Career development for the clinician-educator. Optimizing impact and maximizing success

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Health care professionals in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine are vital educators for all learner levels.
• Effective teaching encompasses adult learning principles, assessment, feedback, and curriculum development across diverse settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the essential components of professional development for clinician-educators in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine.
• To guide aspiring medical educators in advancing their careers and contributing to medical education scholarship.

Main Methods:

• Review of professional development strategies for medical educators.
• Identification of training opportunities including fellowships, peer observation, and online modules.
• Emphasis on the importance of engaging with medical education communities and producing scholarly work.

Main Results:

• Professional development is essential for teaching excellence and academic promotion.
• A variety of training avenues exist, from formal fellowships to online resources.
• Participation in medical education communities and scholarly output are key for career progression.

Conclusions:

• Clinician-educators in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine must actively pursue professional development.
• Investing in teaching skills and scholarly activities supports career growth and enhances medical education.