A multi-component program to increase family physicians' faculty skills

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Faculty Development
• Academic Medicine

Background:

• Academic family physicians require robust nonclinical skills for career advancement.
• Existing faculty development programs often lack the comprehensive, long-term structure needed.
• There is a need for specialized training addressing the multifaceted responsibilities of academic physicians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel, year-long fellowship program.
• To enhance the nonclinical faculty skills of academic family physicians.
• To evaluate the program's alignment with the demands of academic medical work.

Main Methods:

• A continuous, year-long fellowship program was implemented.
• Activities were conducted at a university medical center and participants' home institutions.
• The curriculum covered curriculum planning, research, professional development, ethics, and communication.

Main Results:

• Preliminary evidence indicates the fellowship is meeting its objectives.
• The program's structure facilitates integration into academic medical settings.
• Participants engage in diverse activities relevant to academic physician roles.

Conclusions:

• The described fellowship program effectively enhances nonclinical skills for academic family physicians.
• The continuous, blended learning approach is a viable model for faculty development.
• The program demonstrates positive outcomes in preparing physicians for academic careers.