The Academic Catalyst Group: A Tactical Framework for Working Groups to Enhance Clinician-Educator Academic Career...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Academic Career Development
• Clinician-Educators

Background:

• Early-career clinician-educators often face challenges in academic development.
• Working groups within professional organizations are underrecognized for academic skill-building.
• Cross-institutional collaborations in working groups offer opportunities for mentorship and externalization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review challenges faced by early-career clinician-educators.
• To propose a framework for enhancing professional development within working groups.
• To guide working group leaders in fostering academic growth for members.

Main Methods:

• Review of common academic development challenges for clinician-educators.
• Proposal of a 3-step tactical framework: the Academic Catalyst Group.
• Conceptualizing working groups as communities of practice.

Main Results:

• The Academic Catalyst Group framework comprises three steps: assembling with intention, mining the mission, and finding an easy win.
• This framework enables working groups to act as communities of practice.
• Leaders can purposefully align group work with academic career development.

Conclusions:

• Working groups have significant potential for clinician-educator academic advancement.
• The Academic Catalyst Group framework provides a practical approach for leaders.
• Implementing this framework can foster career growth and success for all members.