Mentoring Program
Re-invented

Building an academic portfolio

Picking a partnership

Giving a deposition

COS Job Bank

COS Classifieds

Bylaws passed

Sister Ruth Kennedy of Ethiopia named Presidential Guest Speaker for 2007 Annual Meeting

From the Editor: Spinal Cord Stimulation

New Members

Building an academic portfolio

By James J. Hamilton, MD, COS Immediate Past President

The construction of an academic portfolio is critical to the academic promotion processes. Many young faculty members think of it a “just a C.V.” This is a major mistake. The academic portfolio is method by which a faculty member desiring promotion demonstrates to the promotion committee that a promotion is justified. Physicians often equate “seeing patients” and clinical responsibilities as being adequate to justify a promotion. These are just one part of the equation. University promotion committees are looking at all departments and schools at the University. They pay attention to three different areas: teaching, research and community involvement. The Clinician’s CV usually neglects the last two.

All faculty members should build an academic portfolio by starting a file in which they document every activity, award, recognition, committee, community activity they are involved with. In the file keep a copy of every teaching evaluation you have received; every conference you presented with dates, handouts and evaluations; a list of every resident/fellow project you have participated in; a list of every committee or subcommittee you sat on; a copy of every yearly performance evaluation. If you are a scout master, put it in. If you are on the homes association board, put it in. If you got “volunteer of the year award” form a local organization, put it in. Do this on a religious, concurrent basis. Trying to remember all you did over the previous five to seven years is just impossible. If you have followed the above system, when you are asked to submit your academic portfolio, you will have all the information you need to submit. While you don’t want to appear to “pad” your CV, you must demonstrate activity in teaching, research, service and practice. Understand that promotions committee is going to compare youor CV to those received from the faculty on the main campus. Unless you follow the same methodology your CV doesn’t look as good when compared to theirs.

Your goal is to demonstrate that not only are you a good clinician, but that your are active participant in the community demonstrating leadership and involvement. Then if perhaps your “research’ is not quite as strong as you would like, your “teaching” and “community involvement/leadership” will have enough strength to gain your goal of promotion.

I will be happy to talk with anyone about this topic, just send me an e-mail at james.hamilton@tmc med.org

NEXT MEETING:
COS 95th Annual Meeting

September 27-29
The Peabody Hotel
Memphis, TN