Outcomes of a faculty development fellowship in family medicine

This report describes a comparative evaluation of outcomes of a faculty development fellowship program in family medicine at the University of North Carolina. Rates of participation in academically oriented professional behavior are compared between family physicians who participated in the program and peers who did not. Results indicate that participation in the fellowship was associated with higher rates of membership in an academic professional association, speaking to national professional meetings, publishing in professional journals, and having research as a part of one's routine work. Program participation was also associated with higher rankings being given to research and teaching residents in contrast with physicians in a comparison group. However, all family physicians surveyed for this study reported high interest and time commitment to patient care. Results are discussed in terms of the careers of academic family physicians and faculty development programs aimed at promoting such careers.