
11-1-2019
Abstract

© 2019, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. All rights reserved. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Faculty development (FD) is required for medical educators, yet few studies address its long-term career impact on graduates. This project presents the impact of FD on career development, as perceived by physician faculty graduates of a longitudinal primary care FD educator program, compared to nonenrollees. METHODS: Between 2011 and 2016, 33 physician faculty from three departments participated in monthly half-day in-class FD for 20 months, emphasizing educator skills and career development. After physician-graduates were stratified by year, 10 were randomly selected and matched with 10 nonparticipants (controls) by specialty, gender, academic rank, and time in academic medicine. Narrative responses from semistructured interviews were recorded in a common template. Qualitative analysis methods identified themes, with agreement obtained by researchers. RESULTS: Median time in academic medicine for FD graduates (50% male) was 5.5 years; controls 7.5 years (40% male). Common themes across all respondents included that they: value their roles as clinical teachers; define success as training high-quality, competent physicians; align their professional aims with organizational priorities; manage commitments; develop and sustain colleague networks; and seek continued growth. Within themes, FD graduates differed from controls, detailing greater perceived success and growth as educators, placing higher value on scholarly products and academic promotion, and having more expansive local and national colleague networks. CONCLUSIONS: FD graduates, compared to matched controls, report expanded clinician-educator scope and roles, and a greater value on scholarly activity. This evaluation provides the groundwork for further investigations.

Document Type
Article
Citation Information

Morzinski J, Simposon D, Marcdante K, Meurer LA, Gilligan MA, Chandler T. Evaluating the Career Impact of Faculty Development Using Matched Controls. Fam Med. 2019;51(10):841-844.