The Teacher Interest Profile Registry of AAFP: implementation and effectiveness

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physician Recruitment
• Faculty Development

Background:

• Rapid expansion in family practice education in the US necessitated physician recruitment into academic roles.
• The American Academy of Family Physicians' Division of Education sought to facilitate this transition.
• A need existed for a systematic method to connect interested physicians with faculty positions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utilization and effectiveness of a newly developed computerized registry for recruiting faculty.
• To assess the success rate of the Teacher Interest Profile Registry in placing physicians into teaching positions.
• To determine the continued viability and need for the registry service.

Main Methods:

• Development of a computerized listing (Teacher Interest Profile Registry) of Academy members interested in teaching.
• Distribution of the registry to program administrators for faculty recruitment.
• Conducting a mailed questionnaire survey of program administrators and physician-registrants in spring 1975.

Main Results:

• The Teacher Interest Profile Registry facilitated the recruitment of 27 new faculty members.
• One in eight programs utilizing the registry successfully recruited at least one new faculty member.
• The service demonstrated continued interest and utilization by both program administrators and physician-registrants.

Conclusions:

• The registry was relatively successful in identifying and recruiting potential faculty members for family practice programs.
• Continued utilization and perceived success led to the decision to maintain the service.
• The registry addressed a critical need in faculty recruitment during a period of educational expansion.