Career Development

Pic of a man or a woman sitting at a table and comparing graphs on a computer.

The Department of Medicine aims to provide an optimal environment for the professional and personal growth of its faculty members. This includes providing, within its capacity, the knowledge, resources and support for faculty to discharge their academic responsibilities and fulfill their maximum potential.

 

Goal

"The goal of our program is to create an educational and scientific environment where there is freedom of expression with balanced risk-taking and self-examination encouraging growth in all three spheres of CD - professional, personal and institutional". (L.J. Miedzinski MD, P.W. Armstrong MD and J.C. Morrison MA, Annals RCPSC, Vol 34, number 6, September 2001).

About

The Faculty Development program evolved from a 1996 Departmental planning event and after a Career Development Needs Survey. The first Director of the Career Development program was Dr. Lil Miedzinski who was assisted by Chuck Morrison ((first while Director of Administrative Services and then as Career Development Officer).

The specific desired Objectives of a Mentor in this structure are:

  1. To provide networking opportunities and introductions to key institutional leaders
  2. To assist in the development of career goals and action plans with regular review of progress towards them
  3. To ensure the mentee is aware of importance of adherence to job description and alignment with their activities
  4. To direct mentees to key resources such as FEC guidelines and CV/Teaching Dossier templates
  5. To encourage attendance at promotions workshop and events relevant to their job description e.g. teaching workshops, grant writing workshops, leadership training
  6. To refer mentees to others with greater knowledge related to a particular area of need
  7. To assist with preparation of 3rd year review and pre-tenure package
  8. To provide a safe environment for venting and expressing negative concerns, of a professional or personal nature
  9. To desire enhanced mentoring skills in order to be more effective in the role of a mentor

The program is currently headed by an Associate Chair for Faculty Affairs who is advised by a Faculty Affairs Council. The Associate Chair for Faculty Affairs also oversees the Mentorship Program with the support of three Mentorship Directors.

Among the offerings of the program are:

  • a mentorship program for new faculty through until they achieve tenure
  • an orientation program for faculty new to the Department of Medicine.
  • the "Evolving Professional Series" of academic, leadership and personal development modules
  • opportunities for mini-sabbaticals
  • workshops to help faculty prepare for tenure and promotion hearings.
  • programs to recognize academic achievement.

The material listed is provided to all mentors in the Department. It is intended to help mentors understand their role in mentoring new faculty members and to be aware of some aspects of academic life that are critical to the career development of new faculty.

Mentor Kit