Faculty development for family medicine: a status report

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Family Medicine

Background:

• Family medicine residency programs are growing, necessitating evolving faculty development strategies.
• Literature highlights needs in research, clinical skills, and educational methods for faculty.
• Faculty development must adapt to the changing landscape of medical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the status of faculty development programs in 1985.
• To identify perceived faculty competence and development needs.
• To inform the redesign of faculty development initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to 126 university-based family medicine residency programs.
• Data collected from 74 respondents covered program content, faculty competence, and development priorities.
• Perceived competence was assessed in clinical and academic areas.

Main Results:

• Teaching and evaluation were the most common faculty development activities.
• Faculty directors reported a lack of competence in research.
• Procedural skills and critical care were identified as key clinical skill deficits.

Conclusions:

• Current faculty development programs may not fully address diverse needs.
• Multiple, tailored faculty development tracks are recommended.
• Adapting faculty development is essential for meeting evolving demands in family medicine.