Faculty Factory

Making her Faculty Factory Podcast debut this week is Jennifer Best, MD, as we discuss the art of bringing our best selves to the workplace.

With the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Dr. Best currently serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Associate Dean for Education & Accreditation, Graduate Medical Education.

Dr. Best shares her inspiring journey from a declared theater major to an Associate Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Throughout today’s interview, Dr. Best emphasizes the importance of bringing one's whole self to work, which helps foster a mindset of authenticity and open communication.

In addition to doing a deep dive on “identity integration,” we also explore topics like cognitive load, belonging, personal development, and practical strategies to help create a safe space for open dialogue.

Dr. Best's insights serve as another powerful reminder of the importance of creating environments where individuals feel acknowledged, supported, and free to bring their authentic selves to work.

Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

The root cause of much unhappiness in our society can be attributed to the pervasive sense that we simply 'don’t have enough time.'

The themes covered in today’s episode of the Faculty Factory with Ashley Paul, MD, include the intersection of time management, efficiency, and insights from researching happiness.

Dr. Paul is an Assistant Professor of Neurology with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Md. She specializes in treating patients with movement disorders.

In today’s interview, Dr. Paul explains how she has incorporated various simple habits into her routine. For instance, she makes it a point to go outside once a day for a purposeless walk. These habits significantly impact her sense of time, happiness, and overall well-being.

The lack of time is prevalent in academic medicine, as we often struggle to meet high standards while balancing personal lives. However, this issue of feeling time-crunched extends beyond our field and affects almost everyone.

This is an especially important conversation for those of us living in environments where healthy habits are not seamlessly woven into the cultural fabric. For instance, the 'hustle and grind' mindset, often celebrated here in America, is frequently expected to take priority over family life.

Dr. Paul's consistent approach to time management, efficiency, and deriving joy as a byproduct comes from practical strategies such as time blocking, building timelines, and understanding one's mission.

Moreover, setting boundaries is essential while fostering well-being in our fast-paced lives. This involves cultivating sustainable habits, finding joy in the process, and recognizing the value of celebrating small wins to enhance both productivity and happiness.

More Podcasts & Resources: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Harriet W. Hopf, MD, and Susan M. Pollart, MD, MS, co-present an incredibly important discussion this week on practical ways to promote and market ourselves with grace while building our careers in academic medicine, on the Faculty Factory Podcast.

We welcome Drs. Hopf and Pollart back to our show with open arms for their second time joining the program!

With the University of Utah, Dr. Hopf is Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, and Executive Director of Faculty Development and Faculty Affairs. Dr. Hopf is Co-Director of the University of Utah’s School of Medicine Coaching and Advancement Network (UCAN), and President-Elect of the Academic Senate.

You can listen to her previous appearance on the podcast here: https://facultyfactory.org/harriet-hopf/

Dr. Pollart serves as Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development and is the Ruth E. Murdaugh Professor of Family Medicine Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville (UVA Health).

You can listen to her previous appearance on the podcast here: https://facultyfactory.org/susan-pollart/

Today’s episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast is a “Best of” show that includes highlights from past interviews of our show about how to best navigate social media in academic medicine.

This is Part 2, of a two-part series on social media from the Faculty Factory,  last year we released the first part in this series, and you can catch up on it here:

• How to Better Navigate Social Media in Academic Medicine | Part 1

Today’s “Best of” show includes highlights from the following episodes:

• Social Media Habits and Hacks with Sapna Kudchadkar, MD, PhD

Interested in hearing the full conversations from any of these episodes? Click on the links above to explore each episode in-depth.

Learn About Today’s Speakers

Sapna Kudchadkar, MD, PhD, serves as Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Pediatrics, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She also serves as Associate Vice Chair for Research at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.

You can follow her on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/SapnaKmd

Peggy Semingson, PhD, currently serves as Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. With a background in educational technology, online course development, adult education, curriculum development, and online course design, she is on the cutting edge of YouTube and online learning.

You can follow her on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/peggysemingson

Mahadevappa Mahesh, MS, PhD, serves as Professor in the Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, and Chair of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine’s Faculty Senate in Baltimore.

You can follow Dr. Mahesh on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/mmahesh1

Maria Trent, MD, MPH, FAAP, FSAHM, joins us on the Faculty Factory Podcast this week for a new episode exploring the rich rewards of embracing a diverse and inclusive approach to science, community-building, and life itself.

Dr. Trent is a pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist serving as a Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with joint appointments in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the School of Nursing. Additionally, she currently serves as the Senior Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusive Excellence at Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Trent shares her insights, emphasizing the importance of diversity, in many different forms, and its impact on innovation and problem-solving.

While the power of diverse teams in healthcare contributes to improved patient outcomes, this conversation extends beyond healthcare to the broader scientific community.

As outlined by Dr. Trent, there is a deep need for humility within scientific pursuits and alternative viewpoints are key. An ideal culture is one that not only values diversity but also actively listens to diverse voices.

In navigating the complexities of diversity, Dr. Trent emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space at work for individuals to share their personal experiences and challenges. By doing so, teams can undergo transformative experiences, fostering a stronger sense of unity and collaboration.

Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/  

Introverts often find themselves navigating the extroverted seas of academic medicine, where networking events, presentations, and social interactions seem to be everywhere. In the latest episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, Drs. Margot Cohen and Andrew Orr join our show to share valuable insights on how introverts can excel in a field that often values extroverted qualities.

In June 2023, Drs. Cohen and Orr, along with Aditi Kalotra, MD, authored the article, “Twelve Tips for Excelling as an Introvert in Academic Medicine.” It caught our attention here at the Faculty Factory in the best way possible.

Dr. Cohen is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Medicine). Dr. Orr, formerly of Penn Medicine, currently serves as Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine at UCSF in the San Francisco Veterans Administration.

Here is the link to the article that was the foundation of this interview, "Twelve Tips for Excelling as an Introvert in Academic Medicine": https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0142159X.2023.2216357

Other resources mentioned in this podcast include:

• "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain: https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Power-Introverts-World-Talking/dp/0307352153

Success in academic medicine is not limited to extroverted individuals. By embracing introverted qualities, structuring self-promotion, flexing the extrovert muscle when necessary, and prioritizing self-care, introverts can navigate the academic medicine landscape with confidence.

As academic medicine continues to evolve, recognizing and celebrating the diversity of personalities within the field will contribute to a more inclusive and supportive environment for all professionals.

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

In the latest episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, Dr. Thomas Cudjoe, MD, MPH, sheds light on the pressing issue of social isolation and loneliness.

Dr. Cudjoe currently serves as the Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Endowed Assistant Professor of Medicine position within the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's Division of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology.

This is Dr. Cudjoe’s first ever appearance on our show.

He shares his journey into the world of social support and community building, inspired by his personal experiences and interactions with older adults in Baltimore.

His research, based on national data, has revealed a startling statistic: one in four older adults grapples with social isolation. This work has garnered widespread recognition and has even influenced national reports and toolkits.

Dr. Cudjoe emphasized the importance of community building, highlighting the need for shared purpose and joy within groups. The interview also includes strategies to combat social isolation, including leveraging social opportunities with a purpose and receiving institutional support for community building.

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

Ayesha Shafi, PhD, discusses all aspects of peer mentoring this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast. Dr. Shafi is an Assistant Professor with the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. She is a researcher who is currently working on translational and molecular signaling in prostate cancer.

In this episode, Dr. Shafi shares the genesis of her own peer mentoring journey and how her network has grown into a powerful community of support. She, along with her colleague and former Faculty Factory Podcast guest, Sarah Amend, PhD, recognized the importance of mentorship from both traditional and peer perspectives. Together, they developed a program that fosters an environment of trust, open communication, and tailored guidance that enables participants to navigate the challenges of academia and research effectively.

Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/peer-mentoring 

The Faculty Factory Podcast welcomes back Margaret Chisolm, MD, FAMEE, FACP, FAAP, to the show this week for a much-needed discussion on the dynamics of building flourishing relationships and meaningful social support.

Dr. Chisolm previously joined our show in 2021 when she explored with us how implementing aspects of the arts and humanities within medical curricula can strongly benefit learners. You can revisit that episode here: https://facultyfactory.org/margaret-chisolm/

With the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Dr. Chisolm currently serves as:

• Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

In addition to these prestigious roles, she is the author of the 2022 Nautilus Book Award winner, From Survive to Thrive: Living Your Best Life with Mental Illness.

• You can follow along with her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/whole_patients

Programming Notes

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 us directly here: [email protected] 

You can also find more Faculty Factory podcast episodes here: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

In the newest episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast this week, we have the privilege of meeting Libby Ellinas, MD, MS, for an in-depth exploration of how culture can be transformed through hard work and collaboration, ultimately leading to the improvement of our institutions and the communities we serve.

Dr. Ellinas is the Director of the Medical College of Wisconsin's Center for the Advancement of Women in Science and Medicine (AWSM, pronounced 'Awesome'). She also serves as a Professor of Anesthesiology and the Associate Dean for Women's Leadership within the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW).

You can learn more about AWSM here: https://www.mcw.edu/departments/center-for-the-advancement-of-women-in-science-and-medicine-awsm/about-us

During this conversation, Dr. Ellinas shares the encouraging story that led her to her current role and the creation of AWSM. Through her tireless efforts, she continues to build communities that elevate women's leadership.

We applaud her ongoing commitment to empowering women in science and medicine. After speaking with Dr. Ellinas, it is abundantly clear that AWSM's initiatives are changing the narrative and creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.

More about the Faculty Factory: https://facultyfactory.org/