A study of federally funded faculty development in family medicine from 1978-1981

From 1978 to 1982 the federal government invested $13.6 million in family medicine faculty development projects. To synthesize and disseminate the collective experience of these projects, we surveyed directors of the 30 projects funded and begun in 1978. The study's purpose was twofold. First, we wanted to capture the lessons these experienced project directors learned. To accomplish this we asked directors to describe and then evaluate specific approaches they used for eight aspects of their projects: project staff, needs assessment, participant recruitment, project participants, goals and objectives, instructional formats, instructional strategies, and project evaluation methods. We also sought information on additional effects of the projects, present status of faculty participants, and future directions for faculty development in family medicine. The results revealed useful suggestions for designing and conducting faculty development and a consensus on the priority areas for future faculty development efforts: research skills, clinical teaching, academic vitality, and curriculum development.