When a leader in academic medicine reaches the pinnacle of their profession yet seeks new challenges, a world of opportunities awaits. This week on the Faculty Factory Podcast, our esteemed guest Paul Rothman, MD, shares his journey with us.

Dr. Rothman previously served as Dean of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Before that, he was the Dean of the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa.

Like many in this field, Dr. Rothman's career path features recurring themes of serendipity, blended with a dedication to mentorship (both receiving it and paying it forward), along with his trademark curiosity.

After fulfilling his term at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Rothman’s new chapter included a stimulating return to the bench on sabbatical, diving into genome editing and further strengthening his lifelong enthusiasm for research and discovery. This opportunity was not available to him while he was engulfed in years of strategic work while leading some of the world’s most prestigious medical institutions.

Dr. Rothman now channels his energy into a mix of leisure activities at his home among the hills of Colorado, along with work in venture capital, mentoring, and board responsibilities. All of these activities have helped him ensure he strikes that always elusive work/life balance while continuing to make a significant impact on healthcare and society.

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As a faculty member and leader at your academic institution, decisiveness may not be a character trait you are known for. It is often not enjoyable to make a transition, or even start the process, but once you find yourself on the other side of that decision, you might just be forever grateful. 

With all of this in mind, there is a strategic approach to making transitions that our guest, Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD, walks us through this week as a first-time guest on our Faculty Factory Podcast.

Since August 2023, Dr. Reiser has served as the President of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and CEO of the UTMB Health System. He is a professor in the John Sealy School of Medicine and is the John D. Stobo, MD Distinguished Chair.

In today’s podcast, we discuss how 2025 marks a year of transition for both the show and our host, Kimberly A. Skarupski, PhD, MPH, who has been with the Faculty Factory since day one. 

She shares her journey moving to UTMB and reflects on the wonderful support she has received from Johns Hopkins Medicine and now UTMB for this podcast and our community. This watershed episode highlights a significant moment for our show, which has been thriving for six years and counting thanks to our wonderful guests and supportive institutions. 

So much of this conversation about navigating a pending transition starts with recognizing your own “true north.” As stated in this podcast, we need to pause and determine this “true north” if we haven’t already made it an inflexible part of our values that guides our decisions. 

“You need to ask yourself from time to time: look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Is this the place where I still want to be part of this mission?” Dr. Reiser said.

He went on to remind us to be honest with ourselves. If the answer is “no” or if you are unsure, then it is time to take a serious look at what your options are for a significant transition. 

Further advice shared in this week’s conversation includes taking advantage of the rich ecosystems that academic institutions offer, as they will help guide you in making tough choices about transitions.

Visit our website: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

On this week's Faculty Factory Podcast, we're featuring clips and snippets from some of the best leadership conversations we've had over the six-year lifespan of this show.  

This is the final part of a three-part best of the Faculty Factory series on leadership discussions. You can catch up on the first part here: https://facultyfactory.org/conversations-on-leadership/

And Part 2 of this leadership podcast series can be found here: https://facultyfactory.org/leadership-part-2/

As a friendly programming reminder, we will be back on January 3, 2025, with a brand-new episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast!  This week’s “Best of” show includes highlights, snippets and clips from the following episodes (appearing in order):

Kimberly A. Skarupski, PhD, MPH

Dr. Skarupski has hosted the Faculty Factory Podcast since its debut in 2019. She is a sociologist and gerontologist by training and has been practicing faculty development for nearly two decades.

Kathy Forbush MBA and MS

Kathy is the Executive Director for HR-Talent Management at Johns Hopkins University, and in this role is responsible for leading the talent acquisition, learning and organization development functions for the entire university. Kathy has spent over 20 years working in HR, Learning, and Organization Development roles with clients of various functional disciplines in diverse organizations and industries.

Farzana Hoque, MD, MRCP, FACP, FRCP

Dr. Hoque is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine and the Co-Director of the Medicine Acting Internship at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. She also serves as the inaugural Medical Director of Bordley Tower at SSM Health, Saint Louis University Hospital, and she is President of the Society of Hospital Medicine’s St. Louis Chapter.

On this week's Faculty Factory Podcast, we're featuring clips and snippets from some of the best leadership conversations we've had over the six-year lifespan of this show.   

This is part two of a three-part best of the Faculty Factory series on leadership discussions. You can catch up on the first part here: https://facultyfactory.org/conversations-on-leadership/

As a friendly programming reminder, we will be back on January 3, 2025, with a brand-new episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast!  This week’s “Best of” show includes highlights, snippets and clips from the following episodes (appearing in order):

Jennifer Lee, MD

Dr. Lee serves as Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine (ACCM) and Pediatrics. She is also Associate Vice-Chair for Faculty Affairs and Development in ACCM with Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Maria Oliva-Hemker, MD

Dr. Oliva-Hemker currently serves as the Vice Dean for Faculty at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is the Stermer Family Professor of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Director of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Simply put, without Dr. Oliva-Hemker’s support this podcast wouldn’t be possible. We sincerely thank her for that continued support of our podcast, this companion website, and all its resources.

Kathy Forbush MBA and MS

Kathy is the Executive Director for HR-Talent Management at Johns Hopkins University, and in this role is responsible for leading the talent acquisition, learning and organization development functions for the entire university. Kathy has spent over 20 years working in HR, Learning, and Organization Development roles with clients of various functional disciplines in diverse organizations and industries.

Making an impressive debut on the Faculty Factory Podcast this week is John Paul Sánchez, MD, MPH, who shares his passion and joy for harnessing diversity while helping to carve a path forward for building successful generations of academic physicians for years to come.

Dr. Sánchez currently serves as the Dean of the Universidad Central Del Caribe (UCC) School of Medicine in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, a position he has held since January 2024. Before joining UCC, he held positions as an educator and senior administrative leader at Health and Health Sciences of the University of New Mexico (UNM). 

Additionally, he is the co-founder of the Building the Next Generation of Academic Physicians initiative, which you can learn about here: https://bngap.org/. 

Throughout the interview, Dr. Sánchez highlights the unique blend of culture and bilingualism that characterizes medical education in Puerto Rico, equipping learners to better serve diverse patient populations.

Dr. Sánchez also addresses the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in academia, noting that many students lose interest in academic careers during medical school and residency. He stresses the importance of role models and creating supportive environments that reflect the diverse patient population they serve.  

Dr. Sánchez is also an author who has written two books, as discussed in today’s interview, those books include: 

More Faculty Factory Resources: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Dulce M. Cruz, MD, FAAHPM, AGSF, joins the Faculty Factory this week to discuss an innovative, one-of-a-kind approach to supporting and educating hospice family caregivers through a video series that offers practical advice and emotional support.

At Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Dr. Cruz serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, in the Section of Palliative Medicine.

Her groundbreaking work in palliative care for Latino family caregivers began with identifying a significant need for support among these caregivers, leading her to create engaging educational videos in the form of telenovelas, designed to resonate with pop culture lovers while delivering a powerful educational message.

Once you hear Dr. Cruz’s commitment to executing this idea, including teaching herself video production, we are confident you will leave the discussion inspired.

This approach to problem-solving is sure to spark new ideas on how we can better serve others in our community of academic medicine professionals, as we are a group especially equipped to learn on the fly in pursuit of accomplishing gargantuan tasks.

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As mentioned in the beginning of this week’s podcast, the Faculty Leadership Collaborative: Early-Career Bootcamp starts in January 2025!

Designed for early-career faculty (instructors or assistant professors with less than five years at rank), this three-day bootcamp provides overviews of key leadership competency areas, developed and delivered BY faculty members in academic health FOR early-career faculty members in academic health. Learn more & Register here: https://www.utmb.edu/facultyaffairs/news-events/events/upcoming-events/event/2025/01/14/default-calendar/faculty-leadership-collaborative--early-career-bootcamp-2025 

About This Week’s Podcast

Today’s episode of the Faculty Factory is a “Best of” show that includes highlights from past interviews of our show regarding leadership.

As a friendly programming reminder, we will be back next Friday with a brand new episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast! Today’s “Best of” show includes highlights, snippets and clips from the following episodes (appearing in order):

Myron "Mike" Weisfeldt, MD, joins our Faculty Factory Podcast this week to talk about the keys to starting a research career as a physician.

This interview also includes a brief introduction to the fundraising/development factors that researchers should consider when looking to maximize their impact throughout their careers.

Dr. Weisfeldt is a Professor of Medicine and a Medical Consultant for Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures. As a cardiologist, he previously served as the William Osler Professor of Medicine and chair of the Department of Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He is also a former president of the American Heart Association, bringing decades of senior management experience and passion to today’s discussion.

As we learn in the opening moments of this interview, it could be important for those looking to embark on this journey to decide early on whether they want to pursue an MD/PhD or start with the “MD track” and incorporate research into their careers along the way.

Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

On this week’s episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, we discuss what it means to be a compassionate leader through authenticity, along with general pearls of wisdom that we know will leave you inspired by our first-time guest, Keshia Pollack Porter, PhD.

Dr. Pollack Porter is the Chair and Bloomberg Centennial Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. She is internationally known for her work in social determinants of health, health equity, and promoting safe environments.

As we learn throughout today’s broadcast, compassion is the hallmark of Dr. Pollack Porter’s leadership style.

With a rich background in injury epidemiology and faculty development, Dr. Pollack Porter joins our show to highlight the importance of showing your “human side” when leading faculty members. This approach will have undeniable ripple effects throughout your institution and culture, especially among those in the early stages of their careers.

As the chair of the department, it’s easy to lose sight of the things that “make us human” or “make us whole,” such as family, friends, hobbies, and community involvement. It might be time for many of us to take pause and revisit the importance of these activities as we build meaningful lives and find ways to adjust what may have previously been a rigid, inflexible routine.

Although it often feels that our whole life revolves around work, as Dr. Pollack Porter points out, “I truly believe my purpose is not to have my job be my full identity.”

She expounds on this approach with wisdom and encouragement throughout this very special and timely discussion on compassion, leadership, and finding balance between professional responsibilities and personal fulfillment.

Learn more: https://facultyfactory.org/

Kathy Forbush, MBA and MS, returns to the Faculty Factory Podcast this week to discuss identifying leadership competencies among faculty within the academic medicine community and beyond, offering insights applicable to professionals at any stage of their careers.

Building on our previous discussion from 2023, Kathy shares the process of updating JHU’s leadership competency model to be more inclusive and reflective of shifting needs. 

She is the Executive Director for HR-Talent Management at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), where she is responsible for conducting talent acquisition and leading learning and organization development functions for JHU. 

The last time she joined us was in September 2023 for an interview titled “Identifying (and Fixing) Where Faculty Struggle with Leadership,” which you can revisit here: https://facultyfactory.org/leadership-struggles/. 

You can learn more about her recent article that she co-authored with colleagues in the Journal of Healthcare Leadership, entitled “Inspiring and Preparing Our Future Leaders: Evaluating the Impact of the Early Career Women’s Leadership Program,” here: https://www.dovepress.com/articles.php?article_id=94680.

Learn more about the Faculty Factory: https://facultyfactory.org/.