Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
For faculty with primarily clinical responsibilities, these represent their main activity (approximately 75-80%) and the focus of their scholarship, any research and teaching. These individuals bring visibility to the Medical School and the department in the academic world of clinical medicine, and play an invaluable role in teaching graduate and undergraduate students in the Medical School. Recognition is documented by leadership in defined field(s) of the specialty, editorial board membership, acting as a reviewer for manuscripts or grants, referral of cases in consultation, publications, letters of reference and participation or leadership role in national and international societies and organizations. These individuals are not expected to have their own laboratory but they may, they are not expected to have external grants; however, clinical productivity that covers at least 75% of their total salary is required; they will participate in clinically-oriented research and teaching (approximately 20% but perhaps more depending on individual circumstances).
The types of scholarly activities performed are in conformity with current definitions adopted by the Medical School and have actually been more recently promoted by the National Institutes of Health and include: Discovery: new principles of biomedical science or education; Integration: translational research, connections between discoveries across disciplines; Application: technology development, development of patented discoveries, establishing and running clinical trials both investigator initiated and sponsor initiated; Scholarship: the transmission of knowledge based on the clinical scholar's activities.
Evidence of continued academic productivity on a year-to-year basis and value of the contributions is more important than an arbitrary number of publications.
Applied medical science (patient care) is the cornerstone of the clinical scholar track but participating in teaching, in particular, but also some translational research is expected; success in only one or two of these areas does not qualify for promotion in this track; rather, successful performance in all areas and balance of activities are not only desirable but necessary.
II. GENERAL ASSESSMENT AND DOCUMENTATION
General Assessment of Clinical Activities
Achievement, leadership and development or utilization of new diagnostic or therapeutic techniques
Institutional and extramural recognition of diagnostic expertise through which the faculty is recognized as an authority in a specific field of the specialty
Significant development of outreach programs, this attests to recognition as a clinical authority in the field.
Consultation to health care individuals or units outside of this academic institution.
Invitations as a visiting professor or guest speaker at courses and symposia; locally, regionally, or nationally, organizing workshops or courses.
Documentation of Clinical Service
Letters of reference from within the institution, from local, regional or national sources; documentation of referrals for consultation locally, regionally or nationally; invitations and participation in courses and symposia regionally or nationally; having combined appointment(s) with other clinical departments in the institution, serving as the pathology consultant in clinical specialty teams; serving as the institutional pathologist for multi-institutional clinical trials both investigator initiated or sponsor initiated; organization of courses or workshops that are local, regional or national.
General Assessment of Teaching Activities
Teaching of Medical students (elective rotations, lectures, laboratories)
Teaching of residents and fellows
Participating in intra and interdepartmental conferences
Exemplary clinical teaching contributions
Participating in regional, national, international courses or workshops
Participating in structured formal and tutorial courses for undergraduate or graduate health sciences students, residents or fellows
Participating in structured courses for postdoctoral or graduate students
Training/mentoring of fellows
Documentation of Teaching or Training Activity: evaluation of teaching can be by evaluations of supervisors, medical students, residents and fellows on teaching/training activities. Similarly, receiving evaluations from faculty colleagues in other departments attesting to the educational/training contributions made to their department's mission. In addition to this, the listing of participation in courses, their titles and credits; numbers of students; hours of involvement (contact, preparation), labs, documenting course objectives, manuals developed, texts, etc.; students' evaluations of course and individuals; peer evaluation - direct observation; ultimate accomplishment of trainees; awards; establishment of innovative clinical programs; combined appointment with other clinical departments.
University and public service are neither required nor to be considered as replacement for teaching, research or clinical activities
III. PROMOTION: Criteria for Appointment and Promotion at Various Ranks
The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology accepts and subscribes to the statement on criteria and standards for promotion of faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School, with the following standards specific to the department.
Completion of residency training. Primary interest in patient care activities, teaching and any research will be lesser magnitude and coupled with clinical care.
Appointment to the rank of Assistant Professor requires completion of clinical training to meet the requirements for the American Board of Pathology or its equivalent board. Individuals being proposed to the rank of Assistant Professor should provide evidence of a commitment to scholarship, education, and applied medical sciences. Documentation of clinical activities and skill in teaching and research must be available in the curriculum vitae and from letters of support from nationally known pathologists. Physicians must be able to demonstrate excellence in the practice of their specialty.
The standards and criteria for appointment or promotion to the rank of Associate Professor in the clinical scholar track are those stated by the University of Minnesota Medical School. Faculty are expected to support and foster all aspects of the academic mission of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and Medical School, including research and scholarship, education, applied medical science, and service with a significant portion of their time spent in clinical practice ~70% or more as described in the above listed department standards. While it is understood that faculty in the clinical scholar track will spend their time in a mix of promoting scholarship, education, and applied medical science, the faculty may have a particular emphasis or distinction in either scholarship, research, or education though the preponderance of their time will be spent in clinical care and consultation. Please note: scholarship is necessary for promotion. This means there must be publications (handouts, syllabi, web-based material, manuscripts in journals that are peer reviewed, etc.) related to teaching, research, or clinical studies. Specific criteria for consideration to the Associate Professor rank may include, but are not limited to:
1. Scholarship/Translational Research
a. publication of clinical observations, reviews, or analytical studies in peer-
reviewed journals that are recognized as authoritative and that influence the practice of medicine or educational practice.
b. development of patented products and technology, or development of new
technology or procedures.
c. evidence of attraction of extramural grant, industry, or foundation support as principal investigator or major collaborator to support clinical research
d. continued development of new principles of teaching or teaching materials that make a unique contribution to quality methods of learning in a given subject through the medical school or outside in the local community.
a. teaches medical students, residents, and fellows in a variety of educational
settings and formats, including: didactic presentations, lectures, seminars, conferences, tutorials, laboratories, grand rounds, hospital and clinical rounds, patient care, and other procedures, and continuing medical education.
b. consistently receives excellent evaluations for teaching by medical students, residents, and fellows, or by receiving teaching awards. The impact and value of the teaching should be recognized beyond the local level as demonstrated by invitations to teach at other hospitals or other medical schools, participating in programs of professional societies, or continuing medical education courses.
c. evidence of teaching excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, and continuing medical education levels by written statement of the head of the department and academic peers familiar with the candidate's performance in teaching.
d. regularly attends and participates in teaching activities including, but not
limited to: formal conferences, small group teaching sessions, medical student lectures, research conferences, Grand Rounds and symposia hosted by the department.
e. acts as an advisor and mentor to medical students, residents, and fellows.
3. Applied medical science. Must continue to demonstrate an excellent reputation inside and outside the Twin Cities area as an authority in their field. This can be demonstrated by:
a. Referrals from outside the area.
b. Invited visiting lectureships.
c. Participation in projects to monitor clinical outcomes.
d. Participation in quality services, such as quality improvement.
e. Clinical excellence or development of new clinical programs.
f. Demonstrates distinction by service to local, regional, or national professional societies/organizations.
g. Letters from local and nationally recognized clinicians evaluating the
individual's contribution to the field.
Service and/or leadership in department, medical school, AHC, University, or hospital committees or local/national organizations.
The standards and criteria for appointment or promotion to the rank of Professor in the clinical scholar track are those stated by the University of Minnesota Medical School. Faculty are expected to support and foster all aspects of the academic mission of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, including clinical service, scholarship, education, applied medical science, translational research; the preponderant amount of their time is spent in clinical practice as described in above listed departmental standards. Please note: scholarship is necessary for promotion. This means there must be publication (handouts, syllabi, web-based material, manuscripts in a journal, etc.) related to clinical scholarship, teaching, research, or clinical review. Specific criteria for consideration as a Professor may include, but are not limited to:
1. Scholarship: Translational Research
a. continue to sustain scholarly contributions as demonstrated by first or senior author publications in high quality professional peer-reviewed journals.
b. Individuals at this level are expected to have a substantial quantity of
publications with exception that there will be a larger contribution as senior author since appointment or promotion to rank of Associate Professor.
c. Distinction in research/scholarship requires evidence of national and/or
international reputation, including participating in or leadership roles in national and/or international professional societies and conferences.
a. continued excellence in teaching as demonstrated by the above listed standards. Recognition for being among the very best teachers by medical students, residents, fellows, or CME attendees.
3. Applied Medical Science
continued substantial contributions to patient care including national and/or international reputation for advancement of the specialty as demonstrated by invitations to membership or leadership in prestigious professional societies.
other recognitions or awards, and testimonials of distinguished practitioners in pathology.
Participation in developing courses/workshops at national/international meetings.
In considering proposals for tenure and/or promotion in rank, the Medical School and it departments comply with the procedures described in the document “Procedures for Reviewing Performances of Probationary Faculty,” distributed annually by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. These procedures are provided for by Sections 16.3, 7.4, and 7.61 of the Regulations Concerning Faculty Tenure and Promotion.
The Medical School issues annually to each department, for distribution and information to faculty members, a set of instructions, memoranda, and other documents, giving detailed information on the procedures to be followed in the preparation and consideration of each proposal for tenure and/or promotion in rank. The pertinent documents are identified as exhibits enclosed with a cover memorandum from the Dean.
The same promotion and tenure committee will review clinical scholar promotion. Faculty votes will then be refereed to the Dean's office for action by the Medical Schools promotion committee. If we develop experience to suggest we should have a separate group review promotion in the clinical scholar track we will do so.
