Implementation of a Scholarly Activity Program in a Small Academic Medical Center Department.

Area of Science:

• Academic Medicine
• Dental Specialties
• Scholarly Activity

Background:

• Small departments in academic medical centers face limitations in clinician numbers, research time, and access to senior faculty mentors.
• These constraints can hinder scholarly productivity and career advancement for clinicians within these departments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the rationale and implementation of a scholarly activity program within Mayo Clinic's Department of Dental Specialties.
• To address the challenges faced by small departments by integrating mentorship and diverse scholarly activities.

Main Methods:

• The program was designed to combine mentorship with various formats of scholarship dissemination.
• Key objectives included providing mentorship, disseminating existing scholarly work, and incorporating a range of scholarly activities into the department's core functions.

Main Results:

• The program aimed to enhance scholarly output and engagement within the Department of Dental Specialties.
• By providing structured mentorship and diverse scholarly opportunities, the program sought to overcome departmental limitations.

Conclusions:

• A dedicated scholarly activity program can effectively support and enhance academic pursuits in resource-limited departmental settings.
• Integrating mentorship and varied scholarly activities is crucial for fostering a robust academic environment within small departments.