Faculty Factory

Best of the Faculty Factory: Overcoming Adversity and Embracing Post-Traumatic Growth

With a mix of pure motivational messaging and practical action you can start taking to deal with adversity, this week's episode of the Faculty Factory is a celebration of tenacity in the face of a tough time.

We also feature some very important clips and snippets surrounding post-traumatic growth in this best of the Faculty Factory "greatest hits" episode.

This "Best of the Faculty Factory" compilation episode features clips from three masterful episodes in the Faculty Factory archive. (If you're interested in hearing the full conversations, you can find the original episodes below.) Appearing in order are the episodes that were clipped for this podcast:

• What I Learned from the “Masters of Adversity” with George S. Everly, Jr., PhD, FACLP, FAPA: https://facultyfactory.org/masters-of-adversity/ 
• New Roles, Change, and Post-Traumatic Growth with Wendy Ward, PhD, ABPP, FAPA, FNAP : https://facultyfactory.org/wendy-ward/ 
• Vulnerability and Post-Traumatic Growth to Help Find Meaning in Medicine with Nicole Piemonte, PhD: https://facultyfactory.org/nicole-piemonte/ 

Although a lot of the conversation is shaped by a time of COVID (many of these interviews took place as we were still in the throes of the global pandemic, or emerging from it), there are gems of wisdom and storytelling throughout this broadcast that can help anyone looking to emerge from a challenging time.

As Dr. Ward mentions, there are reasons to be hopeful, based on the post-traumatic growth literature, for many of us to emerge from a traumatic event as "better than baseline."

How to Lead Science Well with Laurence Boitet, PhD

"Leading Science Well" is more than an eight-week workshop; it’s a mindset. This week on The Faculty Factory we speak with our guest, Laurence Boitet, PhD, whose "Leading Science Well" initiatives aim to foster more meaningful connections to work and reduce burnout.

Dr. Boitet is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Education, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology (CDIB) at the Heersink School of Medicine. She also serves as Director of Biomedical Trainee Wellness in the Office of Wellness at UAB Medicine.

While burnout remains widespread, many interventions have failed to deliver meaningful results. Dr. Boitet suggests job crafting as a way to give faculty greater agency over their work, to better align job demands with available resources, and to promote their strengths and passions.

“As leaders, we need to ask ourselves: are we giving faculty the resources to accomplish what we are asking, or are we assigning an impossible task?” Dr. Boitet challenged leaders in academic medicine to consider in this interview.

Reframing the Healthcare Leadership Coaching Narrative with Lillian Emlet, MD, MS, CHSE, CPC, ELI-MP

Lillian Emlet, MD, MS, CHSE, CPC, ELI-MP, an academic physician and founder of Transforming Healthcare Coaching, makes her Faculty Factory Podcast debut this week.

Reframing the typical narrative around leadership coaching in healthcare means ensuring coaching is available to those beyond the C-suite.

Dr. Emlet joins us to share hard truths about changing that narrative so we can stop the repeating stories of quiet quitting and burnout that plague so many people as they juggle the demands of being in the thick of their careers.

At the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Dr. Emlet serves as Professor of Critical Care Medicine. She is also the Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine–Critical Care Medicine fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

More Show Notes and Resources

• Learn about Transforming Healthcare Coaching: https://transforminghealthcarecoaching.com/
• Tune into the Transforming Healthcare Coaching Podcast: https://transforminghealthcarecoaching.com/podcast/ 
• An important book mentioned in today’s chat: Radical Candor: Fully Revised & Updated Edition: Be a Kick-A** Boss Without Losing Your Humanity

Navigating the Post-Career Phase of Faculty Life with Oscar W. “Skip” Brown, MD

Despite all the opportunities it opens, retirement can be a hard road if you fail to engage in proper planning, as we explore in this week’s episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast with returning guest Skip Brown, MD.

As a clinical professor of pediatrics at UTMB in Galveston, Texas, Dr. Brown is a past vice chair for clinical affairs and a former chief medical officer at UTMB. A past president of the Texas Pediatric Society (TPS), he is a recipient of the TPS Charles W. Daeschner, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the health and welfare of Texas children.

You can check out his first episode with us, “The Definitive Guide to a Fulfilling Retirement Journey,” here: https://facultyfactory.podbean.com/e/the-definitive-guide-to-a-fulfilling-retirement-journey-with-ow-skip-brown-md/

When you retire and reflect on how you want to spend your time, be mindful of the 90/10 rule: 90 percent of the work gets done by 10 percent of the people.

“You can become much busier than you might want to be if you donate your time and skills,” he said.

Dr. Brown’s advice: guard your freedom, stay selective about your time, and resist the pull to take on everything just because you're capable. Equally important is learning to dial back perfectionism.

Perhaps the most powerful theme of the conversation was identity. He reflected on colleagues who stayed in their roles not because they wanted to, but because they had no idea who they were outside of their work.

The antidote isn't a rigid plan, but genuine reflection. As Dr. Brown put it simply: you're about to work for the most insightful boss you’ve ever had — yourself. It's worth getting to know them.

Stories of Women in Medicine from 1948 - 1975 with Anne Walling, MB, ChB

Anne Walling, MB ChB, joins the Faculty Factory Podcast this week to discuss some incredible stories of resilience she uncovered while researching her new book "Women in Medicine: Stories from the Girls in White."

Dr. Walling interviewed 37 women who fought for credibility, worked harder than is almost imaginable, and graduated from medical school between 1948 and 1975.

She wanted to learn why they went into medicine and how their experiences unfolded throughout medical school, residency, and entry into practice.

The work was conducted by Dr. Walling as formal qualitative research with IRB oversight and open-ended questions. She joined us at the Faculty Factory for her second interview on our show to share the stories and insights she gathered.

You can learn more about the book here: https://www.routledge.com/Women-in-Medicine-Stories-from-the-Girls-in-White/Walling/p/book/9781032873190

Dr. Walling is Professor Emerita at the University of Kansas School of Medicine—Wichita and is also the author of "Academic Promotion for Clinicians: A Practical Guide to Promotion and Tenure in Medical Schools." Learn about that book here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-84036-4

As mentioned, this is her second appearance on our show. You can listen to her first appearance “Episode 334 – A Deep Exploration of Academic Promotions for Clinicians with Anne Walling, MB ChB,” here: https://facultyfactory.org/anne-walling/

Transformative Transitions in Academic Medicine

This week we’re excited to revisit some of the best interviews from this podcast’s +360-episode archive about making transformative, life- or career-changing transition decisions.

This “Best of the Faculty Factory” compilation episode features clips from three important episodes in the Faculty Factory archive. (If you’re interested in hearing the full conversations, you can find the original episodes below). Appearing in order are the episodes that were clipped for this podcast:

• A Faculty Factory Interview with Peter Densen, MD: https://youtu.be/3IikA7FUa_A
• Considerations for Life After Full-Time Employment in Academic Medicine with Lawrence Appel, MD, MPH: https://youtu.be/kFPjXOq8yfY
• Key Factors to Consider When Shifting to a New Leadership Role with Maria Oliva-Hemker, MD: https://youtu.be/OBkibXyO7tQ

If this episode interests you, you can also revisit our episode called, “Making a Decision to Transition in Academic Medicine”:  https://youtu.be/hqr8yDx8rZk

Which featured snippets from the following episodes:

• Navigating a “Decision to Transition” in Academic Medicine with Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD: https://youtu.be/hqr8yDx8rZk
• Navigating a Transition from Academia to Industry and Back with Ludy Shih, MD, MMSc: https://youtu.be/9nH8QexHJ5M
• Adaptability for Success at Any Stage of Your Academic Medicine Career with Janet Bickel, MA: https://youtu.be/5Nxkv-2yHc0

Leader as a Coach and Embracing the Growth Mindset with Binata Mukherjee, MD, MBA

When’s the last time you heard a leader say, “I don’t know?"

As we learn in this week’s discussion with returning guest Binata Mukherjee, MD, on the Faculty Factory Podcast, those three words actually humanize a leader and signal confidence.

It’s an important point for this interview’s broader discussion on growth mindsets. Growth-minded leaders are willing to be candid about not having all the answers as they are there to facilitate learning and help find those answers. 

At the University of South Alabama (USA) in Mobile, Dr. Mukherjee serves as Assistant Dean for Faculty and Professional Development in the Whiddon College of Medicine and is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine with USA Health. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Management and Director of Healthcare Leadership Initiatives in the Mitchell College of Business at USA.

“Leader As Coach”

The concept of “leader as coach” describes practicing leadership as a facilitator who teaches people rather than doing the work for them or micromanaging day-to-day tasks.

It’s about continually reminding the team of the direction and shifting from a manager mindset to a leader mindset. As we learn in this discussion with Dr. Mukherjee, leadership is defined by behavior, not persona.

Dr. Mukherjee discusses Carol Dweck’s 2006 book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success," which explores the dynamic between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset and why that distinction matters.

 “Building trust and enabling an environment of psychological safety are the most important things about working with a team,” Dr. Mukherjee points out.

More Resources to Explore

Faculty Factory Podcast No. 327 - "Know Thyself: Keys to Self-Awareness Amid Uncertainty with Binata Mukherjee, MD, MBA": https://facultyfactory.org/binata-mukherjee/

"Mindset: The New Psychology of Success": https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322

Learn more about the growth mindset from the Harvard Business School: https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/growth-mindset-vs-fixed-mindset

Strategies for Autonomy-Supportive Teaching with Stacey Rubin Rose, MD, FACP, FIDSA

Stacey Rubin Rose, MD, FACP, FIDSA, makes her memorable Faculty Factory Podcast debut this week with an overview of strategies for autonomy-supportive teaching.

Dr. Rose is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine (Infectious Diseases). She is also an Associate Professor in the Huffington Department of Education, Innovation, and Technology and the Associate Director of the Center for Professionalism at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

“The goal of this faculty development for autonomy-supportive teaching is to help faculty create better learning environments for trainees and for themselves,” Dr. Rose said. “When you can foster a supportive learning environment, everyone benefits and you see far less burnout,” Dr. Rose added in the opening moments of the interview.

Another goal of this educational push and the faculty development workshop mentioned in this episode is to connect self-determination theory with medical well-being and medical education.

For a refresher on self-determination theory, you can revisit Faculty Factory Episode No. 69, “Self-Determination Theory in Academic Medicine with Jeffrey M. Lyness, MD, FACPsych”: https://facultyfactory.org/self-determination-theory-in-academic-medicine/

“If you can teach and educate in a clinical learning environment that is supportive of autonomy, belonging, and competence—with autonomy as the anchor—then everyone wins,” she said.

As also mentioned in this episode, if you want to hear more about Baylor’s Center for Professionalism you can listen to Faculty Factory Episode No. 359, “Promoting Positive Professionalism with Ellen M. Friedman, MD, FACS, FAAP”: https://facultyfactory.org/ellen-friedman/

YouTube as a Platform for Inspiring Faculty with Jessica Seaman, EdD

Jessica Seaman, EdD, has learned many tips and tricks while building a library of recordings and a repository of resources on YouTube to assist learners. She joins the Faculty Factory Podcast this week for an inspiring exploration of that process.

As a self-taught YouTube practitioner and editor with no prior experience, Dr. Seaman is proof that anyone can learn this tool and leverage it to reach and help faculty worldwide.

Dr. Seaman is an Assistant Professor of Medical Humanities and Assistant Dean of Faculty Development at Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix, Ariz.

This is her second appearance on the Faculty Factory. If you would like to revisit her first appearance on the program—the episode titled "Best Supporting Practices and Strategies for Stressed-Out Learners and Faculty"—you can see it here: https://facultyfactory.org/jessica-seaman/

You can also visit the Creighton University Health Sciences YouTube channel featuring free faculty development videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoeK9S4P4sSeSp338JTW2ro7vHYfKycRc

If you’d like to ask questions to her directly, please email Dr. Seaman at: jessicaseaman@creighton.edu

Faculty Development Resource Spotlight

Many faculty development departments are doing groundbreaking work, and not just for their own faculty. Many institutions offer publicly accessible, free resources that anyone can explore and use, such as the CU Health Sciences YouTube channel.

Furthermore, if you haven’t already done so, we urge you to visit the newest addition to our website: the Faculty Development Resource Spotlight webpage: https://facultyfactory.org/resource-spotlight/ -- with other great faculty development and leadership resources! We’d love for it to grow into a centralized repository for faculty. Please reach out to us here to learn more or suggest a resource for us to add!

Why Faculty Should Consider a "Phased Rewirement" Plan with Patrick O. Smith, PhD, ABPP

Patrick O. Smith, PhD, ABPP, returns for his third Faculty Factory Podcast appearance this week. We dive into the art of succession planning, leadership continuity, and the blueprint of a “phased rewirement,” reflecting on what these have meant for him throughout his impactful career in academic medicine.

Dr. Smith is the Chief Faculty Affairs Officer and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson. He also serves as a Professor of Family Medicine at UMMC.

The podcast kicks off with "The Story Leading Up to Phased Rewiring." It began when Dr. Smith, as Chief Faculty Affairs Officer, started contemplating how he could transition out of the role while continuing to enjoy life at different levels and engage in different activities than simply coming into the office every day.

The next step was to create a succession plan and identify who had demonstrated the skills and competencies needed for UMMC's next Chief Faculty Affairs Officer.

Dr. Smith walks us through the entire process, including how the individual identified for succession was put on a coaching path to be ready to assume the new role when the time came. This included shadowing Dr. Smith as he hired new leadership, allowing the individual to observe that process from start to finish.

As we learn, it’s not just a phased rewirement; it’s a phased replenishment. You’ll discover in this conversation that Dr. Smith’s approach is thoughtful, purposeful, and strategic when it comes to succession planning.

He also discusses what goes into building a reputation for “Continuity of Leadership” at an institution and how to be more intentional about ensuring the stability of individuals in formal leadership positions.

“People planning is the key to a thriving and flourishing organization within your building—think about what you need to do differently to implement people planning successfully,” he said.

His previous two appearances on our podcast can be found here:

• Episode 13 – A Faculty Factory Interview with Patrick O. Smith, PhD, ABPP
• Episode 195 – Reflections on Building Faculty Growth and Leadership in the Face of a Global Crisis with Patrick O. Smith, PhD, ABPP

You can reach Dr. Smith at  posmith@umc.edu | Any questions, comments or feedback for us? Reach out to the Faculty Factory here: https://facultyfactory.org/contact-us/ .

Embracing the Discomfort of Giving and Receiving Feedback in Academic Medicine with Joshua Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA

This week on the Faculty Factory Podcast, author Joshua Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA, is back on the show, and we’re taking a deep dive into feedback. We discuss how to give and receive feedback more effectively—a topic that we all should strive to improve in our professional lives.

With 25 years of experience in military medicine, Dr. Hartzell is a retired army colonel as well as a practicing internist and infectious diseases physician.

Feedback is meant to be a conversation, helping each other better understand where the other individual is coming from. After all, we’re never sure what is going on in someone’s life until we ask.

How do we get better at feedback? Yes, you can read books and consume podcasts like this on it, but explicitly asking someone to give you feedback about yourself may be an even stronger starting point. Dr. Hartzell also encourages getting feedback on your feedback, as it takes practice.

"When we give people feedback, it tells them whether their performance aligns with our expectations or not; it really clarifies our expectations. I think that's really important because, without that, it's sort of left up to people to decide: 'Am I doing a good job?'" he told us.

Another crucial element surrounding this interview is the critically important notion that a lack of feedback is still a form of feedback so there are no doubt consequences of choosing silence and inaction.

Explore Resources from this Podcast

Dr. Hartzell’s first appearance on our Faculty Factory Podcast, titled “A Comprehensive Look at Developing Excellent Leadership in Medicine” can be found here:  https://facultyfactory.org/joshua-hartzell/

You can learn more about Dr. Hartzell’s book, “A Prescription for Caring in Healthcare Leadership: Building a Culture of Compassion and Excellence”, here: https://www.amazon.com/Prescription-Caring-Healthcare-Leadership-Compassion/dp/B0DSQ4276K  

Disclaimer: The opinions and assertions expressed herein are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences or the Department of War.

References:

Kim Scott, Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2019). 

Ende J. Feedback in clinical medical education. JAMA. 1983 Aug 12;250(6):777-81.

A Comprehensive Roadmap for Leadership, Communication and Teambuilding with Lilly Marks and Susan Chubinskaya, PhD, MS

The Faculty Factory Podcast is back for its Year 7/Season 7 debut this week, and we couldn’t be more excited!

Lilly Marks, a respected voice and distinguished leader in our field, is our featured guest, with Susan Chubinskaya, PhD, MS, joining alongside to add insights and further questions that ultimately provide a deep-seated exploration of several leadership traits and styles that are essential for success and building a healthy culture.

Among the leadership topics we dive into:

• Communication
• Adapting to change and challenges
• Transparency

Lilly Marks is a frequently sought-after national speaker on topics regarding medical school economics, healthcare practices, clinical practice management, and leadership in academic medicine.

She was the longtime Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and has spent more than 25 years in academic medicine in various administrative and leadership positions. 

Dr. Chubinskaya is the Senior Vice President, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer at the University of Texas Medical Branch. She also serves as a Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation in the John Sealy School of Medicine. Her previous two appearances on our podcast can be found here:

• Episode 11 – A Faculty Factory Interview with Susan Chubinskaya, PhD
• Episode 160 – Pearls of Wisdom for Faculty to Build a Career with Susan Chubinskaya, PhD

"If you want faculty to trust and respect you, you have to trust and respect them. And that means sharing information, because black box decision-making doesn't work. I think it's critical to give faculty good data and information that is timely, accurate, relevant, and understandable," Lilly said.

We want to thank Dr. Chubinskaya for her unwavering support of the Faculty Factory, as our hearts are filled with gratitude to be entering Year 7 with such incredible momentum ushered in with this episode.

Best of the Faculty Factory: "Making a Decision to Transition in Academic Medicine"

We have all heard the saying: "New Year, New You!" Yet, embracing change is never easy, as it comes with uncertainty and the possibility of (gulp) failure. However, there is no real “failure,” only learning opportunities when your mindset is in the right framework.

We will be back next week with brand new episodes for the Year 7/Season 7 debut of the Faculty Factory podcast. This week, we’re excited to ring in the new year by exploring some of the best interviews we’ve had over this podcast’s lifespan on how to make a transition decision.

Interested in hearing the full conversations from these episodes? Click on the links below to explore each episode in its entirety:

• Navigating a “Decision to Transition” in Academic Medicine with Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD: https://facultyfactory.org/jochen-reiser/
• Navigating a Transition from Academia to Industry and Back with Ludy Shih, MD, MMSc: https://facultyfactory.org/ludy-shih/
• Adaptability for Success at Any Stage of Your Academic Medicine Career with Janet Bickel, MA: https://facultyfactory.org/adaptability-for-success/

First up, we hear from Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD. Dr. Reiser is 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 holds the John D. Stobo, MD Distinguished Chair.

Next, we have an excerpt from a great conversation with Ludy Shih, MD, MMSc. Dr. Shih currently serves as Associate Professor of Neurology in the Department of Neurology at Boston University School of Medicine.

Finally, Janet Bickel, MA, joins the show to share timeless advice on adaptability in the face of major change.

We firmly believe that these interviews comprising this “best of” podcast can help faculty members or really anyone looking for a fresh start in 2026! Happy New Year to all our community and family! Learn more: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Encore Presentation: Triaging Competing Demands and Skill-Building to Grow our Academic Careers with Stuart Ray, MD

This week, we're airing a Faculty Factory conversation featuring our friend Stuart Ray, MD, as he discusses triaging and competing demands. This episode originally aired in July 2023. Happy holidays to all of you! We wish you a very happy and healthy 2026.

Learn more about this podcast episode with Dr. Ray: https://facultyfactory.org/stuart-ray/ 

Confidently Stepping into New Leadership Roles with Nicole Jarrett, MD, FACS

As a leader, the more you show your human side and reach out to others for help, the stronger the chance that the people around you will start to do the same.

There are plenty of leadership lessons for early-career faculty and beyond in this week’s Faculty Factory Podcast interview, just in time for the holidays, with our new friend Nicole Jarrett, MD, FACS. We hear about her journey and the transition from faculty member to a formal leadership role as Division Chief.

Dr. Jarrett serves as Division Chief of Hand Surgery in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She is also an Assistant Professor and the Hand Surgery Fellowship Director at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

The confidence to ask questions is an important sign of a confident leader. We all have days when we need help, and displaying the confidence to ask questions is essential.

"It's okay to ask for help. We're all going to find ourselves in situations where we feel overwhelmed or where things aren't going right, and we need support,” she said.

Midway through the discussion, Dr. Jarrett talks about the art of purposeful socializing.

It’s crucial to allocate time for social functions in our lines of work, especially in leadership roles, and taking a very strategic and efficient approach to how we engage in these functions pays dividends. It can also save time.

“It’s not all fun at these parties; you have a job to do. I’m very glad someone gave me that lesson, and I’m happy to pass it along to my faculty,” Dr. Jarrett discussed.

Promoting Positive Professionalism with Ellen M Friedman, MD, FACS, FAAP

Elevating professionalism is key to much of the day-to-day work of Ellen M. Friedman, MD, FACS, FAAP, and we knew we had to have her join the Faculty Factory Podcast to learn more.

Dr. Friedman serves as Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and is the Senior Associate Dean of Professionalism and the Director of the Center for Professionalism at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

The end result of the Center for Professionalism, which we discuss at length in today’s episode, is a warm and positive professional climate at Baylor College of Medicine. We also dive into the concept of professionalism in general.

More about the Center: https://www.bcm.edu/education/academic-faculty-affairs/center-for-professionalism 

While promoting professionalism is the core service of the Center, it also has systems in place to report instances where professionalism is lacking.

The problem with traditional wellness programs is that they often place the burden on the individual while systematic issues at the institution remain unresolved, as Dr. Friedman points out. The Center at Baylor aims to address those systematic issues so they don’t stand in the way of wellness and progress.

More than anything else, however, the Center exists to acknowledge and recognize acts of positive professionalism.

“It’s a very small number of individuals who are perceived to have lapses in professionalism, but unfortunately, that small group of people tends to receive the most attention,” she says.

For that reason, the Center is dedicated to honoring professionals who demonstrate exemplary professionalism.

More resources: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Exercising Transformational Leadership for Stronger Organizational Habits with Martin Zeier, MD

Many leaders in the healthcare system and academic medicine, by default, manage their day through transactional leadership. However, as we learn in this week’s episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, there may be a better way.

We are thrilled to welcome Martin Zeier, MD, visiting us from Germany this week on the podcast to discuss transformational leadership.

Dr. Zeier leads the Division of Nephrology at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. He recently traveled to the United States and attended the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Nephrology, which took place in Houston.

You can learn more about the University of Heidelberg here: https://www.nierenzentrum-heidelberg.com

Transformational leadership helps us build trust between one another, which is one of its core principles and plays a key role in mentoring the next generation of leaders. This leadership style can strengthen our teams to advance our institutions and the missions we serve.

It also challenges us to lead through intellectual stimulation, because academic professionals are not at their best without the opportunity for growth.

“I have always been curious about how I could build and enhance teams and how I could improve as a medical professional and leader,” Dr. Zeier stated at the interview's outset.

His own intellectual curiosity over the years served as an impetus for him to study organizational psychology in his advanced studies, as he also shared with us.

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

Best of the Faculty Factory: Grappling with Imposter Phenomenon in Academic Medicine

Whether you refer to it as “imposter syndrome” or the “imposter phenomenon,” one thing is abundantly clear: you are not alone when it comes to dealing with it as a professional in academic medicine.

This week on the Faculty Factory Podcast, we are blending together two incredible interviews from our archives that dissect this phenomenon with the precision and evidence-based arguments we cherish here on our podcast for a very special “best of” episode.

First up, we hear from Cynthia Rand, PhD, who discusses imposter syndrome and how it can impact leadership roles in academia, including the tendency for individuals to make dispositional attributions to others and situational attributions to ourselves—which can exacerbate feelings of being an imposter.

Next up, it's Donna L. Vogel, MD, PhD, who joined the Faculty Factory to share timeless advice on dealing with imposter syndrome, centered around her succinct takeaways for overcoming it over the long term as a faculty member.

Both interviews we've clipped for this “best of” broadcast can help faculty members (especially those who are transitioning into a new role) and this advice is applicable to overcoming imposter syndrome in any environment.

Interested in hearing the full conversations from these episodes? Click on the links below to explore each episode in its entirety:

• Episode 197 – Imposter Syndrome and Leadership Roles in Academia with Cynthia Rand, PhD
• Episode 84 – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Donna L. Vogel, MD, PhD

Resilience and Work-Life Integration in Academic Medicine with Susan Matulevicius, MD, MSCS

Susan Matulevicius, MD, MSCS, a national expert on resilience and work-life integration, joins the Faculty Factory Podcast this week for a discussion to help us better deal with life’s inevitable stumbling blocks.

Dr. Matulevicius serves as Associate Dean of Faculty Wellness and is a Professor of Internal Medicine, Cardiology, at the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

To help us think about how to create professional well-being in academic medicine, she discusses the 5 Ps:

• Person
• Purpose
• Path
• Prioritization
• Permission

“When you get down to it, our values generally align with our purpose, and it helps us refocus when we encounter those little stumbling blocks that life puts in our way,” she said.

She also touches on the value of understanding your purpose in relation to Self-Determination Theory, which is an important paradigm related to this conversation.

With reassurance, Dr. Matulevicius warmly reminds us midway through the conversation of something we all need to hear occasionally: “Sometimes it’s okay to not be okay."

“Life and work are not always predictable, and sometimes your emotions aren’t predictable in the moment. It’s okay to recognize that you need more support to help you through that moment,” she said. 

Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/Susan-Matulevicius

A Blueprint for Staying Active in Retirement from Faculty Life with Vicki Freeman, PhD, MASCP, MLS(ASCP)cm SCcm, FACB

This week on the Faculty Factory podcast we welcome Vicki Freeman, PhD, MASCP, MLS(ASCP)cm SCcm, FACB, for an exploration for staying professionally active alongside some common challenges to at least be aware of in retirement from full time faculty life.

Dr. Freeman is a professor emeritus and former tenured chair in the Utmb Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences. She's also the former associate dean for faculty development for the School of Health Professions.

She was also a Distinguished Professor and a former Minnie Stephens Piper Professor. She was the director of the renowned UTMB Academy of Master Teachers among her many other contributions and positions held through her illustrious career in academic medicine.

Her decision to retire was influenced by family and the challenges posed by COVID-19. She doesn’t see retirement as an endpoint but as an opportunity to pivot toward rest and other meaningful activities. It also serves as a nice way to avoid some of the workplace politics she no longer is obligated to navigate.

“I’m just not interested in putting up with the politics anymore and when the politics start getting involved, I know it is time to check out,” she told us.

Learn more: http://facultyfactory.org/vicki-freeman 

Illustrating the Four R’s of Leadership with Joseph E. Losee, MD, MBA, FACS, FAAP

The importance of the four R’s to keep top of mind as you navigate your leadership journey is presented by Joseph E. Losee, MD, MBA, FACS, FAAP, a beloved return guest, on the Faculty Factory Podcast this week.

Dr. Losee is Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the Dr. Ross H. Musgrave Endowed Chair in Pediatric Plastic Surgery, a Professor and Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery, and a Professor of Business Administration at Katz Graduate School of Business.

You can revisit his other episodes with us here:

• Embracing Resilience in Academic Medicine: https://facultyfactory.org/joseph-losee/
• Examining the Need for Scientist Wellbeing Initiatives: https://facultyfactory.org/scientist-burnout/

You can also see slides from his “Four R’s of Leadership” presentation here. [pdf]

As discussed, leaders are often hired for their IQ but get fired for a lack of emotional intelligence (EQ). The good news? EQ can be learned, exercised, and grown.

The four R’s or leadership are as follows:

• Responsibility
• Regulation
• Resilience
• Relationships

Recommended readings from this episode include Executive Presence 2.0 by Sylvia Ann Hewlett. How you act, speak, and appear—all matter as a leader, according to this literature, which Dr. Losee mentioned in the opening moments of the podcast.

He also referenced the TEDx Talk "Let's Face It: Charisma Matters" by John Antonakis, which you can view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEDvD1IICfE

“Charisma matters and it can be taught and learned,” as Dr. Losee told us.

Other books and resources mentioned include:

• Teaming: How Organizations Learn, Innovate, and Compete in the Knowledge Economy by Amy C. Edmondson
• The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth by Amy C. Edmondson
• TED Talk: Lucy Hone — The Three Secrets of Resilient People
• Building a Resilience Bank Account article by Michael A. Maddaus, MD: https://www.annalsthoracicsurgery.org/article/S0003-4975(19)31352-9/fulltext
• Burnout and Satisfaction With Work-Life Balance Among U.S. Physicians Relative to the General U.S. Population: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1351351

🎃Best of the Faculty Factory: Dealing with the “Spookiest” Challenges in Academic Medicine🎃

Conflict, stressors, broaching difficult conversations, and learning to say no—these are some of the “spookiest” challenges we've identified and addressed over the years on the Faculty Factory Podcast.

Since our 2019 inception, we've explored how to handle these issues with confidence and grace, featuring a series of incredible interview guests. We’re excited to share highlights from five of these conversations with four different guests in this week’s episode.

Since today is October 31st, we're delighted to present this “Best Of” episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, showcasing some of the  most “spooky” challenges in academic medicine.

These may be the things keeping you up at night, but rest assured, they are common and manageable. This “Best of” show includes highlights from the following episodes:

• Episode 299 – Best Supporting Practices and Strategies for Stressed-Out Learners and Faculty with Jessica Seaman, EdD
• Episode 79 – Managing Difficult Issues with Charles G. Irvin, Ph.D., DE, ATSF, FERS
• Episode 75 – How to Handle Conflict with Dave Yousem, MD, MBA
• Episode 72 – The Art of Navigating a Difficult Conversation with Dave Yousem, MD, MBA
• Episode 46 – Prioritizing and the Art of Saying No with Jennifer Haythornthwaite, PhD

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

About Today’s Speakers

Jessica Seaman, EdD, serves as Assistant Professor of Medical Humanities, Co-Director of the Gold Track Curriculum, and Assistant Dean of Faculty Development at Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix, Arizona.

Jennifer Haythornthwaite, PhD, has joined the Faculty Factory for memorable episodes over the years with important feedback for our audience when it comes to time management and much more. Dr. Haythornthwaite is a professor in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md

Charles G. Irvin, PhD, DE, ATSF, FERS, is a Professor of Medicine, Professor of Physiology and Biophysics, Vice Chairman for Research Department of Medicine and Director of the Vermont Lung Center at the University of Vermont. He was named Associate Dean for Faculty for the College of Medicine in 2012.

Dave Yousem, MD, MBA, is a frequent contributor to the Faculty Factory Podcast. He serves as Associate Dean for Professional Development at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He is also the Vice Chairman of Program Development at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institution.

Addressing Leadership Skill Gaps in Academic Medicine with Judy Tung, MD

Equipped with a conviction that all of us are leaders in academic medicine, Judy Tung, MD, joins the Faculty Factory Podcast this week to discuss leadership development and so much more.

Dr. Tung serves as an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. She is also the Associate Dean of Faculty Development at the School of Medicine.

You can see the two articles referenced in this interview here:

• Putting Traits Associated with Effective Medical Leadership into Action: Support for a Faculty Development Strategy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39143441/
• Enhancing a Faculty Development Program: Identifying and Addressing Leadership Skill Gaps Using an Established Leadership Framework: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40503092/

Learn more: https://facultyfactory.org/judy-tung 

"Matrix Mentorship" in Academic Medicine with Lekshmi Santhosh, MD, MAEd

Lekshmi Santhosh, MD, MAEd, an innovative leader in medicine, joins our Faculty Factory Podcast this week to discuss building an array of mentors, each playing a different role in your life and career journey in academic medicine.

She also encourages us to challenge conventional definitions of mentoring throughout this conversation. The concept of matrix mentorship invites us to explore the metaphor of a “bouquet of mentors,” which is a central theme of the interview.

At the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Dr. Santhosh is an Associate Professor of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine and Hospital Medicine. She serves as the Department of Medicine’s Associate Chair for Mentorship and People Development and is the Associate Program Director for the internal medicine residency program at UCSF. She also holds the title of Gold-headed Cane Endowed Education Chair in Internal Medicine.

Her passion for mentoring trainees, early-career faculty, and peers shines throughout this discussion.

“Just knowing that one mentor is not going to be able to meet all your needs is really important,” Dr. Santhosh emphasizes.

Thank you to a dear friend of the Faculty Factory, Joshua Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA, for recommending Dr. Santhosh as a guest on our show. It was a very memorable and special debut on the Faculty Factory Podcast for her.

• You can revisit our leadership conversation with Dr. Hartzell: https://facultyfactory.org/joshua-hartzell/
• And of course, if you have a guest you’d like us to invite for a conversation on our podcast, please send us a message: https://facultyfactory.org/contact-us/

Mergers and Acquisitions in Academic Medicine with Elza Mylona, PhD, MBA

With mergers and acquisitions (M&As) potentially reshaping the landscape of academic medicine, we are honored to welcome Elza Mylona, PhD, MBA, to this week’s episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast to explore this emerging trend.

Dr. Mylona is the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development and also serves as a Professor of Foundational Sciences at Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

In this timely discussion about a topic that impacts everyone the institution undergoing a merger or acquisition touches, we examine the economic and demographic pressures driving many of the M&As in academic medicine and beyond.

Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Promotion Portfolio Club Essentials with Carla L. Spagnoletti, MD, MS

Carla L. Spagnoletti, MD, MS, has some promotion portfolio gems of wisdom for our listeners in her return to the Faculty Factory Podcast this week.

At the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Dr. Spagnoletti serves as Professor of Medicine and holds the George H. Taber Endowed Chair in General Internal Medicine.

In addition, she is the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, the Associate Division Chief for Education in GIM, and the Associate Director of the Masters and Certificate Programs in Medical Education within the Institute for Clinical Research Education.

As discussed in this interview, there are many reasons why clinical faculty should seek promotion. However, clinical faculty often climb the ranks more slowly than their research counterparts.

While Dr. Spagnoletti concedes that this is probably due to multiple factors—such as rigorous and competing clinical duties, a lack of understanding of the process, and not always seeing tangible incentives for pursuing promotion—it became clear that something needed to be done.

Therefore, Dr. Spagnoletti set out to help faculty overcome the final hurdle in promotion: building a promotion dossier or portfolio. She helped form a supportive group to assist faculty in submitting and building this portfolio so they can initiate the promotion process.

At her institution, this group is called the Promotion Portfolio Club (PPC). As a true clinician-educator, she designed it as a curriculum based on a few core theories commonly used in medical education.

“One of the participants in a recent club told us, ‘I'm eternally grateful, as I can only imagine this task would have been incredibly daunting had I gone it alone,’ and that really captures the main reason why we started this project,” she said.

Learn more: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Exploring the WISE Framework as a Critical Teaching Guide in Medicine with Farzana Hoque, MD, MRCP, FACP, FRCP

We are honored to have Farzana Hoque, MD, MRCP, FACP, FRCP, return to the Faculty Factory Podcast this week. This is her third appearance on the podcast, and this time she joins us to discuss her recently published article in the Journal of Brown Hospital Medicine entitled “WISE Framework: Teaching Guide for Early Career Hospitalists.”

The article is based on the WISE Framework, which she formulated and discusses in depth during today’s chat. As she notes at the start of the interview, it is applicable to all specialties, not just hospitalists.

She currently serves as an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. She also co-directs the Medicine Sub-Internship at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Additionally, she is the Medical Director of Bordley Tower at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital.

Dr. Hoque’s previous two interviews with the Faculty Factory can be found here:

• Emotional Intelligence (EQ) for Unlocking Leadership Potential: https://facultyfactory.org/eq-leadership/
• Embracing Culture Over Strategy: Lessons Learned in Academic Medicine: https://facultyfactory.org/farzana-hoque/

“After several days of thinking, I came up with this WISE framework. W stands for Watchful Observation; I for Insightful Awareness; S for Specific Feedback; and E for Empathic Communication,” she told us.

Read Dr. Hoque’s recent article in the Journal of Brown Hospital Medicine entitled “WISE Framework: Teaching Guide for Early Career Hospitalists”: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40191700/.

You can follow along with her guidance and clinical tips for residents and fellows, and much more by subscribing to her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.FarzanaHoque.

Learning to Lead without Authority in Academic Medicine with W. Neil Duggar, PhD, DABR

For W. Neil Duggar, PhD, DABR, everything on his path to leadership in academic medicine started with fully understanding his own “why.”

That process of understanding your purpose, who you are, and how that dictates what success will look like, and whether you are making progress, is a central theme within today’s broader leadership discussion. 

Dr. Duggar currently serves as an Associate Professor and Director of Medical Physics in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. 

Learning to lead without formal authority is important in our field because, as Dr. Duggar puts it, “most of us don’t have authority or a title most of our careers, if we ever do get one, so learning to lead without authority becomes a very powerful combination of skills.” 

Embracing feedback and constructive criticism about yourself is vital to this discussion because, without this journey to self-awareness, it’s very easy for leaders to fall into the trap of “your own legend.” 

“You can start believing your opinion and feedback are most important, but the reality is that there will always be voices you need to listen to outside of your own,” he said. 

We thank Dr. Duggar for reaching out to us via the Faculty Factory inbox and requesting to be a guest on this show! If you have something to share within your corner of the academic medicine world as a guest, please send us a message: https://facultyfactory.org/contact-us/   

After you listen to Dr. Duggar’s interview, for more fantastic podcast episodes, please check out our show’s archives: https://facultyfactory.org/podcast-topics/

The Definitive Guide to a Fulfilling Retirement Journey with Oscar W. “Skip” Brown, MD

Oscar W. “Skip” Brown, MD, is our guest this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast. He lays out the keys to building a fulfilling retirement and acknowledges the severe consequences of simply “doing nothing” with the windfall of time on your hands.

As a clinical professor of pediatrics with UTMB in Galveston, Texas, Dr. Brown has accumulated numerous accolades over his illustrious career. He is the immediate past vice chair for clinical affairs and former chief medical officer at UTMB. As a past president of the Texas Pediatric Society (TPS), he is a recipient of the TPS Charles W. Daeschner, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award, for his contributions to the health and welfare of the children of Texas.

He joined us to map out some serious considerations we should all keep in mind as we approach the twilight stages of our full-time careers.

"You've got to have a plan for what you're going to do with yourself with all the time you're about to create. And it is very bad for you—very bad for you, emphasized with giant capital letters—to just have time," Dr. Brown stressed.

Questions? You can contact him via email here to learn more: owbrown@utmb.edu, and you can visit the Faculty Factory website for more resources: https://facultyfactory.org/.  

Setting a Plan for the Healthiest Possible Retirement from Academic Medicine with Donna Vogel, MD, PhD

Donna Vogel, MD, PhD, joins us this week to share her journey of recognizing that it was time for retirement and how she optimized her plan using her trademark discipline and scientific vigor to achieve the healthiest possible retirement from a physical, mental, and financial standpoint.

This is Dr. Vogel’s ninth appearance on the Faculty Factory Podcast, and we are immensely grateful for her selfless and relentless contributions to this community over the years since our 2019 inception.

Among her career highlights, she served as Director of the Professional Development Office at Johns Hopkins Medicine and was the Program Director of the Reproductive Medicine grant portfolio at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She is also a former Jeopardy! champion, having won four consecutive days and reaching the semifinals of the Tournament of Champions. The four pillars of retirement, according to Dr. Vogel, and discussed toward the end of this podcast, are as follows:

• Financial planning
• Health and general fitness
• Things you do for yourself
• Things you do for others

“Above all, keep learning in retirement, as that overlaps with all four pillars and ties them all together. Never stop learning,” Dr. Vogel told us in the closing moments of today's show.

Important Resources from Today’s Chat

• Helping Medical Education Faculty Navigate a Post-Academic Landing Pad (Recent Academic Medicine editorial)
• New York Times article on retirement and mental health referenced by Dr. Vogel
• The Academy at Johns Hopkins for retired faculty
• Learning Ally

Catch up on Dr. Vogel's Faculty Factory Appearances

• Networking in a Virtual Environment
• Applying for Funding, Top Ten Things to Know
• Be a Memorable Mentor
• Get That Paper off the Ground
• How to Turbocharge your Presentation Skills
• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
• Professional Societies, Beyond Getting the Journal
• Time Management for Faculty

Please make sure to listen to today’s episode via the podcast player above; and listen to more podcast episodes here.

The Value of Reluctant Leadership and Guiding Frontline Healthcare Leaders with David A. Rogers, MD, MHPE

David A. Rogers, MD, MHPE, whom we affectionately refer to as a Faculty Factory Podcast 'frequent flier,' returns to the show this week for the third time, delivering a gem of a conversation centered around leadership.

With the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), he is a professor in the Department of Surgery, with secondary appointments in the Departments of Medical Education and Pediatrics and holds an adjunct appointment in the Collat School of Business. Dr. Rogers is the Chief Wellness Officer for UAB Medicine, a position he has held since 2018.

Dr. Rogers served as a senior associate dean of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development at UAB Medicine from 2012 to 2021 and currently serves as the co-director of the UAB Health Care Leadership Academy.

He is also the author of the new book, The Frontline Healthcare Leader's Guide: Leadership that Advances Healthcare Work and the People Who Do It.

He joins us to discuss the book and share his insights on leadership, based on all he has absorbed about it during his incredibly accomplished career in academic medicine.

You can catch up on his past Faculty Factory Podcast appearances here:

• Episode 8 – A Faculty Factory Interview with David A. Rogers, MD, MHPE
• Episode 159 – Taking Ownership of our Wellness with David A. Rogers, MD, MHPE

"With leadership, I think fundamentally you need to have a vision and the ability to get people excited to follow or go with you on the journey," he told us.

Looking for further great reads on leadership? As Dr. Rogers pointed out in this interview, for those looking to get started with some strong leadership education, he also highly recommends starting with The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner.

AI: Augmented Intelligence in Medical Education with Stacey Pylman, PhD, and John Lowry, PhD

This week’s Faculty Factory Podcast is about building the skillset needed to keep pace with the many ways Artificial Intelligence (AI) can augment your productivity as an academic medicine professional.

Leading this discussion for us are Stacey Pylman, PhD, and John Lowry, PhD. 

Drs. Pylman and Lowry have been featured in an ongoing series through the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) on AI education. You can learn more about it here: https://www.aamc.org/about-us/mission-areas/medical-education/artificial-intelligence-and-academic-medicine   

Building Bridges and the Power of Partnerships in Academia with Katie Branch, PhD, MSN, RN, FNAP, CHSE

Relationships, as the heart of building success in service of your institution’s mission and the many people who benefit from it, are the central focus of this week’s thought-provoking interview with Katie Branch, PhD, MSN, RN, FNAP, CHSE, on the Faculty Factory Podcast.

With her professional background proudly rooted in nursing, Dr. Branch currently serves as the Vice President for Interprofessional Education and the Health Education Center at the University Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston.

Building on a recent theme of episodes we’ve had exploring the importance of reclaiming joy in your professional life, this episode with Dr. Branch will surely inspire you and help build upon the positive mindset we all need to combat burnout in such a demanding career.

To learn more about the Health Education Center (HEC) at UTMB, please visit: https://www.utmb.edu/hec

What You Should Know About Academic Medicine (But No One Tells You) with Heather Brod

Heather Brod visits the Faculty Factory podcast this week with some high-level takeaways from a recent talk she has developed and presented called, "What You Should Know About Academic Medicine (But No One Tells You)."

We hope you are familiar with the style of commentary and wisdom Heather brings to the table as a “frequent flier” on this show. She is also the coauthor of "The Insider’s Pocket Guide to Navigating a Faculty Career in Academic Medicine,” alongside Faculty Factory podcast host and co-author Kimberly A. Skarupski, PhD, MPH.

The “hidden curriculum,” which encompasses the important, often unspoken aspects of a career in academic medicine, are covered throughout this discussion. This includes salient items like negotiating for a job and making an impact. 

Learn More: http://facultyfactory.org/hidden-curriculum 

Exploring Mandatory Medical Education and Innovative Teaching Methods with Anumeha Bhagat, MD, DNB

Anumeha Bhagat, MD, DNB, joins the Faculty Factory Podcast this week for a timely interview on medical education, innovative teaching skills, and building a new generation of well-rounded leaders in the field worldwide.

As mentioned in this interview, Dr. Bhagat is a fellow of the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) Institutes. She also serves as an Assistant Professor of Physiology and is a member of the MEU faculty at Government Medical College in Chandigarh, India.

She is a major proponent of measuring impact in faculty development, and as an international podcast reaching over 100 countries, we are hopeful that learning about global best practices will be a key benefit of having Dr. Bhagat joins us this week!

Her work aims to enhance the quality of medical training, cultivate well-rounded future leaders in medicine, and promote innovative teaching methods to better prepare faculty for the demands of this beautiful calling of academic medicine. 

As discussed in the opening moments of this interview, getting trained in basic medical education technologies is a mandatory requirement for promotion in India. This contrasts with the United States, where education can be a pathway or track, or even supplementary.

“The governing bodies have made this a mandatory requirement. So, once you become a faculty member, you need to complete this basic course in medical education to be promoted to the next level,” she explained. 

We would like to thank a dear friend of the Faculty Factory, Page S. Morahan, PhD, a founding co-director of FAIMER, for connecting us with Dr. Bhagat, who helped paved the way for this enriching discussion with Dr. Bhagat.

"Leadership is Personal" and Other Key Insights for Faculty with Gulshan Sharma, MD, MPH

Our fantastic guest, Gulshan Sharma, MD, MPH, discusses key elements of leadership, such as teambuilding, applied knowledge (or intelligence), situational awareness, authenticity, and the role of brain chemistry, this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast.

Dr. Sharma is the Senior Vice President and Chief Medical & Clinical Innovation Officer at UTMB Health in Galveston. He also serves as a Professor in the Division of Pulmonary Critical Care & Sleep Medicine within the Department of Internal Medicine at UTMB.

“What leadership should bring is a vision for the organization and a main thing for a leader is to manage and de-escalate crisis,” Dr. Sharma told us.

Since leadership is personal, coaching becomes vital for leaders because it helps individuals build self-awareness. Additionally, dedicating time to clearing your mind is important, as an uncluttered thought process is essential for personalized leadership.

“Leaders should lead; they should not be doing tasks. If leaders start doing, it invites trouble,” Dr. Sharma states.

Finding Joy and Other Keys to Mitigate Burnout with Geeta Singhal, MD, MEd, FAAP

Remembering why you first entered the wonderful and challenging world of academic medicine might be just the boost of joy you need to stave off burnout.

Our guest this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast is Geeta Singhal, MD, MEd, FAAP, whom we warmly welcome for her first-ever (and very memorable) appearance on our program.

She does a brilliant job painting a picture for us of ways to uncover joy amidst the challenges of patient care, teaching, research, and many other rich, rewarding, and difficult tasks of the academic medicine journey.

Dr. Singhal currently serves as Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, Professor of Pediatrics, Director of Academics in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Attending Physician, and Co-Director of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM).

She is also a Faculty Leadership Development Program Partner at BCM and a Professionalism Partner at Texas Children's Hospital. 

Learn more: http://facultyfactory.org/Geeta-Singhal 

How a Strengths Coach in Academia Empowers Others to Unleash Their Authentic Selves with Daniel Almeida, PhD

Daniel Almeida, PhD, also known as the “Strengths Professor,” visits us this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast.

Dr. Almeida is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California. As mentioned throughout this interview, he works diligently to incorporate Clifton Strengths into his teaching, coaching, and research.

Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/daniel-almeida 

Rethinking Success in Academic Medicine with Heather Brod and Kimberly Skarupski, PhD, MPH

This week's episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast features a rebroadcast of "Rethinking Success in Academic Medicine," a webinar that was co-presented by Heather Brod and Kimberly Skarupski, PhD, MPH in May 2025.

This broadcast has been edited and shortened to enhance the podcast listening experience.

Learn more:  https://facultyfactory.org/rethink-success/

For more visuals, you can watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oClCmjhs1V4

You can also access handouts that accompany the session:

• Rethinking Success in Academic Medicine Case Studies [pdf]
• Clarify Shift Explore Template [pdf]

Integrating Humanities into Medical Education with P. Ravi Shankar, MBBS, MD

The vital role of the humanities in shaping empathetic communication skills and critical-minded healthcare professionals is explored today with our guest, P. Ravi Shankar, MBBS, MD.

Dr. Shankar, MBBS, MD, currently serves as faculty and program coordinator at the IMU Centre for Education in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is a Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) Institutes Scholar and a prolific researcher.

Read more: http://facultyfactory.org/ravi-shankar 

A Deep Exploration of Academic Promotions for Clinicians with Anne Walling, MB, ChB

The Faculty Factory podcast is back this week with a deep exploration of academic promotions for clinicians as we interview Anne Walling, MB, ChB, who has written extensively about the topic. Her writings are based on her years of practical on-the-job experience with faculty.

Dr. Walling is a professor emerita at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita in Wichita, Kansas and is the author of Academic Promotion for Clinicians: A Practical Guide to Promotion and Tenure in Medical Schools.

She joins our show this week as a first-time guest to discuss the second edition of this book, along with exploring a variety of aspects related to promotions in academic medicine from many different angles.

You can learn more about her book here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-84036-4

Essential Tips for a Successful Clinical Education Career with Carla L. Spagnoletti, MD, MS

The five keys that will lead you toward a successful clinical education career are outlined in-depth this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast, featuring our first-time guest, the amazing and encouraging Carla L. Spagnoletti, MD, MS.

With the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Dr. Spagnoletti serves as Professor of Medicine and holds the George H. Taber Endowed Chair in General Internal Medicine. In addition, she is the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, the Associate Division Chief for Education in GIM, and the Associate Director of the Masters and Certificate Programs in Medical Education within the Institute for Clinical Research Education.

The five tips that Dr. Spagnoletti encourages us to employ for building a successful clinical education career are as follows:

• Proactively develop your skills.
• Let your mission drive your career.
• Turn everyday work into scholarship.
• Face and embrace failure.
• Build and maintain relationships.

Make sure to tune into today's episode for a deep dive on each of the five tips. You will also learn the story of how Dr. Spagnoletti's unique career journey led her to this wisdom.

Strategies for Embracing a New Career Challenge or Retirement with Kimberly Skarupski, PhD, MPH

Today’s episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast explores strategies for embracing a new career challenge or retirement itself. This broadcast features a recording from a recent lecture led by Faculty Factory Podcast host Kimberly Skarupski, PhD, MPH.

Dr. Skarupski is Associate Vice Provost, Leadership Development, in the Office of Faculty Affairs with UTMB Health in Galveston, Texas. She is a tenured Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics in the John Sealy School of Medicine and in the Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public and Population Health.

If you'd like to see the slides from the lecture that this podcast is based on, you can access them here.

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

Adaptability for Success at Any Stage of Your Academic Medicine Career with Janet Bickel, MA

We’re honored to have Janet Bickel, MA, join the Faculty Factory Podcast for the third time in our show’s history this week. We’re discussing the art of adaptability and how to hone it as a skill set to build a successful career in academic medicine.

Janet is an acclaimed leadership and career development coach with more than five decades of experience in academic medicine and science. She started her academic career with Brown University’s Medical School (now called The Warren Alpert Medical School) in 1972.

Resources to Explore

Academic Medicine Letter to the Editor: “Helping Medical Education Faculty Navigate a Post-Academic Landing Pad”: https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/citation/9900/helping_medical_education_faculty_navigate_a.1175.aspx

Janet Bickel’s Official Website: https://janetbickel.com/

Equip Your Inner Coach: Personal, Career and Leadership Development in an Uncertain Age: https://www.amazon.com/Equip-Your-Inner-Coach-Development/dp/B0BLFSRKG1

We're Put Here to Love: A Memoir with Poems: https://www.amazon.com/Were-Put-Here-Love-Memoir/dp/B0DDTK7NHM

Immunity to Change: How to Overcome It and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization (Leadership for the Common Good): https://www.amazon.com/Immunity-Change-Potential-Organization-Leadership/dp/1422117367

More Janet Bickel Interviews

As mentioned above, this is Janet’s third appearance on our podcast. You can revisit her first time joining us back in June 2019, when she shared with us 7 Crucial Books and Resources for Faculty Affairs Professionals. In March 2022, she joined us once again for a reunion episode, where we caught up with her to discuss what’s new in her world of leadership and career development coaching since we last spoke. 

Nurturing Purpose and Passion in Academic Medicine with Patrick Louchouarn, PhD

Patrick Louchouarn, PhD, is our inspiring guest on the Faculty Factory Podcast this week.

And speaking of inspiration, as discussed in this rich conversation, faculty members in general truly inspire Dr. Louchouarn with their creativity, engagement, and commitment to their profession.

In fact, those who chose the path of academic health are particularly compelling to Dr. Louchouarn because much of their work is rooted in the fundamental question: “How can I improve health for others—individuals, communities, or through specific procedures like surgeries or prosthetics?”

This mindset is quite extraordinary, and according to Dr. Louchouarn, it embodies maximum altruism. The one thing to be extra cautious about is that if we don’t start conversations about purpose and core values, a disconnect may occur.

The further we stray from the original motivation—the story of why someone chose to enter this particular health field—the greater that disconnect becomes, as discussed in this interview.

With The Ohio State University in Columbus, he is a Leadership & Performance Coach and serves as Senior Vice Provost for Faculty within the Office of Academic Affairs. Additionally, he serves as a Professor in the School of Earth Sciences and is an affiliated faculty member with the Ohio State Sustainability Institute.

Learn more: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Further Reading

What Got You Here Won't Get You There, book by Marshall Goldsmith

The Prepared Leader: Emerge from Any Crisis More Resilient Than Before, book by Erika James and Lynn Perry Wooten

A Comprehensive Look at Developing Excellent Leadership in Medicine with Joshua Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA

We’ve all heard of medical malpractice and its dire costs, but what about leadership malpractice? Should there be consequences or at least more resistance to those implementing non-evidence-based leadership tactics in academic medicine?

Those questions and much more are explored in depth with our guest this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast, author Joshua Hartzell, MD, MS-HPEd, FACP, FIDSA, who joins us to discuss:

• Leadership responsibility and development
• Cultural strategies from the military that could be woven into academic health
• Excellence through empathy and compassion
• Utilizing delegation as a growth opportunity for others

With 25 years in military medicine under his belt, Dr. Hartzell is a retired army colonel and a practicing internal medicine and infectious diseases physician.

It’s all about being more intentional with how we lead and taking care of people—that is what a healthy workplace culture rides on, according to this interview with Dr. Hartzell.

"Most of the things we experience and our challenges are not clinical care issues. It’s a leadership issue. We’re really good at the clinical care part, but not so much the messy leadership stuff and how to deal with that," he said.

Learn More

Explore his book, "A Prescription for Caring in Healthcare Leadership: Building a Culture of Compassion and Excellence": https://www.amazon.com/Prescription-Caring-Healthcare-Leadership-Compassion/dp/B0DSQ4276K

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

Staying Grounded While Navigating Radical Disruptions with Kimberly Skarupski, PhD, MPH

Today's episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast is about the need for strong leadership in the face of uncertainty. It features a recording from a recent lecture led by Faculty Factory Podcast host Kimberly Skarupski, PhD, MPH.

If you'd like to see any visuals from the lecture, please visit our Faculty Factory YouTube channel here:
https://youtu.be/VxcRU1ZzGow 

Dr. Skarupski is Associate Vice Provost, Leadership Development, in the Office of Faculty Affairs with UTMB Health in Galveston, Texas. She is a tenured Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics in the John Sealy School of Medicine and in the Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public and Population Health.

The talk explores strategies for staying grounded, communicating with clarity, and supporting your postdocs through uncertain times. This lecture has been edited and repurposed to provide a friendly podcast listening experience.

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

Know Thyself: Keys to Self-Awareness Amid Uncertainty with Binata Mukherjee, MD, MBA

According to our guest on the Faculty Factory Podcast this week, Binata Mukherjee, MD, MBA, “one must know thyself” before one can lead change.

We are excited to have Dr. Mukherjee join our show this week as a first-time guest, and we anticipate that she will become a repeat Faculty Factory Podcast guest as her wisdom shines throughout today’s discussion.

At the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Dr. Mukherjee serves as Assistant Dean for Faculty and Professional Development in the Whiddon College of Medicine and is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine with USA Health. Additionally, she is an Adjunct Professor in Management and Director of Healthcare Leadership Initiatives in the Mitchell College of Business.

Learn more: https://facultyfactory.org/Binata-Mukherjee 

Key Communication Tips for Better Relationships in Academic Medicine with Adam D. Wolfe, MD, PhD

Our return guest this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast is Adam D. Wolfe, MD, PhD. Dr. Wolfe shares with us some key communication strategies for better conflict resolution and team building, some of which can also assist with sharing life-altering information with patients in the clinic.

The techniques outlined in this episode are designed to help prevent conflict and preserve interprofessional relationships when inevitable tensions arise.

Dr. Wolfe is the Interim Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at CHRISTUS Children’s, affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine in San Antonio, and is also the Associate Professor of Pediatrics and the Program Director of the Pediatric Residency Program. Additionally, he serves as the Assistant Dean of Medical Education and holds the Jann L. Harrison Endowed Chair in Pediatric Graduate Medical Education.

“If you start with goals, you can often end a lot of conflict by simply restating what it is you're all trying to accomplish,” Dr. Wolfe said.

Not only do many of the strategies outlined in the interview work well with professional colleagues at work, but these same principles often apply to when you're talking to families in a clinical situation, as we learn in the latter stages of this interview.

“Do whatever you can to preserve your interpersonal relationships. If you are in conflict, think about how you can preserve that relationship so that person can remain available to you and you can remain available to them… it’s what makes this work rewarding,” Dr. Wolfe added.

More Resources and Next Steps

• Visit FacultyFactory.org: https://facultyfactory.org/ 
• Learn more about the GRPI Model of Team Effectiveness: https://www.aihr.com/blog/grpi-model/
• Learn more about SPIKES for delivering bad news: https://healthcare.utah.edu/integrative-health/resiliency-center
• Listen to Dr. Wolfe’s first appearance on the Faculty Factory here: https://facultyfactory.org/adam-wolfe/
• Contact Dr Wolfe with questions here via email: Wolfe@bcm.edu
• You can also listen to the Dr. Ludy Shih episode that was mentioned in this interview titled “How to Make Meetings in Academic Medicine Work for You”: https://facultyfactory.org/meetings/

Why Building a Workplace of Belonging Matters with Rakhee Bhayani, MD

The topic of belonging and why it is so crucial to a healthy and high-functioning work environment within academic medicine is explored this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast with our esteemed return guest, Rakhee K. Bhayani, MD.

Dr. Bhayani first joined our program in April 2022 for an episode covering career changes/pivots, identifying your purpose, and stepping outside of your comfort zone. You can revisit that discussion here: https://facultyfactory.org/rakhee-bhayani.

She serves as Professor of Medicine and is the Vice Chair for Advancing Women’s Careers in the Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics in the Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

"If we come to work and we have to specifically hide a part of who we are, that's mental energy and a tax that we're taking away from the work that we're doing,” she said.

We welcome her back with open arms this week for an important and timely conversation on belonging’s role in academic medicine and workplace culture.

"Our goal is to help others feel comfortable and have that sense of safety, allowing them to bring their whole selves to work. This way, they can focus their energy on their work rather than expending mental energy on censoring parts of themselves to feel valued,” she added.

Keep The Conversation Going

Are you new to our show? Here are some similar Faculty Factory Podcasts to explore:

• Building a Sense of Belonging: A Faculty Factory Reunion with Heather Brod
• Identity Integration and Bringing Our Best Selves to Work with Jennifer Best, MD

You can also find the full back catalog of the Faculty Factory Podcast here.  For feedback, questions, comments, and more information on how you can join the Faculty Factory as a guest, please visit our contact us homepage.

Systematic Reviews with Early-Career Faculty, Learners, and Students with Claudia Hilton, PhD, MBA, OTR, FAOTA

Claudia Hilton, PhD, MBA, OTR, FAOTA, makes her debut on the Faculty Factory Podcast this week, sharing her journey into systematic reviews and emphasizing the value they provide in promoting critical thinking and research skills among students, learners, and early-career faculty.

Dr. Hilton serves as Professor and Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Health Professions in the Department of Occupational Therapy.

Despite facing skepticism from peers about the practicality of systematic reviews with students, her persistence has led to the successful and innovative implementation of this approach over the years at UTMB.

"I have had naysayers tell me that you can't do systematic reviews with students. However, we have already published about 20 of them. So I say, yes, we can, but there are certain things you need to consider to make it successful," Dr. Hilton said.

Through Dr. Hilton's enthusiasm we celebrate the use of systematic reviews amongst learners in academia! We encourage listeners to consider integrating similar collaborative approaches in their own institutions. You can email Dr. Hilton to learn more: clhilton@UTMB.EDU.

Visit Faculty Factory's homepage: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Acts of Leadership to Build Community within Faculty with Nausheen Jamal, MD, MBA

Too often, poor leadership in academic medicine drives people apart rather than connecting them. With that in mind, we invite Nausheen Jamal, MD, MBA, to our Faculty Factory Podcast this week to share pearls of wisdom from her own experience in building a leadership strategy aimed at bringing people together.

Dr. Jamal currently serves as Professor & Harry Carothers Wiess Chair in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas.

By specializing in the treatment of voice, swallowing, and airway disorders, Dr. Jamal addresses issues that hinder full communication. This makes it feel as though things are truly coming full circle as she shares insights on building community and connections in this chat.  

We hope you learn from her story to gain insights that help you see beyond what is in front of you and achieve great satisfaction in your own future career journey. Other important dynamics we explore in this interview include:

• The art of engaging in a "flow" state of work as a faculty member.
• Change management and adjusting your communication style to a new audience.
• Delegating versus simply “dumping” a workload on colleagues.
• Engaging faculty in the development of important administrative items, like a leave policy.

“What I learned is that I have to adjust my approach to change according to the culture that is going to have to endure or undergo that change," Dr. Jamal said candidly in this interview.

Learn more: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Unpacking and Addressing the Challenges of Pursuing Leadership Roles as Faculty with Eva Feldman, MD, PhD

Eva Feldman, MD, PhD, joins us this week to examine recent research on individuals in academic medicine who felt unprepared for leadership responsibilities, and she helps us explore ways to better prepare faculty for success in those positions.

With Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor, Dr. Feldman is the James W. Albers Distinguished University Professor and Russell N. DeJong Professor of Neurology. She also serves as Professor of Neurosurgery and is the Director of the NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies and the ALS Center of Excellence at Michigan Medicine.

“I would say that my main takeaway is this: if you are a mid-level professional aspiring to a leadership position, seek a mentor and sponsor immediately, and ensure you are trained to be ready for that role,” Dr. Feldman told us.

The article she co-authored, titled “Leadership Experiences and Perceptions of Mid-Career to Senior Clinician-Scientists: A Qualitative Exploration,” highlighted key leadership challenges and opportunities that we explore in-depth with Dr. Feldman in this interview.

You can learn more about the report here: https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/abstract/9900/leadership_experiences_and_perceptions_of.877.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

You can also visit FacultyFactory.org here: https://facultyfactory.org/

Vulnerability and Post-Traumatic Growth to Help Find Meaning in Medicine with Nicole Piemonte, PhD

The path toward finding a deeper meaning in providing patient care within academic medicine and the intangibles that make us human, such as vulnerability, passion, and post-traumatic growth, is explored in this week’s edition of the Faculty Factory episode with our guest, Nicole Piemonte, PhD.

Dr. Piemonte serves as the Associate Dean for Faculty Leadership and is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medical Humanities at Creighton University School of Medicine-Phoenix in Arizona. She is also an author and a Certified Healthcare Leadership Coach.

Through her own experiences with end-of-life care, coupled with her background in medical humanities, Dr. Piemonte shares her perspective on the ongoing challenges of how clinicians can engage authentically with vulnerability.

Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/nicole-piemonte 

Self-Promotion and Other Challenges to Embrace in Academic Medicine with Adam Wolfe, MD, PhD

The Faculty Factory Podcast invites first-time guest, Adam Wolfe, MD, PhD, to our show this week. He is the co-author of the article, “Put Yourself out There! A Strategy for Effective Self-Promotion in Academic Medicine,” which we examine in detail during this interview.

“When it comes to non-clinical teaching, I really gravitate toward things like communication skills, breaking bad news, conflict resolution and self-promotion because those are things that I think are absent in a lot of formative curricula.” he said.

Dr. Wolfe is the Interim Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at CHRISTUS Children’s, affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine in San Antonio, and is also the Associate Professor of Pediatrics and the Program Director of the Pediatric Residency Program. Additionally, he serves as the Assistant Dean of Medical Education and holds the Jann L. Harrison Endowed Chair in Pediatric Graduate Medical Education.

More about his article: “Put Yourself out There! A Strategy for Effective Self-Promotion in Academic Medicine”:  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11219085/ 

For feedback, questions, or comments, you can also visit the Faculty Factory website: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Why Every Faculty Member Should Prioritize Compassion and Understanding with John Heymann, MD

According to our guest on this week’s episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, John Heymann, MD, every academic medicine professional can bet big on two things: compassion and understanding.

Dr. Heymann is a neuroradiologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, where he serves as an Associate Professor in Radiology, as well as the Director of Residency Programs and Vice Chair of Clinical Operations.

“Being angry all the time is not conducive to longevity, and I think a lot of that comes from misunderstanding other people and their mind states. Therefore, it’s important to be mindful and practice compassion,” Dr. Heymann said.

It truly might be time to double down on compassion. Understanding is at the core of compassion, as we learn in this discussion, and both elements are necessary for compassion to manifest.

The bottom line is that how we interact with one another and recognize each other's challenges is an essential part of our mental health and well-being.

Visit the Faculty Factory website for more resources:  https://facultyfactory.org/

The Quest to Achieve Sustainable Wellness in Academic Medicine with Michelle B. Moore, PsyD, ABPP

The journey to attain and hold on to wellness and joy, as it pertains to the rich opportunities and sacrifices of a career in academic medicine, is brought to the forefront in this week’s edition of the Faculty Factory Podcast with our guest, Michelle Moore, PsyD, ABPP.

Dr. Moore is an Associate Professor with a dual appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, where she also serves as Chief of Psychology and Director of Faculty Development for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Her personal experiences in striving for sustainable wellness and overcoming obstacles are outlined in her recently published memoir, "Sustainable Wellness: A Memoir of Loss, Perseverance, and Resilience," which you can learn more about on Amazon.

You can also reach her directly at mbacon@lsuhsc.edu.

Leadership and Performance Coaching Guidance for Early-Career Physicians with Brian Clyne, MD, MHL

Join us for today’s engaging episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, featuring our returning guest, Brian Clyne, MD, MHL. In this episode, we explore key guidance for early-career physicians and faculty in academic medicine through the lens of a coach.

Dr. Clyne is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University where he also serves as Vice Chair for Education.

It is often a complex journey we face when transitioning from medical training to clinical practice, with some of those unique challenges explored throughout this conversation.

Coaching, Self-Awareness, Values, and Goals                                                                                                

Dr. Clyne highlighted a significant trend in the opening moments of the interview: an increasing number of early-career physicians are turning to coaching to navigate feelings of uncertainty and redefine their professional identities outside the structured milestones of medical education.

This reflects the confusion many feel as they shift from a system with clear guidance to one where they must carve their own paths and establish internal definitions of success.

Self-awareness and understanding one's personal values are essential throughout your career, but this is increasingly true during times of transition or uncertainty. Coaching facilitates critical thought and assists individuals in exploring their goals and underlying values, leading to a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Keep the Conversation Going

You can listen to Dr. Clyne's previous visit with us here at the Faculty Factory Podcast, as he joined us for episode no. 191, entitled 'Finding Focus, Collaborators, and Mentors for Accelerating Scholarly Productivity': https://facultyfactory.org/brian-clyne/.  You can contact Dr. Clyne here: brian.clyne@brownphysicians.org and the Faculty Factory website is here: https://facultyfactory.org/

What to Consider If Fulfillment Is Missing Despite Your Success in Academic Medicine with Brian Downer, PhD

In this week's enlightening episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, we explore finding satisfaction in our careers. We discuss how we measure and perceive this satisfaction, as well as examine its connection to success—or the lack thereof. Joining us for this introspective discussion is our first-time guest, Brian Downer, PhD.

With the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Dr. Downer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Population Health and Health Disparities in the School of Public and Population Health. He is also the Director of the Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program and a Program Director for Population Health Sciences Program. Dr. Downer is a Gerontologist by training.

If you would like to read the article referenced by Dr. Downer in this podcast, you can find the 2023 article from the Harvard Business Review titled "Why Success Doesn’t Lead to Satisfaction" here: https://hbr.org/2023/01/why-success-doesnt-lead-to-satisfaction.

Where does satisfaction start? Perhaps with a shift in your mindset, as we learn from Dr. Downer and the article he references above throughout today’s conversation.

As outlined in this podcast, that mindset shift is about finding satisfaction “because,” not “when.” Essentially, if you wait until you achieve something to believe that you will derive satisfaction from it, that fulfillment may never come, or it may be very short-lived, leaving you wanting so much more.

Finding joy in the journey, rather than in the destination, can be the key to achieving the satisfaction that you might otherwise find missing as your career milestones, laurels, achievements, and “successes” accumulate. How to go about capturing that joy is at the heart of this discussion.

Visit the Faculty Factory website for more resources: https://facultyfactory.org/.

Interprofessional Collaboration and Team Science in Academic Medicine with Wendy Ward, PhD, ABPP, FAPA

This week’s Faculty Factory Podcast episode is dedicated to exploring interprofessional collaboration and team science with our distinguished return guest, Wendy Ward, PhD, ABPP, FAPA.

Dr. Ward is a pediatric psychologist and serves as Associate Provost and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock.

Additionally, she is the Director of Interprofessional Faculty Development at UAMS.

As mentioned in the opening moments of today’s interview, Dr. Ward joined us for a podcast interview in 2020 regarding Interprofessional Education (IPE), which provides a complementary resource to today’s discussion. You can access that interview here: https://facultyfactory.org/interprofessional-faculty-development-with-wendy-ward-phd-abpp-fapa/.

Team building in our field is essential because different perspectives tend to solve difficult problems more effectively. In the world of academic medicine, we face massive hurdles coming in many different forms that need to be surmounted on a daily basis. It really is that simple.

Not only will this interprofessional approach set us on the path toward stronger healthcare outcomes, but it also helps secure better research funding opportunities, as pointed out by Dr. Ward.

“We want to connect effective team-based practice with healthcare outcomes or, in the research arena, with securing larger grants,” Dr. Ward said.

Learn More

We applaud Dr. Ward for her continuous and robust contributions to the Faculty Factory over the years. If you would like to get in touch with her to learn more, you can email her directly at WWard@uams.edu.

In case you missed it, Dr. Ward also joined us last week for an episode covering leadership skills in academic health centers, which you can find here: https://facultyfactory.org/leadership-skills/.

Developing Leadership Skills in Academic Health Centers with Wendy Ward, PhD, ABPP, FAPA

A frequent contributor to the Faculty Factory Podcast is back this week for another one of her trademark episodes that will leave you wanting more. Wendy Ward, PhD, ABPP, FAPA, returns as we discuss many aspects of developing leadership skills in academic health centers.

Even if you never entered the profession intending to take on a formal leadership position, Dr. Ward’s tutelage will help you adopt the right mindset should that opportunity unexpectedly arise, as it often does in academic medicine settings.

Dr. Ward is a pediatric psychologist and serves as Associate Provost and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock. At UAMS, she also serves as the Director of Interprofessional Faculty Development.

As mentioned in this interview, Dr. Ward is a significant contributor to our book, The Academic Medicine Starter Kit, which you can read and download for free here: https://facultyfactory.org/ebook/#starterkit.

Visit FacultyFactory.org for more resources: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

The Many Paths Academic Medicine’s Tripartite Mission Can Prepare You For with Michael A. Barone, MD, MPH

Michael A. Barone, MD, MPH, President and CEO of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), is our guest for this week’s memorable edition of the Faculty Factory Podcast.

His background in academic medicine and passion for all three pillars of its tripartite mission (clinical care, education, and research) have equipped him for success in many environments, including his time with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). He settled into his role as ABP CEO in early 2024.

Curiosity and a Love of the Tripartite Mission
Curiosity and his love of education helped set the stage for him to leave a more traditional faculty career path in pursuit of broader opportunities. Dr. Barone discusses the importance of curiosity in his professional growth throughout this interview.

“I gravitated to academic medicine just because it fed something a little bit different in me,” he told us.

As a board-certified pediatrician and associate professor with Johns Hopkins Medicine, he immersed himself in a culture of inquiry and innovation, laying a strong foundation for his career. With the NBME, he helped oversee the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) program and other vital initiatives.

“That was a great honor and a great responsibility to oversee the US Medical Licensing Examination program,” he said.

Transitions: Building Trust in New Environments
Throughout this podcast, Dr. Barone discussed the interplay of curiosity and trust, as well as the occasional feelings of imposter syndrome that accompany new roles. He strongly recommends finding time to read The Thin Book of Trust, which you can learn more about here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/770101/the-thin-book-of-trust-third-edition-by-charles-feltman/.

Life Lessons in Informal Learning, Mentorship, and On-the-Job Education with David J. Skorton, MD

This week, the Faculty Factory Podcast sits down with David J. Skorton, MD, to explore his remarkable journey, filled with insights on leadership, mentorship, and the value of a continuous learning mindset—themes that resonate throughout the interview.

Dr. Skorton is the current President and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), serving professionals throughout the world.

Alongside these values, Dr. Skorton’s rich background in science, music, and education has aided him throughout his journey in navigating the complexities of academic medicine and leadership. Initially aspiring to be a session musician, his father's insistence on pursuing a college education set him on a trajectory that eventually led him to medical school.

He emphasized the importance of learning from all individuals, regardless of their formal titles, telling us, "Mentors come in all shapes and sizes."

 A core theme that emerged from the podcast was the concept of embracing a "beginner's mind." Drawing from Zen philosophy, Dr. Skorton reminded listeners that, "In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind, there are few."

In the interview's closing moments, Dr. Skorton reflects on handling difficult decisions as a leader. He advises us all to remain open and adaptable, recognizing that no one leader can possess all the answers. By valuing collective wisdom and carrying an open mind to learn from everything and anyone, you may just wind up achieving goals that are otherwise unimaginable.

Learn More

• Faculty Factory Website.
• The AAMC - Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA) Website.
• As mentioned in this episode, Darrell G. Kirch, MD, President and CEO of the Association of AAMC from 2006 to 2019, joined our show in 2024, and you can listen to that interview here: https://facultyfactory.org/darrell-kirch/.

New Horizons to Explore at the Top of the Academic Medicine Mountain with Paul Rothman, MD

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.

Learn More

• You can visit more podcasts specific to retirement and late-career journeys in academic medicine: https://facultyfactory.org/podcast-topics/#retirement
• Make sure to revisit our interview entitled, Considerations for Starting a Research Career as a Physician with Myron Weisfeldt, MD, which was referenced in today's discussion on fundraising and relationship building:  https://facultyfactory.org/myron-weisfeldt/

Navigating a “Decision to Transition” in Academic Medicine with Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD

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/ 

Best of the Faculty Factory Podcast: Conversations on Leadership, Part 3

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):

• Exploring Leadership Competencies in Academic Medicine with Kimberly A. Skarupski, PhD, MPH
• Identifying Leadership Competencies at your Academic Institution with Kathy Forbush MBA and MS
• Emotional Intelligence (EQ) for Unlocking Leadership Potential with Farzana Hoque, MD, MRCP, FACP, FRCP

About Our Speakers/Guests

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.

Best of the Faculty Factory Podcast: Conversations on Leadership, Part 2

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):

• A Leadership Roadmap for Faculty with Jennifer Lee, MD
• Key Factors to Consider When Shifting to a New Leadership Role with Maria Oliva-Hemker, MD
• Identifying (and Fixing) Where Faculty Struggle with Leadership with Kathy Forbush MBA and MS

About Our Guests

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.

A Passion for Building the Next Generation of Academic Physicians with John Paul Sánchez MD, MPH

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: 

• Health Professions and Academia: How to Begin Your Career
• Succeeding in Academic Medicine: A Roadmap for Diverse Medical Students and Residents

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

Telenovelas to Better Support and Educate Hospice Family Caregivers with Dulce M. Cruz, MD, FAAHPM, AGSF

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.

Learn More

• You can contact Dr. Cruz via Email: dcruzoli@jhmi.edu.
• Watch Caregivers Like Me (English Version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck6Bs1T2Zck
• Cuidadores Como Yo Caregivers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=HXF-F-apTCc

Best of the Faculty Factory Podcast: Conversations on Leadership, Part 1

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):

• A Faculty Factory Interview with Troy Buer, PhD
• Ten Tips for Building Leadership Skills with Wendy Ward, PhD, ABPP, FAPA
• Imposter Syndrome and Leadership Roles in Academia with Cynthia Rand, PhD

Considerations for Starting a Research Career as a Physician with Myron Weisfeldt, MD

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/ 

Essential Guidance on Compassionate Leadership and Pearls of Wisdom for Faculty with Keshia Pollack Porter, PhD

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/

Identifying Leadership Competencies at your Academic Institution with Kathy Forbush, MBA and MS

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/.

Why Faculty Should Build a "Preferment Portfolio" with Darrell G. Kirch, MD

Transitioning to a life after full-time faculty work without losing your identity is what we’re discussing with our guest Darrell G. Kirch, MD, on the Faculty Factory Podcast this week.

Dr. Kirch has an formidable ability to lead and build teams having served as the President and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) from 2006 to 2019. He is an educator, biomedical scientist, clinical neuroscientist, clinician, and psychiatrist. He has held several major leadership positions at academic medicine institutions throughout North America and beyond.

We are honored to call Dr. Kirch “a friend of our show” and he previously joined us for an episode recorded in 2019.  You can revisit the first episode with Dr. Kirch from a few years back here: https://facultyfactory.org/best-of-the-faculty-factory-podcast-an-interview-with-darrell-g-kirch-md/  

As the end of a full-time faculty career approaches, many of us instinctively think about retirement. However, there's an alternative mindset that can pave the way for a fulfilling future: preferment.

Rather than solely focusing on retirement as an endgame, let’s consider how to curate a "Preferment Portfolio"—a balanced mix of passions, pursuits, and projects that ignite our enthusiasm and secure our identities.

It’s not uncommon for someone to struggle with finding an identity beyond their CV. After all, the demands of working as faculty in academic medicine can be so powerful that they overshadow many other aspects of our life.

The good news for those struggling with this phenomenon, which often coexists with burnout, is that Dr. Kirch has excellent wisdom to impart in today’s interview for building this portfolio.

This approach could help you future-proof your priorities and create a life safeguarded from burnout. You can start today by reflecting on the aspects of your academic life that have brought you joy and fulfillment. How can you integrate these elements into your future beyond your traditional full-time role when the time comes?

A 300th Episode Celebration of the Faculty Factory with Heather Brod

Today marks episode number 300 of the Faculty Factory, and we’re going to celebrate with a two-part episode. First, we have our founder and podcast host Kimberly A. Skarupski, PhD, MPH, joined by Heather Brod, talking about their newly published book, The Insider’s Pocket Guide to Navigating a Faculty Career in Academic Medicine.

This is followed by Dr. Skarupski reading a list of every single guest we've ever had on the show. These 300 episodes wouldn't be possible without these amazing people. To every one of you who have joined the show or simply tuned in, thank you for being a part of this community.

The Insider’s Pocket Guide to Navigating a Faculty Career in Academic Medicine aims to outline a pathway to achieving a rewarding and prosperous career in academic medicine. You can learn more here.

The book is designed to guide faculty through the complexities of an academic career, addressing essential topics such as career preparation, promotion, and work-life integration. As we celebrate this milestone 300th episode and our new book, we encourage listeners to continue seeking opportunities for collaboration and leadership. Always keep in mind that great achievements often start with small initiatives and the courage to take action. For more resources: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Best Supporting Practices and Strategies for Stressed-Out Learners and Faculty with Jessica Seaman, EdD

We’re setting out on a mission to make faculty and learners' lives less stressful this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast with our exciting first-time guest, Jessica Seaman, EdD.

Dr. Seaman serves as Assistant Professor of Medical Humanities, Co-Director of the Gold Track Curriculum, and Assistant Dean of Faculty Development at Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix.

How can we help learners avoid some of the worst consequences of chronic stress that can lead to deep-seated anxiety and depression?

As you’ll hear within this discussion, there are many strategies to explore, and one of the top approaches is to create psychologically safe spaces for learners at our academic institution. This encourages a proactive stance in the fight against the ill effects of chronic stress by offering a variety of support strategies.

As we learned in today’s show, there is a lot of forward-thinking work happening at Dr. Seaman’s institution (which, as we mention in the interview, has campuses in both Nebraska and Arizona), and compassion is built into its mission.

We must also remember, as we discussed in today’s episode, that rigidity can create more stress. None of these practices are set in stone; we must revisit them, assess their effectiveness, and strive to avoid complacency by adapting with the times, all for the betterment of our learners.

If you want to learn more about anything we discussed on this podcast, you can reach Dr. Seaman at: JessicaSeaman@creighton.edu.

We’d also love to hear from you at the Faculty Factory Podcast: What are we doing well? Where are we missing the mark? Do you want to be a guest (or nominate a guest)? Make sure to send us a message through the Contact Us page of FacultyFactory.org: https://facultyfactory.org/contact-us/.

Updates for the Academic Medicine Community on Creating Safe A.I. Systems with Eric Nalisnick

Important news and notes for the academic medicine community about building safe artificial intelligence systems are discussed in depth on this week's Faculty Factory Podcast.

We’re excited to be joined by first-time guest Eric Nalisnick, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University for this timely discussion.

Alongside thoughts on the current state of incorporating the human element into these systems, one thing will remain abundantly clear after listening to today’s discussion: these A.I. systems, when left unchecked, are unreliable for work that allows no margin for error (i.e., medical practice, tax returns, etc.).

Large language models, like ChatGPT, are effective for low-stakes tasks, brainstorming, and bouncing ideas off of in order to stimulate creativity or encourage alternative ways of thinking.

With the ongoing and rapidly growing integration of artificial intelligence in the medical, research, and education fields, maintaining safety, ethical standards, and ensuring that the human touch is not lost are central themes in today’s interview.

“Integration and efficiency are something I hope we will see from A.I. systems, as opposed to more erosion of the human aspect,” he optimistically mentioned in the closing moments of our podcast

If you enjoyed today’s podcast or found it useful, consider listening to previous Faculty Factory interviews related to the topics Eric discussed with us:

• Episode 284 – Ethical Considerations of Artificial Intelligence in Academia with Anjalie Field, PhD
• Episode 219 – Artificial Intelligence and Rapidly Changing Technology with Daniel Khashabi, PhD

The Art and Science of Delivering “Micro Resources” in Academic Medicine with Alice Fornari, EdD, FAMEE, RDN

All things “micro” and “mini” are being discussed on the Faculty Factory Podcast this week. In the context of today’s discussion, “micro” is simply another way of saying expedited, streamlined, and not requiring a massive amount of time.

Our guest is Alice Fornari, EdD, FAMEE, RDN, a friend of this podcast over the years, making her third appearance on the program. She serves as Vice President of Faculty Development with Northwell Health and Associate Dean with Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in New York.

In terms of micro, we’re discussing micro learning, micro teaching, and micro mentoring, along with how to deliver and track the effectiveness of these resources.

Learn More:  https://facultyfactory.org/micro-resources/

Skills and Habits for Improving the Writing and Coediting Process in Academic Medicine with Richard Edden, PhD, MSc

In this week’s episode of the Faculty Factory, we’re navigating the complexities of the academic writing and editing process, including dealing with severe time constraints, as we turn the spotlight back onto Richard Edden, PhD, MSc, for his triumphant return to our show.

Dr. Edden is Professor of Radiology in the Department of Radiology and Radiological Science at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Within his department, he also holds the position of Director of Post-Doctoral Fellows.

Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

Jumpstarting Change and Optimizing Your Life to Achieve More with Mark Guadagnoli, PhD

When it comes to exploring the science of an optimized life, Mark Guadagnoli, PhD, is the ideal subject matter expert.

Joining us for a special reunion appearance on the Faculty Factory Podcast this week is Dr. Guadagnoli, as we further examine the ways we can jumpstart change to optimize our lives while fully engaging with the sea of demands within academic medicine.

At the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Dr. Guadagnoli serves as Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Director of Learning and Performance, and Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Neurology.

Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/jumpstart-change 

A Guide to Writing Powerful Letters for Promotion in Academic Medicine with Mary Beth Phelan, MD, MBA

As we approach our 300th Faculty Factory podcast episode, we’ve yet to have a conversation about the insightful strategies surrounding the often-overlooked skill of writing promotion letters. This technical yet crucial component of faculty advancement warrants attention, and we are honored to be joined by Mary Beth Phelan, MD, MBA, on this week’s show.

Dr. Phelan makes her inaugural appearance on our podcast this week. At the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), she serves as Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vice Chair for Faculty Development and Advancement, Chief of the Division of Emergency Medicine Ultrasound, and Director of the Advanced Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship. These roles also include her position as chair of the promotion and tenure committee.

Important Resources from Today’s Podcast:

• Writing an External Letter of Review for Promotion [pdf]
• Promotion and Tenure Letters: A Guide for Faculty [pdf]
• The ADVICER Template for Faculty Reviewer Letters for Promotion and Appointment [pdf]

Learn More: https://facultyfactory.org/promotion-letters 

How Content Delivery Affects Learning and Retention in Educational Podcasts with Michael Gottlieb, MD, RDMS, FAAEM, FACEP

Making his Faculty Factory debut in a memorable way this week is Michael Gottlieb, MD, RDMS, FAAEM, FACEP. 

Naturally, here at the Faculty Factory Podcast, our ears perk up when we hear about the intersection of podcasts, learning, research, and academic medicine. We are joined by Dr. Gottlieb this week to learn all about his research into how the way content is delivered within an educational podcast impacts the actual learning takeaways for the listener and how much of that information is retained.

Dr. Gottlieb serves as Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vice Chair of Research, and Director of the Emergency Ultrasound Division in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

It’s a fascinating discussion, and we hope you buckle up for the journey that Dr. Gottlieb leads us on! As you will soon learn, the lion’s share of today’s conversation covers a lot of findings from his research for the recent study he co-authored, entitled “Educational Podcasts: Effect of Content Delivery Timing on Knowledge Acquisition and Retention,” which was published in Academic Medicine. 

You can learn more about that here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38551950/

If you want more Faculty Factory resources, please visit our official website: https://facultyfactory.org/ 

How to Be a Better Writing Coach in Academic Medicine with Rachel Walden, MS, ELS

In the latest episode of the Faculty Factory podcast, Rachel Walden, MS, ELS, makes a highly informative return to discuss considerations for becoming a more effective writing coach in academic medicine.

Rachel is the Director of Editorial Services and an Assistant Professor with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. She is a board-certified editor in the life sciences and provides education and training on scientific writing and publishing for residents and faculty.

Rachel reminds us that countless faculty members do not naturally consider themselves writing coaches. Instead, they often feel pressured to revise manuscripts for less experienced authors, which ends up failing to equip trainees with the skills to become proficient scholarly writers.

Learn more: https://facultyfactory.org/coach-writing/  

Keys to Prioritizing What Matters Most in Our Personal and Professional Life with Sarah Andrews, MD

When it comes to managing expectations and accepting the realistic limits of our professional and personal lives (no one can do everything), our guest this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast has some strong words of encouragement.

Join us for this week’s edition of our podcast as Sarah Andrews, MD, makes a return appearance to discuss prioritizing what matters most as an academic medicine professional facing seemingly endless competing demands on our time.

For those that are new to our show, Dr. Andrews is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Did you catch her first appearance on the podcast with us? You can check out “Habits and Hacks with Sarah R. Andrews, MD,” here: https://facultyfactory.org/sarah-andrews/

This week’s discussion also includes wisdom on dealing with disappointment when you feel the pressure to please everyone in your life, both at home and at work. (Spoiler alert: it is impossible to please everyone, so you must be comfortable with saying no, and that takes practice.)

In this interview, Dr. Andrews also touches on the importance of including our family and colleagues in the decision-making process of uncovering what’s most vital by simply asking them from time to time, “What’s most important to you?”

Knowing When to Shape the Next Phase of an Academic Medicine Career with Carol Ziminski, MD

The message from our guest this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast is resoundingly clear: despite all the headaches and stressors that come with it, medicine overall should be fun. When it is no longer fun, that should be the litmus test for taking a step back and reevaluating where you are and how you will shape the next phase of your career.

We are honored to be joined by Carol Ziminski, MD, on the show this week. Specializing in rheumatology, she is a retired associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is also the co-chair of The Academy at Johns Hopkins.

Reflecting on her own retirement journey, Dr. Ziminski candidly recounted the challenges of transitioning from full-time practice, a decision influenced by administrative changes within her division.

She emphasized the importance of knowing when it’s the right time to step back and make a career-altering move, recognizing that such choices are profoundly personal and should be based on a variety of factors, including the question of whether you are still having fun.

The interview highlights the need for more innovative programs like the Academy, which not only honor retirees' contributions but also ensure their continued engagement in the academic community.

Dr. Ziminski and the Academy prove that retirement can be a new beginning, filled with purpose and connection.

About “The Academy”

According to its official website – which you can visit at www.hopkinsmedicine.org/the-academy – “The Academy at Johns Hopkins supports the continued research, teaching, and service of retired faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Honoring our retired faculty for their exceptional wisdom, intelligence, and experience, the Academy actively engages retired faculty in the Johns Hopkins community in ways that benefit our students, patients, disciplines, and institution, and that support their ongoing professional fulfillment.”

How to Better Deal with Toxic and Disruptive Behavior with Ann Brown, MD, MHS

This week marks the formidable return of Ann Brown, MD, MHS, to the Faculty Factory as she joins us to discuss managing difficult behaviors and navigating awkward and challenging conversations, both professionally and personally.

Dr. Brown often coaches faculty on overcoming these situations in her current role as an executive coach. With extensive leadership experience in academic medicine, she is the former Vice Dean for Faculty at Duke University School of Medicine, a position she held for more than 11 years.

She emphasizes the importance of recognizing personal emotional triggers and stepping back to understand the context of difficult conversations in today’s podcast.

According to Dr. Brown, the first step is awareness. By cultivating curiosity rather than judgment, we can “get to a better place” regarding healthier dialogue, collaborative workplace settings, and improved relationships moving forward.

Contact, Dr. Brown via email: Annbrowncoaching@outlook.com

Learn More:  https://facultyfactory.org/toxic-behavior/ 

Chips, Chunks, and Email Hygiene with Ashley Paul, MD

In the age of distractions, and a time of “doing more with less” in academic medicine, our guest on this week’s edition of the Faculty Factory Podcast is Dr. Ashley Paul, MD, who offers us hope.

Specializing in treating patients with movement disorders, Dr. Paul is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Dr. Paul is an expert in productivity, focusing on a technique we’re calling “chips and chunks.”

In case you missed her first appearance on our show or need a refresher, you can explore Faculty Factory Podcast Episode No. 254, “Happiness in Academic Medicine Comes from Better Time Management,” here: https://facultyfactory.org/happiness-in-academic-medicine/.

This time, she brings us even more efficient time management approaches and email hygiene guidance, discussing how she organizes her inbox to prioritize essential communications while eliminating unnecessary noise.

Dr. Paul emphasized the importance of maximizing productivity in small increments rather than relying on long, uninterrupted blocks of time, which can feel daunting. She introduced the concept of “chips,” small tasks that can be completed in a short timeframe, and “chunks,” larger tasks requiring more significant focus.

Breaking work into manageable parts allows us to make progress even amidst a very busy schedule.

In addition to this guidance, she helps us tackle digital distractions with useful tips. She offers us strategies for overcoming the constant barrage of interruptions, such as deleting social media apps from our phones altogether.  

"Our phones are constantly pinging for our attention, making us feel busy all day long, and we don't create the time we need to be truly and deeply productive," she said.

Highlighting the value of establishing boundaries, she pointed out that being unavailable doesn’t mean neglecting responsibilities; rather, it fosters a healthier, more sustainable balance.

More Resources: https://facultyfactory.org/

The Intersection of Personal Values and Professional Identity for a More Meaningful Career with Andrew Dwyer, PhD, FNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN

While all our careers are sure to encounter different twists and turns along the way, remembering your core values and knowing what drives you are things that can sustain you even in the most uncertain and challenging times.

This sentiment is outlined powerfully in this week’s edition of the Faculty Factory Podcast with our first-time guest, Andrew Dwyer, PhD, FNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN.

Dr. Dwyer is an associate professor at the Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing (CSON) and is a principal investigator in the Massachusetts General Hospital and G.H. Harvard Center for Reproductive Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Dwyer is a Macy Faculty Scholar (Class of 2023).

When it comes to professional identity formation, it’s all about reflecting on the things that fuel you, and taking the time to discover what truly aligns with your values to build that foundation for long-term success.

To jumpstart this self-reflection exercise and foster self-awareness, one of the things Dr. Dwyer shares with the graduate students he works with is the importance of asking a few fundamental questions:

• What is it that you love?
• What are you good at?
• Does the world need it?
• Can you get paid for it?

As Dr. Dwyer helps us navigate the intersection of personal values and professional identity, he emphasizes the theory of Ikigai. This is a concept from Japanese philosophy that inspires individuals to identify what is genuinely important to them and to lead a life rich in purpose and happiness.

For more resources: https://facultyfactory.org/

Considerations for Life After Full-Time Employment in Academic Medicine with Lawrence Appel, MD, MPH

Many significant aspects to consider related to retirement planning in academic medicine are covered in-depth this week on the Faculty Factory Podcast with our guest Lawrence Appel, MD, MPH.

Dr Appel is The C. David Molina, MD, MPH, Chair in Medicine with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He is the Director of the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, a joint program of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Dr. Appel holds a primary appointment as Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine with joint appointments in Epidemiology and International Health.

During this interview, Dr. Apple discussed his meticulous retirement planning process, including creating spreadsheets to outline his transition from full-time to part-time effort.

He emphasized the importance of considering not only financial aspects but also personal goals and relationships in retirement planning.

• You can learn more about the financial aspects to retirement in Faulty Factory Episode 215 – Investing Basics for Faculty and Retirement Planning with Yuval Bar-Or, PhD
• Furthermore, there is a new section of our website dedicated to housing all of our retirement-related podcast episodes that you can access here.

In this week’s episode, Dr. Apple highlighted the practical side of succession planning and leadership development within his research units, to ensure a smooth transition for his colleagues and trainees’ post-retirement.

His intentions are to remain involved in research activities post-retirement, albeit in a more supportive and advisory role.

We hope that by listening to this week’s episode and hearing about Dr. Apple's thoughtful approach to retirement planning, it will provide you with guidance for your own efforts, whether it's sooner or later, when the time comes for you to navigate a purposeful transition in this phase of life.

Reflections on What It Takes to Build and Support Teams in Academic Medicine with Ann Thompson, MD, MHCPM

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/ 

Ethical Considerations of Artificial Intelligence in Academia with Anjalie Field, PhD

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/

Tiny Talks, Academic Medicine and the Clinical Learning Environment with Anna Handorf, MD

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
• Email: ahandorf@mgb.org
• Read the article from Academic Medicine: https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/abstract/9900/let_s_chalk_about_it__introducing_the_tinytalks.816.aspx?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amexpress&utm_content=newsletter

Exploring the World of Lifelong Learning in Medicine with Sanjay Desai, MD

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

Examining the Relevancy of Tenure in Academic Medicine with William T. Mallon, EdD

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 wmallon@aamc.org.

How to Listen to Patients to Find True Healing with Joshua Schwarzbaum, MD, MBA

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

How to Make Meetings in Academic Medicine Work for You with Ludy Shih, MD, MMSc, FAAN, FANA

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/
• Email Dr. Shih with questions here: lshih@bidmc.harvard.edu
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ludy-shih-a7b53212/
• Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/ludyshihmd

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

The Academic Medicine Starter Kit

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 
Kindle version: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZFDVG7R 

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
These books were made possible through the generous contributions of the people who comprise the Faculty Factory Community. We would like to thank all who have contributed to this robust community and network!

Visit the Faculty Factory website: https://facultyfactory.org/ 
Email our host, Dr. Skarupski: kskarupski@jhmi.edu 

The Coaching and Mentoring Academic Medicine Essentials with Andrea Sikon, MD, FACP, PCC, BCC

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
For more information about the CECM trainings, and outcomes, mentioned on this episode:  

- One-day CECM Coaching and Mentoring Essentials for Healthcare Professionals: 
https://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/live/courses/cecmessentials/ 

- 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:
• Email: SIKONA@ccf.org 
• Twitter/X:  @AndreaSikonCCF

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/ 

Examining the Need for Scientist Wellbeing Initiatives with Joseph E. Losee, MD, FACS, FAAP, MBA

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: joseph.losee@chp.edu.

Functional and Reverse Mentoring in Academic Medicine with Robert Tillman, PhD

This week, the “Robert Tillman, PhD Trilogy” concludes in style on the Faculty Factory Podcast. On the show, we're discussing the benefits of functional and reverse mentoring in academic medicine with Dr. Tillman.

This marks Dr. Tillman's third appearance on our podcast. You can revisit the first two episodes he recorded with us here:

• Nurturing Sources of Self-Efficacy to Accomplish More in Academic Medicine: https://facultyfactory.org/self-efficacy/ 
• An Intro to Strengths-Based Coaching: https://facultyfactory.org/strengths-based-coaching/ 

With Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Dr. Tillman serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Education, Innovation & Technology. Additionally, he holds positions as the Director of Professional Development and Mentoring in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and as an Assistant Dean in Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development at Baylor.

In today's interview with Dr. Tillman, we reference an article by Drs. Thorndyke, Gusic, and Milner titled "Functional mentoring: a practical approach with multilevel outcomes." You can learn more about it here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18712800/

“Appreciation is a wonderful gift. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well,” Dr. Tillman told us in a quote so memorable we had him repeat it towards the end of this interview.

Programming Reminder 

The Faculty Factory has been delivering a new episode every Friday morning since 2019, made possible by our strong community. So, please reach out if you want to be a guest or please be sure to nominate a friend to be a guest on our show by sending us an email here: kskarupski@jhmi.edu or a message here: https://facultyfactory.org/contact-us/, thank you!