Faculty Factory

Our listeners are in for a treat this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast as we enjoy a first-time visit from Ann Thompson, MD. She has been called “The Mother of Us All” in the field of pediatric clinical care, and her wisdom is prodigious.

Distinguished Service Professor Emerita in Critical Care Medicine and Pediatrics, and the Vice Dean Emerita at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Throughout her career, she has gained a reputation for her dedication to teamwork, facilitation, collaboration, team building, and ensuring overall team success across departments. This commitment is evident not only in her intensive care work but also in her role in faculty affairs, where she served as Vice Dean for ten years.

We hope you enjoy this memorable episode as Dr. Thompson reveals her reflections on what it has taken to continuously build and support teams within this field over the years.

We also want to give Dr. Thompson a tip of the cap for her continued support of the Faculty Factory. She was a Patreon supporter for several years of our show in our early years, and this community and its resources wouldn’t have the reach they have without the generosity of folks like her.

Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

With a healthy dose of skepticism, Dr. Anjalie Field joins our Faculty Factory Podcast this week to discuss the ethical considerations relevant to faculty regarding the use of artificial intelligence, with a specific emphasis on Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT.

Dr. Field is an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science in the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. This is her first time joining our podcast, and we are excited to have her on the show.

With expertise in natural language processing and social biases surrounding artificial intelligence, Dr. Field brings us the latest ethical considerations within the A.I. boom that we all need to be informed about.

Dr. Field's emphasis on critical thinking and skepticism when utilizing A.I. models serve as a cautionary tale to all of us A.I. users.

We must consider the hidden biases behind A.I.-generated outputs. As illustrated perfectly in this conversation, there is a growing and undeniable need to promote responsible and inclusive A.I. applications moving forward.

For more Faculty Factory resources and podcasts, please visit: https://facultyfactory.org/

Anna Handorf, MD, sheds light on the innovative concept of Tiny Talks in the latest episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast.

Tiny Talks serve as a novel medical education tool, designed to deliver concise, impactful virtual chalk talks. Dr. Handorf spearheaded Tiny Talks to help residents overcome scheduling conflicts that often lead to missed educational opportunities.

The core objective of Tiny Talks is to distill lengthy lectures into brief, engaging presentations lasting seven minutes or less.

Dr. Handorf is an instructor at Harvard Medical School and a pediatric hospitalist at Newton Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts.

As a former medical education research fellow at Mass General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, she penned an insightful article titled “Let’s Chalk About It: Introducing the TinyTalks Curriculum, a Paradigm for Short, Virtual Chalk Talks,” published in Academic Medicine in March 2024.

In this week's Faculty Factory Podcast interview, Dr. Handorf elaborates on the structured approach, encompassing a hook, frame, and delivery, essential for crafting an effective Tiny Talk.

Learn More

• Follow Dr. Handorf: https://x.com/AnnaHandorf

Precision education in medicine is the topic this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast with our distinguished guest Sanjay Desai, MD.

Dr. Desai is the Chief Academic Officer and Group Vice President of Medical Education with the American Medical Association (AMA). Dr. Desai joined the AMA in 2021.

He had previously served as Myron L. Weisfeldt Professor of Medicine, Director of the Osler Medical Residency, and Vice Chair for Education at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

In this week’s interview, Dr. Desai highlights the need for personalized learning, leveraging data and technology to ensure a better future of lifelong learning for academic medicine faculty.

We explore reducing friction in medical education, empowering learners, and leveraging insights for continuous development. Dr. Desai’s vision extends to creating a culture of growth mindset and adaptive learning, shaping the future of education in healthcare.

To learn more, we encourage you to check out Precision Education: The Future of Lifelong Learning in Medicine in Academic Medicine: https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/fulltext/2024/04001/precision_education__the_future_of_lifelong.3.aspx

In this week’s episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, William T. Mallon, EdD, discusses the ongoing debate surrounding the importance of tenure in medical schools in the United States.

The primary discussion points highlighted in today’s interview originate from a recent study titled Promotion and Tenure Policies and Practices at U.S. Medical Schools: Is Tenure Irrelevant or More Relevant Than Ever?, published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Academic Medicine in March 2024.

Dr. Mallon, a seasoned expert in this field and a returning guest on the Faculty Factory, shares insights on the significance of tenure and its evolving relevance, particularly for clinical faculty concentrating on patient care.

Dr. Mallon serves as the Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation Development at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Previously, Dr. Mallon featured in an episode in April 2023 discussing Climate Action in Academic Medicine, which can be revisited here: https://facultyfactory.org/climate-action/

The discussion also explores newer medical schools adopting nontraditional faculty employment models, shedding light the on reasons behind limited or no tenure systems.

Ultimately, the episode prompts reflection on the role of tenure in academic medicine and its impact on faculty members' career paths, academic freedom and job security.

More Resources

Here is a link to the Academic Medicine article discussed in today’s episode: https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/abstract/9900/promotion_and_tenure_policies_and_practices_at.795.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

If you would like to contact Dr. Mallon, you can email him at [email protected].

We are excited to have Joshua Schwarzbaum, MD, MBA, join us as our guest this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast.

As a long-time emergency room physician in New York City, Dr. Schwarzbaum is a welcome addition to our show. He will be sharing insights on the importance of listening to patients, colleagues, and just about anybody to understand the genuine emotions behind their words.

As a board-certified emergency medicine physician at SBH Health System in the Bronx, Dr. Schwarzbaum brings extensive experience in engaging in challenging, yet ultimately encouraging, conversations with patients and their families.

He speaks about his work in addiction medicine candidly during today’s discussion. Please note that this episode contains discussions on sensitive topics, and listener discretion is advised.

During today's interview, Dr. Schwarzbaum discusses his recently authored book, “Listening for a Feeling Finds True Healing: A Guide to Healing From the Inside Out.”

For more information about the book, you can visit: https://www.amazon.com/Listening-Feeling-Finds-True-Healing/dp/B0CVQT12X8 

To learn more about Dr. Schwarzbaum and his work, please visit his website: https://healthyinside.net/ 

Programming Note

We love building a community where we can all learn from the power of stories. If you or someone you’d like to nominate wants to be a guest on our show, reach out to us via the Contact Us page or email the show directly here: [email protected]. You can also find more Faculty Factory podcast episodes here: https://facultyfactory.org/podcast/ 

In the latest Faculty Factory Podcast episode, Ludy Shih, MD, MMSc, FAAN, FANA, returns to share invaluable insights on running effective meetings.

In this interview, Dr. Shih emphasizes the importance of preparation, structured agendas, and follow-up. She also touches on the challenges of engaging different personality types in meetings and offers strategies to ensure all voices are heard.

Dr. Shih is a neurologist and associate professor of neurology with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School. She has been generous enough to allow us to post her entire slide deck on this topic, which you can download here: https://facultyfactory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Meeting_Faculty_factory_05_09.pdf

Within the slide deck, there are hyperlinks pointing to various articles that Dr. Shih used as references in today’s interview.

Learn More

• You can revisit her first episode with us, “Navigating a Transition from Academia to Industry and Back”, here: https://facultyfactory.org/ludy-shih/

Programming Note

We love to learn from faculty members around the world. If you or someone you’d like to nominate wants to be a guest on our show, reach out to us via the Contact Us page on FacultyFactory.org or email the show directly here: [email protected]. You can also find more Faculty Factory podcast episodes here: https://facultyfactory.org/podcast/

Did you know the Faculty Factory Podcast has released its third free book?

We are thrilled to take this week's podcast episode as a chance to introduce you to the "The Academic Medicine Starter Kit: Timeless Tips & Guidance for Early-Career Faculty Members."

Download this eBook for free here: https://facultyfactory.org/ebook/ 

We hope you will share it throughout your networks. The book represents a culmination of over five years of in-depth interviews on the Faculty Factory Podcast, featuring 84 academic leaders and faculty members from 31 different institutions across North America. 

The eight-chapter book delves into a diverse range of topics, including Promotion, Research & Scholarship; Mentorship, Coaching, & Sponsorship; Education; Self-awareness, Self-management, & Well-being; Leadership; Networking; Communication; and concludes with a comprehensive section of insights dubbed Pod Potpourri.

Each chapter greets readers with a brief introduction, setting the stage for the ensuing discussion. The content is enriched with profiles of relevant episodes and key takeaways from each. Readers are provided direct links to each podcast guest episode for a smooth transition from reading to listening.

If you wish, you can obtain a print or Kindle version of the newest Faculty Factory book here:

Print version: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZV85KBW 

Learn more about all three of our free Faculty Factory eBooks, including Habits and Hacks from Hopkins and Snippets for Success, here: https://facultyfactory.org/ebook/ 

Thank you

Visit the Faculty Factory website: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Andrea Sikon, MD, FACP, PCC, BCC, is our guest this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast as we explore different coaching and mentoring dynamics within the context of a demanding career in academic medicine. 

Dr. Sikon is the Enterprise Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at the Cleveland Clinic (CC) and Professor of Medicine at the CC Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. 

She is also a practicing internist with clinical specialty in primary care and women’s health.

With her professional coaching credentials through the International Coaching Federation (PCC) and the Center for Credentialing and Education (BCC), Dr. Sikon is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to exploring the landscape of both coaching and mentorship in academic medicine settings and beyond.

Dr. Sikon also serves as the Executive Director and founder of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Excellence in Coaching and Mentoring (CECM), established in 2008 with Dr. Elaine Schulte and a team of engaged colleagues.

Learn More

- One-day CECM Coaching and Mentoring Essentials for Healthcare Professionals: 

- 4-day BCC credential program, CECM Healthcare Professional Coach Training: https://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/live/courses/cecmtraining/default.asp 

- "A Novel Coaching Program Deters Career Dissatisfaction and Yields  Empowerment": https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/Fulltext/2019/06060/A_Novel_Coaching_Program_Deters_Career.12.aspx 

You can also keep in touch with Dr. Sikon here:

If you would like to revisit another fantastic coaching conversation from our podcast, check out, Coaching Advice for Faculty with Elaine Schulte, MD, MPH: https://facultyfactory.org/coaching-advice-for-faculty-with-elaine-schulte-md-mph-faculty-factory-snippet-no-30/ 

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

In this week’s episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, Joseph E. Losee, MD, FACS, FAAP, MBA, returns for an important discussion on the innovative scientist well-being initiative taking place at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

The interview also includes a broader chat about the need to address burnout among nonclinical faculty in today’s demanding academic medicine environment.

Dr. Losee currently serves as the Dr. Ross H. Musgrave Endowed Chair of Pediatric Plastic Surgery and is the Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He also serves as the Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs.

This initiative aims to address the critical issue of burnout among nonclinical faculty, primarily scientists, as their battles with burnout often go overlooked in academic medicine.

Dr. Losee highlights the initiative's comprehensive approach, which includes assessing burnout levels, establishing a steering committee with department champions, and implementing tailored programming and symposiums.

Dr. Losee emphasizes the importance of institutional investment in faculty well-being, citing tangible benefits for both individuals and the institution, such as increased productivity, retention, and overall boosts in morale.

If you are new to the Faculty Factory Podcast, please make sure to check out Dr. Losee’s April 2023 visit to our show called Embracing Resilience in Academic Medicine: https://facultyfactory.org/joseph-losee/

If you would like to learn more, you can email Dr. Losee here: [email protected].