Recruitment of a pathology course director

The process of choosing a course director rarely involves a rigorous examination of the duties to be assumed, primarily because the selection is from among existing faculty rather than as a result of formal recruitment. The selectee tends to be surprised (and often disheartened) by the amount of time the job requires. This report was developed from workshops conducted at recent meetings of both the Group for Research in Pathology Education and the Association of Pathology Chairmen. It describes the overall scope of a course director's activities, including the percentage of time devoted to various functions, and identifies issues to be addressed at the time of the course director's selection. Although the appointment may still be from within the department, the recruitment process does allow for a more full and open discussion of the job to be accomplished.