Collegial networking and faculty vitality

This research explored the relationship between collegial networking and faculty "vitality" among graduates of the family medicine faculty development fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Faculty vitality was defined by retention in full-time teaching, job satisfaction, academic activity, and contributions to the discipline.

A questionnaire was mailed to 170 family physician graduates of the 1980-1992 fellowship classes. After a mail and telephone follow-up, the response rate was 85%. Data were collected on career history, professional interests, professional relationships, assessment of fellowship, and professional activities.

Respondents with collegial networks were more likely to participate in several academic activities and were more likely to remain in full-time teaching. No association was found between collegial networks and satisfaction or contributions to the discipline. There were only small differences in effect between intra-departmental and extra-departmental collegial networks. Stratification by program type and gender revealed no evidence of effect modification or confounding.

Collegial networks influence some aspects of faculty vitality, particularly retention in full-time teaching. Further research is needed to fully understand its impact.