Clinical faculty are an integral part of the medical school. The appellation “doctor” – from the Latin docere, meaning “to teach” – includes the responsibility of all physicians to share knowledge and information with colleagues, trainees, and patients. Physicians have the opportunity to give back to their profession by teaching the science, art, and ethics of medicine to medical students, residents, and fellows. The medical school provides the opportunity for clinical faculty to participate in training the next generation of physicians for tomorrow’s patients, and ultimately, improving the health of the communities we serve.
Our faculty have a primary appointment in a department of the medical school whether or not they are directly employed by WMed. Clinical faculty are physicians and other healthcare providers who participate in teaching, clinical research, and administration of medical school programs. Non-clinical faculty also participate in many of the same activities. Non-clinical faculty not employed by the medical school are community faculty.
There are three principles on which the faculty appointment is based: teaching activities, sustained efforts to improve personal teaching abilities, and service to the medical school. Clinical faculty participate directly in teaching or service to the medical school for a minimum of 50 hours in each year of the appointment period to continue to qualify for faculty appointment.
Teaching Activities
- Clinical Faculty
Teaching opportunities for Clinical Faculty include:
- Teaching in a classroom or small group setting.
- Participation in student learning activities in the Simulation Center.
- Serving as a mentor or clinical instructor for medical students in a clinical setting during first- and second-year longitudinal clinical experiences, third-year clerkships, and fourth-year electives.
- Serving as a mentor or clinical instructor for residents and fellows in a clinical setting.
- Non-Clinical Faculty
Teaching opportunities for Non-Clinical Faculty include:
- Teaching in a classroom or small group setting.
- Participation in other student learning activities
Sustained Efforts to Improve Teaching Abilities
Faculty members engage in efforts to improve personal teaching abilities and assessment skills in each year in the appointment interval. Documentation could include attendance in relevant teaching development activities sponsored by the medical school, local or national organizations, and professional societies that focus on, or have relevant sessions directed to, educational skills.
Service to the Medical School
Contributions and service other than teaching are important to the medical school as an academic institution and may include but are not limited to:
- Research productivity and scholarly activity.
- Leadership and service to the medical school and affiliated institutions in roles that are germane to full functioning of the medical school as a medical education institution.
- A significant role in the curriculum of the medical school (e.g., course director, clerkship director, discipline director).
- Service on medical school committees such as the Admissions Committee.
Benefits of Faculty Appointment
- Clinical Faculty
Clinical Faculty are eligible for a three-year appointment with the following ranks:
- Clinical Professor
- Clinical Associate Professor
- Clinical Assistant Professor
- Clinical Instructor
- Non-Clinical Faculty
Non-Clinical Faculty are eligible for a three-year appointment with the following ranks:
- Community Professor
- Community Associate Professor
- Community Assistant Professor
- Community Instructor
Clinical and Non-Clinical Faculty receive:
- A certificate of recognition for display.
- Recognition of faculty appointment and participation in the medical school.
- Recognition at medical school and community events.
- Permission to include their faculty appointments and rank in their professional and clinical promotional materials.
- Privileges to the medical school library, including access to electronic resources.
- A WMed faculty email address.
- Continuing medical education (CME) for preparing for and teaching medical students and residents.
- CME conferences at free or reduced registration.
- Financial recognition for teaching in classroom and clinical settings.
- Access to facilities and to professional development and specialty-specific activities, seminars and workshops.
Becoming a Member of the Faculty
Faculty are appointed by the Dean on the authority of, and ratified by, the Board of Directors after recommendation of the Department Chair and the Appointment and Promotion Committee. Requirements for a Clinical Faculty appointment include:
- Doctoral degree (e.g., PhD, EdD, or ²/DO/MBBS or equivalent medical doctor degree for clinical faculty).
- Physicians with clinical responsibilities must hold current board certification or be within five years of completion of accredited training to be appointed at the rank of Assistant Professor or higher. Physicians with clinical responsibilities who do not hold current board certification and are beyond five years of completion of accredited training are appointed at the rank of Instructor.
- All necessary education and training for the career choice including, but not limited to, completion of residency, subspecialty fellowship or postdoctoral experience.
- If relevant to the responsibilities, the appropriate licenses, credentials, and maintenance of certification.
- If relevant to the responsibilities, a record of inquiry, research, and discovery sufficient to predict likelihood for initiating or continuing scholarly activities.
Click here for a printable version of this information about clinical faculty appointments.